Obituary: James Christopher ‘Chris’ Hamiton
Born: 1935
Died: October 19, 2022
Peacefully on October 19, 2022, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Edmonton. Beloved husband of Moira; loving father of Fiona (Patrick), Shelagh (Harvey), and Catriona (Robert) and infant son, Michael Benedict, who died in 1964. Proud grandfather of Sarah, Dorothy and Michael.
Chris was born, raised, and educated in the United Kingdom. He came to Canada in 1956 and married Moira in 1958. In 1968, with Moira and his young family, he moved to Edmonton where he began his teaching career at St. Joseph’s High School. His English classes were renowned for their creativity and magnetism, and he quickly gained a reputation for being able to make even Shakespeare interesting. A passionate and determined advocate for the importance of outdoor education and the value of nature, Chris created countless opportunities for students to experience the power and beauty of the natural world. Over the course of his career, Chris’ knowledge, energy and innovation helped to advance secondary education in Alberta. He was also active in the Alberta Teachers’ Association, where he tirelessly bargained for the benefit of his colleagues.
Chris loved playing cricket, squash and field hockey. He was an avid mountain climber and reached the summit of Mt. Robson several times. He also wrote poetry and in later years, spent many hours painting.
Chris was invested as an oblate in the Order of St. Benedict at St. Benedict’s Abbey, Fort Augustus, Scotland, in 1991.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 10661-82 Ave NW, Edmonton. Interment will follow at St. Anthony’s Cemetery.
From Edmonton Journal, Monday 22 October 2022