Michael Burns

MICHAEL BURNS Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, before coming to Canada, Michael Francis Donnelly Burns was one of Canada's most admired and accomplished photographers. A member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Canada's Curling Hall of Fame and the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame and the only photographer to have won three Eclipse Awards for outstanding thoroughbred photography in North America, Burns passed away at the age of 84 on February 8, 2010. He earned a record seven Sovereign Awards for 'outstanding photography', his most recent coming in 2009. He was part of the sports scene around the world for the past seven decades, including his role as the official photographer for the Canadian government at five Olympics, as well as covering several Pan Am and Commonwealth Games. Burns was the official photographer of the Ontario Jockey Club (Woodbine Entertainment Group) since 1956 and earned accolades while shooting major curling events around the world, as the official photographer of the Canadian Curling Association since 1958. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Helen and children: daughters Mary-Ellen and Patricia and son Michael, son-in-law Jonathan Gee and granddaughters Katherine and Alexandra and brothers Andrew and John (predeceased by his sister Anne). Friends may call at the Turner & Porter 'Yorke' Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. W., at Windermere, east of the Jane subway, on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Clement Catholic Church, 409 Markland Dr., Toronto on Friday, February 12, 2010 at 10 a.m. Donations can be made c/o Dr. A. Simone, Canadian Food for Children Organization, 40 King George Rd., Toronto, Ontario M8X 1L3.