John   Robert   (Bob)   Burns   arrived   at   the   Selkirk   Mental   Hospital   in   1960   to become    the    Nurse    Tutor    at    the    hospital’s    School    of    Nursing.        Bob completed   his   general   nurse   training   at   the   prestigious   Queen   Elizabeth Hospital    in    Birmingham,    UK    and    his    psychiatric    nursing    at    Hollymoor Psychiatric Hospital. He   soon   became   head   of   the   school   and   was   the   initiator   of   the   curriculum revision   which   would   be   utilised   by   all   the   three   schools   of   psychiatric nursing   at   Brandon,   Portage   and   Selkirk.      Bob   also   ensured   that   the   final examination   was   the   same   for   all   graduates   in   order   to   obtain   registration as a Psychiatric Nurse. In   1963   Bob   was   appointed   the   Director   of   Nursing      services   for   the   hospital.      This   was   a   new appointment   as   previously   there   was   a   Chief   Male   Nurse   and   a   Matron.      Bob’s   new   position consolidated   the   nursing   services   under   one   central   control.      In   1965,   he   was   proud   to   be   the initiator   in   preparing   the   hospital   to   become   the   first   mental   hospital   in   Canada   to   receive accreditation.   During   this   time   he   also   studied   at   the   University   of   Manitoba   and   obtained   his hospital   administrator   certification.   In   1972      Bob   took   a   position   as   Interlake   Regional   Director   of Health   and   Social   Development.   He   travelled   the   Interlake   extensively   and   valued   the   many kindnesses extended to him by the people of the area. The   last   position   Bob   held   before   retiring,   was   Chief   Program   Consultant.   Bob   was   an   active member   of   the   Kiwanis   in   Selkirk   and   in   1966   he   and   other   members   began   the   process   of forming   the   Selkirk   Kiwanis   Pipe   Band.   The   band   played   for   the   first   time   at   the   Canada Centennial parade in 1967. Bob   also   suggested   and   organized   the   Manitoba   Highland   Gathering   where   he,   many   staff members   from   the   Selkirk   Mental   Hospital,   and   parents   of   the   pipe   band   volunteered   their   help to   run   the   Highland   Gathering   each   year.   One   year   after   retirement,   Bob   took   on   the   new challenge   of   becoming   Director   of   Skills   Manufacturing.   He   devoted   his   time   and   energy   to proving   that   the   facility   could   run   profitably   while   those   who   had   recovered   from   mental   illness could retrain and work in the community successfully.  He   initiated   many   changes   within   the   nursing   and   education   services      and   as   a   consequence, not   everyone   was   in   favour   of   his   “new   broom”   approach.   However,   he   persevered   and   laid   the foundation for many new developments including the concept of community psychiatric clinics.