Bro. Krishan (Kris) Kumar Channan
Ionic Lodge No. 549 Passed December 15, 2014
Initiated : 1986/02/05
Passed: 1986/04/09
Raised: 1987/01/07
A lifelong learner
After a year of multiple afflictions, peacefully at sleep with a smile, surrounded by his family and love on December 15, 2014, Kris passed away in his 77th year.
Born in Kisumu, Kenya to the late Shanti Bai (nee Sahajpal) and the late Dev Dhar Channan, Kris leaves behind his loving wife Adrien (nee Tait), his beloved son Dr. Peter (Dr. Heather Badalato), his pride and joy, his granddaughters Alexis and Olivia, his brothers, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law and their families.
Kris studied the law at Lincoln’s Inn and at the Law Society’s School of Law and the University of London in England where he earned his LL.B., and LL.M. degrees, Barrister and Solicitor, and at the Law Society of Upper Canada where he earned his Barrister and Solicitor. Kris was called to the bar in 1972 in Canada.
Kris was the 4th child of a family of 5 brothers; he was only 4 years old when his father passed away. A life of hardship, determination and perseverance followed. Kris was determined to get an education and become a lawyer, a dream since he was an eleven year old, after reading a biography of Abraham Lincoln. He saved all his money so that he could go to England from Kenya to study. He was admitted to practice law in 1967 in England. While in England he met and married the beautiful Adrien, his lifelong partner, his strength and his supporter.
In 1970 Kris and Adrien immigrated to Canada, a land that he was proud to live in. He helped all his brothers move from Kenya and England to Canada as he was convinced that Canada would provide them and their children education and opportunity. He was right. Each and every one of his brothers, their spouses, nieces and nephews has gone on to successful careers in Canada. But his true pride was his son Dr. Peter Channan.
Kris believed in helping people. He was a Liberal candidate for Hamilton Mountain in the provincial government and was named the Pilipino Canadian Association of Hamilton Man of the Year in 1996 – the only non-Filipino to be awarded this honour. He helped with the founding of the Hamilton Redbirds baseball team and provided service to the Hamilton community.
He was a passionate learner and encouraged everyone around him to constantly learn. He went to night classes and took online courses always expanding his knowledge. Although a lawyer by profession, he read medical books for fun. He took classes on how to refinish furniture, photography and a myriad of other subjects, nothing was off limits. He read the encyclopedia from cover to cover, read a page of the dictionary a day and tried to convince his not so studious family members to do the same! Even a couple of weeks prior to his passing, he was re-reading the Windows 7 manual “to refresh his knowledge”! To say he loved studying was an understatement.
Kris loved his family, learning, golf and travelling. He was a fighter. Whether it was fighting for his family, his dreams, his friends, his clients or his health he never gave up and many a time teetered on the edge but valiantly fought his way back. Now it is time for Kris to rest.
The entire family are very thankful to the wonderful care he received by the physicians, nurses, and all multidisciplinary staff at Hamilton Health Sciences as well as St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton ER, medicine wards, CCU, and ICU. We are especially thankful to Dr. H. Tihal, Dr. C. Allan, Dr. M. Switchuk and Dr. D. Cook.
The family will be holding a private service and cremation. Friends are invited to join us and to remember and celebrate Kris’ life at the Hamilton Filipino Community Centre, 1275 King Street East Hamilton, Ontario L8M 1G7 on Thursday December 18 at 7p.m.
In lieu of sending flowers, a donation in Krishan's name to St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton foundation would be appreciated
