Canada’s Invictus Games: Transforming Empathy into Empowerment - Fairmont Imperial Room

Michael Burns is CEO of 2017 Invictus Games, the largest international competition in the world featuring ill and injured soldiers from 17 nations that will be coming to Toronto in September, 2017. Michael brings to Invictus more than 20-years of an extensive experience in marketing, financial services, technology and entrepreneurial start-up.

Michael is co-founder of the True Patriot Love Foundation, which supports Canada’s military, veterans and their families. In June 2016, Canada’s Governor-General, on behalf of the Queen, awarded Burns The Meritorious Service Cross for this work with military families. In 2012, he was awarded the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service, the military’s highest honour for a civilian.

He is Chair of the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation Board (formerly the Toronto East General Hospital Board Foundation). Last year, he successfully led the team that secured the Garrons’ $50-million donation, the largest gift ever made to a Canadian community-teaching hospital and it matches the largest gift ever to any hospital in Canada.

He is also a member of the Board of Directors of two world-class venues in Toronto: Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall. Finally, in 2010, he was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40.