It's hard to sum up everything we've experienced in such a small space. I can't remember exactly when Christian and I became friends but we spent a lot of time together. We used to joke about the time I put him in a snow bank in Quebec on some school trip. We spent many a day playing video games in his house, whipping our heads about everytime a bike ripped by dreaming about when we would share the road. In our younger years, it was the usual school stuff but when we came into our own is really when everything started to make sense. We would setup the slacklines in the park and mess about for hours at a time. Sometimes ordering sushi, or tossing the Frisbee around. We only had to climb onto the roof of the school to retrieve it once. Christian and I started on two wheels,fixed gear bikes were a passion fueled by movies we watched of messengers weaving between cars. Albeit the closest thing we came to was a golf cart in fish creek. As we grew older our tastes changed, and while eating chips that were on fire didn't entertain as much as it used to we still had a good time. Partying with Lauren and the gang were memories forgotten that I'm glad I got to revisit. Eventually, motorcycles entered the picture and we were both fiercely passionate. A trip down to fernie together made a lasting impression, while we had a lot of rides both in and out of town it was this one that stuck with us. Christian was a surgeon on the bike and didn't shy away from a spirited ride. One corner in particular stands out; a passing lane along a beautiful lake. The car ahead of us pulled into the right lane, Christian took the left hand of the lane I took the right. Pulling between the two of them with my elbow a few inches from his fairing was a story we couldn't get enough of. I'm sad he's gone but grateful I got to spend the time with him that I did.
Christian was my first friend on my first day of work two years ago. I think many of us are simply going to miss talking to him – he was a great listener, had a great sense of humour, offered unwavering support & encouragement, and was so sincere in how he interacted with people. We all found we could talk to him about anything – music, relationships, pets, jokes, life’s hardships, future plans, everything.
He will always be remembered as a genuine friend with a huge heart – the sheer number of people that have been affected by this tragedy is a testament to that. In conversations with other friends he was close with, we have reflected on the ways we can do our best to honour Christian by cherishing the countless happy memories with him, celebrating the good times, persevering through the bad times, remembering to be kind to ourselves, and supporting each other. It's hard to put into words how truly sorry I am for your loss. He will be incredibly missed by so many.
Christian was one of my first, and best, friends in high school. We had gym class together, ran cross-country together, and ate lunch together almost every day for 3 years. I still remember our terrible jive dance routine, our matching Bayern Munich scarves from the Scarlett Europe trip, and eating flaming tortilla chips at many backyard bonfires. Christian was a wonderful friend and an incredibly kind person who will be missed by many. I’m so sorry for your loss, and that I couldn’t be celebrating his life with you all in person today. Love always, Lauren.
Christian was one of my best friends when I was a kid. He was funny, and silly, and competitive, and friendly. Thinking of him now brings back so many memories I'd forgotten about. I remember playing soccer and grounders at the nearby park in Chaparral. I remember thinking how it was a way cooler park because it was so much bigger than the one on the circle by my house. I remember playing Kick the can with Courtney and Nick and Jeremy out front in the cul de sac into the late evening. I remember playing tons of street hockey where he was always willing to be the goalie and stand in front of our shots and he always competed so hard. I remember picking rasberries in the backyard, and getting the best neopets strategies in the computer room upstairs (lol), and playing lots of gamecube which was special because we didn't have that at my house. I remember us having sleepovers, and riding the bus home from school together (along with Callum and I also played basketball with Jorge) - asking my mom if I could take the bus straight to Christian's house to hang out, and all the events like New years and Thanksgivings and Christmas - so many times together with our families and I'm so grateful I had such good friends to grow up with. I remember Courtney always being the mature one looking after us trouble making nerds on those nights. I remember playing Pokémon monopoly and trivial pursuit in your basement and watching Hockey Night and playing house down in mine. Christian, the small boy who cried a lot when he got hit and had the special milk to get bigger turned into a tough, professional and confident young man and even though we didn't stay as close as we were when we were kids, we still got visits and I had a lot of respect for who he'd grown up into and where he was going in life. I'm really gonna miss him. -Myles Johnson
