I first met Chris when she was on staff at QMUNITY, the community centre for 2S LGBTQ+ folks. Shortly after I met her, Chris started up QUIRK-E, The Queer Imaging and Riting Kollective for Elders. And for the past 19 years our QUIRK-E community has written stories about ourselves, as well as poetry and plays. We have helped each other out with our writings, worked with a youth group, published books, and supported our members many times over when they needed a helping hand. And . . . we laugh a lot.
When Chris died, we thought about the many ways she touched us and others. We thought about what we knew about her incredible strength and her inspiring life. We put some words about who she was to us.
The following are our thoughts and memories of Chris:
She was a wise empathetic activist, a trailblazer and always altruistic. Chris was a leader and an organizer. She founded LEGIT, Rainbow Refugee and QUIRK-E, which are ongoing organizations. When the need was there, she simply made an organization happen.
Chris was funny and witty, always truthful, humble and loving. She was down to earth, yet resolute in what was important to her. Chris was so courageous in her work in Chile. She showed the same courage and strength in carrying on as usual even when her leg was amputated and her health declined. She never stopped. We will dearly miss Chris but her spirit will carry on.
