Irwin was actively involved with many organizations throughout her life including the Girl Guides of Canada, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance (GALA), Womonspace, Common Woman Books, the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Edmonton Board of Health, and the Edmonton chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
[10] Irwin's efforts to support the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Edmonton included donating to the Privacy Defense Fund, in support of those arrested following the Pisces Bathhouse Raid, actively participating in the Edmonton chapter of the Gay Alliance Towards Equality (GATE) as well as its successor organization, Gay and Lesbian Awareness (GALA).
[14] In 1991, Irwin worked together with Michael Phair and others as part of their GALA duties to host the first Pride parade in Edmonton.
[14][5] Around the same time that Irwin was involved with GATE, she also joined Common Woman Books, a feminist bookstore in Edmonton, and played a role in the creation of Womonspace, a recreational and social group for lesbians.
[16][3] When Michael Phair ran for Edmonton City Councillor in 1992, Irwin volunteered as his campaign office manager.
[10] Irwin received both the Silver Thank You Badge and an Award of Merit from the CFB Cold Lake's Community Council for her volunteer work in 1974.
[5][20][10] Edmonton's first openly gay city councillor, Michael Phair, was one of the people to nominate Irwin for the award.
[20] She was also nominated for the YWCA Tribute to Women Award (Public Affairs and Communications) for her work with the gay community in Edmonton.