CDS Mourns the Loss of Michael Burns
It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of one of CDS’s most loyal supporters and friends, Mr. Michael Burns, at the age of 85.
Michael was one of our school's founders and largest benefactors, and has been a staunch advocate for CDS since the beginning. From plowing and planting the front playing fields and determining the winning bid for the purchase of our school in 1978, to chairing the school’s first campaign and stewarding the Dinny Day scholarship named in honour of his late sister, and being our lead donor to the Junior School Building Magic campaign, Michael has been a dedicated CDS parent, grandparent and generous friend since the beginning. We will miss him dearly.
When the school began in 1972, CDS initially leased the original four-acre property from the York Region School Board. It wasn’t until 1978 that the original property was purchased at an Auction for $111,000. Chairman of the Board at that time, Michael was one of the key orchestrators of that bid. Long time supporters of the school, Michael and his late wife, Sue (Cathers) Burns, hosted the CDS Auction in their riding arena from 1982-97. Our Senior School Graduate Lounge is named after the two of them.
The Burns family has a long and storied history with CDS, with generations of children, and grandchildren having attended or still attending the school. The family names are recognizable to our community, Burns, Addison, Day, Cathers and Kirton. These names have been woven into the fabric of our community and are all part of the same family.
The CDS flags have been lowered to half-mast in Michael’s memory. Visitation and funeral details may be found in his obituary.
The CDS flags have been lowered to half-mast in Michael’s memory. Visitation and funeral details may be found in his obituary.
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
