The Reverend Canon Michael Burgess
A former professional actor, The Reverend Canon Michael Burgess was trained at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, in West Yorkshire. Ordained in Chelmsford Cathedral in 1976, he served two different parishes in England before coming to Toronto in 1982 as Chaplain and Head of Drama at Royal St. George’s College. He became Rector of the Church of the Epiphany and St. Mark, Parkdale, in 1989, and was also Domestic Chaplain to Archbishop Terence Finlay. He moved to the Church of the Transfiguration fifteen years later, and was Regional Dean of the Eglinton Deanery until his retirement in 2010. For five years, he was an Honorary Assistant at St. John’s, Norway, and Interim Priest-in-Charge for a further year. He joined St. Peter and St. Simon’s after five years at St. Timothy’s, North Toronto, latterly as Interim Priest-in-Charge, and feels blessed to be here. Father Michael is a Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiast and once worked for the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company in their offices at Savoy Hill. He was President of the Toronto Branch of the G & S Society for 12 years. After retirement, he became Artistic Director of Stage Centre Productions, one of Toronto’s most highly regarded community theatre groups, and served for seven seasons.
