The only photographer to have won three Eclipse Awards for outstanding thoroughbred photography in North America, Michael Francis Donnelly Burns, passed away at the age of 84 on February 8.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, before coming to Canada when he was 11-months-old, Burns always had a special affinity for thoroughbreds. He started working at racetracks in 1943 when he started as an apprentice at “Old” Woodbine in downtown Toronto.
He had earned a record seven Sovereign Awards for “outstanding photography,” his most recent coming in 2009 for a picture published in Canadian Thoroughbred.
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. He was the official photographer of the Ontario Jockey Club (Woodbine Entertainment Group) since 1956 and had a well-earned reputation as one of Canada’s most respected photographers. While working for Turofsky Photos in the 1940s and 1950s, Burns covered the National Hockey League at Maple Leaf Gardens. He also earned accolades while shooting major curling events around the world, as the official photographer of the Canadian Curling Association since 1958. Motorsports was also a big part of his career, shooting the racing circuit when Mosport opened as well as Indy and Formula One racing.
He made a significant donation of over 30,000 negatives to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Capturing over 30 different sports from the late 1940’s on, these photos are available for viewing on a section of the Hall’s website – The Michael Burns Photography Collection.
Burns is a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Canada’s Curling Hall of Fame and the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Helen, and children, daughters Mary-Ellen and Patricia, and son Michael, brothers Andrew and John (predeceased by his sister Anne), as well as son-in-law Jonathan Gee and granddaughters Katherine and Alexandria.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at St. Clement Catholic Church, 409 Markland Drive, Toronto, with a reception to follow at 1 p.m. at St. George’s Golf & Country Club, 1668 Islington Ave.
Visitation will be available from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday at the Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. West, Toronto.
Donations can be made c/o Dr. A. Simone, Canadian Food for Children Organization, 40 King George Rd., Toronto, Ontario, M8X 1L3.
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