Christopher Edward Smith Gittings

After a childhood spent in Galt, Ontario, Chris attended the University of Guelph and pursued a career in academia. On completion of his Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh, Chris became a respected, dedicated, and passionate professor, researcher, and writer.

He taught in and later became director of the Center for Canadian Studies at the University of Birmingham in the U.K. He also held teaching positions at the University of Alberta (Department of English and Film Studies) and Western University where he taught in, helped establish and served as chair of the Department of Film Studies. Chris made a variety of contributions to the study of Canadian cinema. His 2002 book Canadian National Cinema (Routledge) offered a comprehensive exploration of Canadian cinema within the context of cultural nationalism and colonialism.

Above all else, Chris loved and valued people. His amiable and unpretentious nature attracted people to him. Never afraid to speak his mind, he was an engaging and articulate conversationalist who was equally at home in impassioned debate on a myriad of subjects and in quiet conversation about literature, cinema, art, and life.

All of us have been deeply moved bearing witness to his intense will to live while enduring an inexorable pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour that was deemed "inoperable" and "terminal" twenty years ago.

Left behind to mourn are his wife Julie, mother Carolyn (the late Gord), brother Gord (Christine) and nephew Charlie, as well as friends and colleagues.

We will sorely miss Chris' ever-present ability to embrace and disperse joy, his deep intellectual curiosity, kindness, warmth, empathy towards others and his epic sense of humour.

Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Stan Van Uum, endocrinologist at St. Joseph's London, Dr. Monika Krzyzanowska oncologist, Princess Margaret and Dr. Mary Vachon, for their astute and compassionate care.

As per Chris’ wishes, a gathering of family and friends will take place at a later date.

Donations in memory of Chris, if you so choose, can be made to one of the following:

St Joseph’s Health Care Foundation London, ON (519-646-6085), directed to Endocrinology.

www.sjhc.london.on.ca/ways-to-give/donate-commemorative

Wellspring Cancer Support (416-480-4440). Wellspring Westerkirk House at Sunnybrook, Toronto, ON. www.wellspring.ca/ways-to-give/donate/ (choose ‘Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation’ then under ‘Direct my donation to:’ choose ‘Westerkirk House’)

Sunnybrook Foundation – Odette Cancer Center (416-480-4483). www.donate.sunnybrook.ca