ANNOUNCEMENT: PRESIDENT & CEO Michael Burns To Lead The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation

"We are thrilled Michael Burns will join the Foundation and lead its next period of growth," said Mr. Ives.  "This is the culmination of an extensive search process. We are delighted to have found an individual with the background, skills and passion of giving to the community to lead the Foundation to new levels of fundraising success, brand building and donor engagement."

"I'm honoured to be joining this world-class foundation and I look forward to working with our stakeholders to help conquer cancer in our lifetime," said Mr. Burns.

Burns was most recently CEO of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017.  The Invictus Games are the largest international adaptive sport competition in the world featuring ill and injured soldiers and veterans. Burns led the execution of the Games, including building the organization from the ground up, which took more than two years.

Under his leadership, the Games secured support from all three levels of government and more than 100 corporate and community partners and recruited more than 1,800 volunteers. The Toronto Invictus Games were completely sold-out and generated the highest national and worldwide viewing audience ever for the Games.

Burns brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing, financial services, technology and entrepreneurship to his new role at The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

Burns is co-founder of the True Patriot Love Foundation, which supports Canada's military, veterans and their families by funding programs for mental health, physical rehabilitation, career transition and family services. He is Past Chair of the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation Board (formerly the Toronto East General Hospital Board Foundation). He successfully led the team that secured the Garrons' $50-million donation. Burns is also on the Board of the Canadian Institute for Military & Veteran Health Research and is a member of the Board of Directors of two world-class entertainment venues in Toronto: Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall.

Earlier this month, Burns received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie University. In 2016, Canada's Governor-General, on behalf of the Queen, awarded Burns The Meritorious Service Cross for his work with military families. In 2012, he was awarded the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service, the military's highest honour for a civilian. That year, he was also awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal honouring significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. In 2010, he was named one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40.

Glenn Ives, on behalf of the Board of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, would like to recognize and thank Paul Alofs for his outstanding work in successfully leading the Foundation for the past 14 years.

About The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation 
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation at University Health Network is raising funds to lead the way in Personalized Cancer Medicine at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world, which includes The Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute and The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research. For more information -- www.thepmcf.ca

About Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network 
The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has achieved an international reputation as a global leader in the fight against cancer and delivering personalized cancer medicine. It is one of the top five international cancer research centres and part of the University Health Network, which encompasses Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and the Michener Institute for Education at UHN which is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. For more information -- www.uhn.ca.

SOURCE Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation

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www.pmhf.ca