Christopher Beatty

BEATTY, Christopher Perrin April 26, 1984 - January 30, 2008 Our beloved Christopher passed away peacefully in Chiangmai, Thailand, following a motorcycle accident the previous weekend. He was surrounded in his last moments by members of his immediate family and some of his closest friends, and by the prayers and good wishes of the hundreds of people whose lives he enriched. Christopher's short life was characterised by his need to love and to be loved, his independence of thought, his intense loyalty to those who mattered most to him, and his determination to fight for what he believed was right. He was born at Guelph General Hospital and lived his first eleven years in Fergus, Ontario. As a child, he was bright, fun-loving and often mischievous. He brought enormous joy to his family and to their friends, who loved watching him grow. In 1995, Christopher moved with his family to Ottawa. His most important academic influence came when he was a student at Sedbergh School, where the patient and loving attention from staff and the close friendships he developed helped shape the young man he was to become. He held those friends and the many others he made along the way close to his heart throughout the rest of his life, alongside his immediate family, his grandparents, his aunts and uncles, and his cousins. Christopher chose King's College at the University of Western Ontario, for his post-secondary education, graduating in May 2007 with a BA (Hons) in Political Science and History. In addition to being a natural athlete, he loved music and took particular pleasure in introducing new songs and singers to his family and friends. A skilled writer and a passionate debater of politics and philosophy, he loved to argue about ideas, often long into the night. His charm and his intensity could light up the darkest room. Christopher was delighted when Patrick, his only sibling, became a student at Western. Patrick and Christopher formed a deep bond, and Christopher was prepared to take on all comers to support his younger brother. Christopher's death is a heavy loss for Patrick, who loved him equally strongly, and will always be grateful for their time together. Christopher left Canada for Chiangmai, Thailand at the end of July to spend a year as a residence don at the American Pacific International School. He planned to return to Canada this summer. He would then enroll in graduate school before embarking on his mission to change the world. While in Chiangmai, Christopher found time to explore. In October he visited Cambodia by himself and he spent Christmas with Canadian friends living in Korea. In his final conversation with his parents, he talked about how happy he was and about the warmth of the Thai people. Christopher's last evening was spent with friends from the school, sharing drinks and discussing philosophical issues. After his accident, both the excellent local medical staff and the Canadian government did everything possible to help Christopher and his family. His aunt, Dr. Joanne Wilkinson rushed to his bedside from Australia to assist. Christopher's body was cremated in Chiangmai and will come home to Canada with Patrick and his parents. A service will be held for him at McLaren Hall, Ashbury College, 362 Mariposa Avenue, Ottawa at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, 2008, immediately followed by a reception. For those who wish to give a gift in Christopher's memory, the family invites contributions to the Christopher Perrin Beatty Memorial Fund at Sedbergh School, Montebello, QC.