Helen Burstyn, C.M.

Helen Burstyn has enjoyed a 45-year career in government, business, academia, broadcasting and community service. She is Managing Director of Crescent Investment Partners and the co-founder of Burstyn Inc., a strategic communications and events management firm.

Helen spent most of her professional career in government, serving as the Chair of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Deputy Secretary of the Premier’s Council, Senior Advisor in the Office of the Premier, Co-Chair of The Partnership Project and co-founder of the Office for Social Enterprise. 

She serves on the boards of UNICEF Canada, Evergreen (Chair Emeritus), Luminato Festival, the ROM, the Koffler Centre of the Arts (Chair), LEAP: The Pecaut Centre for Social Impact, the Radiation Safety Institute of Canada, and the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction.  

Helen is a past-president the Canadian Club of Toronto, past-chair of Waterfront Toronto and The Walrus Foundation, and served on the boards of TIFF and CAMH. She was the co-host of Toronto Files on RogersTV, a weekly community affairs program focusing on the people and issues that matter to the city, and Canada. Her book, Eleven Out of Ten: The Life and Work of David Pecaut, was published in 2012. 

She was a Distinguished Visiting Professor at TMU (formerly Ryerson University) and has worked with young entrepreneurs at the Social Ventures Zone since 2013.  She is an active member of the Quadrangle Society at Massey College, University of Toronto and a mentor for Junior Fellows.  

Helen received the Order of Canada for her public and community service, the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Community Leadership, and the Provincial Citizenship Award in recognition of her public service.