bout de papier, Vol. 23, No. 3 (2008), p. 34
Christopher M. Brown passed away on January 5, 2008. An expert in African affairs, Chris worked for CUSO in Lusaka prior to joining CIDA in 1971, later serving in Dar-es-Salaam and Harare. He moved to DFAIT in 1993 and served in a variety of positions, notably as Advisor to the Coordinator for Reconstruction of the Balkans, and most recently, in the Eastern Europe and Balkans Division.
The Confederation Bridge linking Prince Edward Island to the mainland opened in 1997. To celebrate this achievement, the 12.9-kilometre-long bridge was first opened to pedestrian traffic only. For one day, revellers walked, ran, biked and rolled across the steep span. Chris Brown was one of that group, wheeling himself among the throngs of athletes, tourists and partygoers. If you have ever driven across the bridge you will have a small appreciation of the effort this entailed. Chris had a certificate hanging on his office wall for many years, acknowledging his achievement. The certificate says a lot about Chris
– he loved a party and wasn’t fazed by physical challenges. Chris had wide interests and could be found at every DFAIT speech, town hall or roundtable — listening intently, taking notes and invariably posing the first question. He was an active volunteer, devoting time and energy to the local African community, serving meals at the Shepherds of Good Hope, and supporting schools in Africa. He had an inquisitive faith and conducted long correspondence on matters of religion with missionaries and teachers. Chris was devoted to his children, and took great joy in their achievements. a proud grandfather — even if you hardly knew Chris, you would have heard him speak of Zeki. He also enjoyed other people’s children. A few times I accompanied Chris to deliver Christmas hampers through the Shepherds of Good Hope. Sporting his beret, Chris would load bags in his lap, greet the families (often recent arrivals from Africa) and chat up the kids. Once, the snow made it difficult for him to get close to the door, but his smile and energy encouraged the young children to don coats and boots and go out to greet him.
Chris was a contributor to bout and submitted a charming account of meeting Tanzania’s first President, Julius Nyerere (“Mwalimu and me”, Vol. 15 No. 4, 1998). Chris had been posted with CIDA in Tanzania, where, although long since retired, Nyerere was still regarded as a founding father of the state. Chris attended an Ottawa luncheon in Nyerere’s honour. Upon entering the room, Nyerere spotted “his old friend.” He promptly stopped, and leaving behind his entourage, Nyerere pulled up a chair opposite Chris and started discussing Tanzanian railways. The formal event could wait for this affectionate reunion.
Chris’s funeral took place on a snowy day in a beautiful Aylmer church. It was a moving service, replete with song and memories. The church was full of family (including his beloved Zeki), friends, many colleagues from CIDA and DFAIT, and members of the African community so close to his heart.
There were touching speeches by his children and younger brother, but the closing words by Chris’s former brother-in-law (or “out-law” as Chris called him) described the Chris I knew best. Although confined to a wheelchair, Chris did not let it confine him. He was interested in everything, travelled far and wide, and when confronted by a mountain, saw it as a challenge, not an obstacle. In so doing, he accomplished things most of us couldn’t dream of.
The five pages of tributes in the guest book on his memorial site echo a common theme: Chris Brown was a special man and he will be missed.
View the original scanned pages →
Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 23, No. 3 (2008), p. 34. Read the rest of this issue →
