Quick Facts

At a glance

• Brought up in the Halifax area, Chris spent time at Saint Mary’s during his undergrad and received his LLB / MBA from Dalhousie. He was selected as Dalhousie’s 2008 Outstanding Young Alumnus.
• Chris is a community organizer. He founded East Coast Connected (ECC) and organized the annual Atlantic Business Summit. Chris grew ECC to more than 3,000 members and built partnerships with provincial governments, universities, community organizations and corporations.
• Has 20 years of active community service from coast to coast and has served on the boards of directors for many non-profit organizations.

Snapshots

A favourite place to walk/run

On the weekends I love taking Logan (my golden retriever) for long walks in Point Pleasant Park.

Coffee or tea?

Tea. Usually green.

Donairs or pizza?

Donair pizza, but only once every month or two. Is that cheating?

Favourite NS music

I have always been a Sons of Maxwell fan. It was a thrill to have them play live in Halifax at the launch of East Coast Connected a couple of years ago. It was a very special moment for me to see hundreds of transplanted Maritimers in Toronto raise their mugs to Dave Carroll’s call of “sociable” on the video screen.

Book you are currently reading

I have two on the go, Why Your World is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller by Jeff Rubin and Up Till Now, William Shatner’s autobiography.

Favourite travel experience

Touring the east coast of Australia and taking an aerobatics flight in an open cockpit plane.

Favourite university memory

I had lots of great memories at the Domus Legus, the former Dal Law pub on Seamour Street. Ironically, it was torn down a few years ago to make way for the Faculty of Management’s great new building. The Halloween parties were legendary.

Favourite sports team

The Montreal Canadiens. It started when I was a kid and my dad would take me to see the Nova Scotia Voyageurs play. My first NHL game was game six on the 1989 Stanley Cup finals at the old Montreal Forum and I saw the Calgary Flames hoist the Cup. I was in Montreal on a school trip and we convinced our teacher to let us go to the game if we could get tickets. I think he was shocked when we actually did…

Things you like to do if you have a few free hours

Jane and I have a tradition of getting together with friends on the weekend for dinner. It is a great way to slow down, cap off the weekend and get set for the week ahead. I make a priority of reserving time each week for the people closest to me.

Most memorable person you have met

Meeting Frank McKenna for the first time was a real thrill as he was such a larger than life figure to me when he was premier of New Brunswick. Being a Habs fan, the novelty of talking to Ken Dryden still has not worn off.

Favourite recipe of Aunt Jean’s

Probably have to go with the seafood chowder. Honourable mention to the pound cake.

Most common way you travel to work

One of the very first things I did when I moved back to Halifax was buy a bike. Halifax is a great city for cycling.

Summer event you are really looking forward to?

Growing up, I loved going to Greek Fest, it represented the unofficial beginning of summer to me. This summer, I am pretty excited to have the Tall Ships back.