Founder Robert G. Kearns Retires; Mark Purdy Named Canada Ireland Foundation Chair

The Canada Ireland Foundation today announced that its Founder, Robert G. Kearns, has retired from his position as Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and as a member of the Board. Mark Purdy, a Founding Director and long-standing Board member, has been elected by the Board to serve as the new Chair. 1n 1997, Mr. Kearns began discussions with the City of Toronto to realize his vision for an urban park to commemorate Irish migrants. In May of 2000, this vision led to the founding of Ireland Park Foundation and its namesake project, Ireland Park, located on Toronto’s waterfront. Under Mr. Kearns’ leadership, Canada Ireland Foundation (formerly Ireland Park Foundation) has grown into a leading organization for Irish arts, culture and heritage in Canada. With the new leadership of Mark Purdy, the Foundation intends to continue to build on the work started by Mr. Kearns.  The next major milestone will be the 2026 opening of the Foundation’s arts and culture venue – the Corleck. The Foundation is grateful for all of the passion, time and effort Mr. Kearns has devoted to the Foundation over its long history and wishes him all the best on his well-earned retirement from this leadership role. Reflecting on his time with the Foundation, Mr. Kearns noted, “For the past 45 years, I have indulged my passion and purpose towards promoting a more informed awareness of the deep and ancient bond of friendship that exists between Canada and Ireland.” He added, “I am incredibly proud of all we have accomplished in that time, from Ireland Park to Grasett Park and soon the Corleck – a shining jewel on Toronto’s waterfront where everyone can celebrate and share in Irish and Canadian history, heritage, arts and culture. So, it seems to me that this is the right time for me to step down from my position as Chair of the Board and to transition the role to Mark, who has served the Board and been alongside me from the beginning and throughout this journey. I am incredibly excited to see where his and the Board’s vision will take us” “It is an absolute honour and privilege to succeed Robert as the next Chair of Canada Ireland Foundation.  I look forward to working closely with my fellow board members, our key stakeholders and the broader community to fulfill the mission and vision of the Foundation,” stated Mr. Purdy.  

About Robert G. Kearns

After emigrating to Toronto from Dublin in 1979, Mr. Kearns established his career in the Canadian Life Insurance industry one year later. In 1983, Robert founded Kearns Insurance Corporation and continues to serve his clients today.  Mr. Kearns also became passionate about fostering Canada – Ireland historical connections, inspired by his academic background in Archeology and Greek and Roman Civilization.  In 1997, on the 150^th anniversary of the Great Irish Famine, Mr. Kearns began negotiations to secure a site on the south east corner of Bathurst Quay as the site for Ireland Park. The award-winning park opened in 2007, to commemorate the Irish famine migrants who came to Canada in 1847. Under Robert’s leadership the Foundation has expanded into an organization which has surpassed all of his early expectations, now delivering a wide range of programming as well as a physical presence with Ireland Park, Grasett Park and the impending 2026 opening of the Corleck, located next to Ireland Park on Toronto’s waterfront.

 

About Mark Purdy

Mr. Purdy emigrated to Toronto from Belfast with his family in 1971. He has always been passionate about his Irish roots and strengthened his connections to the Irish community, initially, as a Director of the Ireland Fund of Canada with Robert Kearns. As part of that organization, he enjoyed being the Committee Chair of the St Patrick’s Day Lunch for three years. Mark is a Founding Director of Canada Ireland Foundation and a member of the Foundation’s Corleck Construction Committee, Fundraising Committee and a former member of its Governance Compliance Committee.  He is also an advisory member of the Northern Ireland Business Advisory Council, supporting Northern Ireland’s trade and FDI strategy to help local Irish businesses expand their presence in the Canadian market.

Mr. Purdy has spent the last 25 years in the investment industry, becoming a founding partner and chief investment officer at Arrow Capital Management Inc.  Prior to his role at Arrow Capital, Mr. Purdy held senior roles at BPI Financial Corporation and IBM Canada Ltd. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Commerce and Economics degrees.  He was captain of the Varsity Blues Soccer team and was inducted into the University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. After graduation, Mark continued to play professional soccer for five years in the Canadian Soccer League with the Toronto Blizzard and Hamilton Steelers and spent time with two professional teams in England before returning to begin a business career at IBM Canada.

Mark is married to Emma Purdy, partner at Ernst & Young and PwC.  They have three children: Connor, Cameron and Alexis.