Born to Harold and Margaret Pratt in Okotoks, Alberta on May 27, 1924. Before the age if 1, he moved with his family from Okotoks, AB to Victoria, BC where he enjoyed many summers playing with his beloved sister Jean at Weirs Beach in Metchosin. Both the sea and Metchosin remained in his blood for life.
Chris’ first shipboard experience was as a young deckhand with the Canadian Pacific Railway Princess fleet. Chris attended Victoria College and UBC prior to switching to the senior year at the newly established Canadian naval college, HMCS Royal Roads, graduating as a Naval Midshipman in 1942 (student # 016).
He was immediately sent to England to complete sea training as a navigator on HMS Anson and King George V. During WWII, he saw action on the dangerous Murmansk Run, shepherding supply convoys across the Arctic Ocean to deliver war materials to the Soviet Union.
After the war, Chris saw a future in the Navy and life at sea returned to the RCNC as a Staff Officer and Navigation Instructor. Then back to active sea duty, serving through the Korean War and into peacetime. He served aboard several vessels, including HMCS Haida, Crusader (in command), New Waterford (in command), and Kootenay (in command), and was appointed Commander RCN in 1959 and Captain RCN in 1967. His many letters home to family during this time referred to seaports and voyages in all parts of the world. In 1962 he joined a NATO team at Virginia Beach Naval centre working with Americans to show them the many innovations the NRC had developed to track submarines. Returning to Canada, he served in the National Defence College in 1967 and was appointed Commandant Canadian Forces Maritime Warfare School (HMCS Stadacona), in 1970 and Director of Naval Reserves at NHQ, Ottawa, in 1972. He is fondly remembered by graduates of the Reserve for his pioneering efforts to reform and professionalize that service. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Military Merit (OMM) in 1978, when he released from service.
Chris was the Honorary President and Senior Ex-Cadet of the Vancouver Island Ex-Cadet Club from 2012 until his passing. He was the last surviving member of the RCNC wartime inaugural class of 1942.
Following his service, Chris staged a rewarding second act. Vowing to “fill in the blanks” on the maps of places he had visited with the Navy, he became an avid voyager. He traveled solo and with friends and family to destinations around the globe, from Everest Base Camp and the ancient Silk Road Trail to Mayan temples in Mesoamerica. In his later decades, he was especially fond of departing for months at a time, visiting friends and exploring Mexico and Guatemala in his trustworthy Volkswagen.
His other pursuits are too many to list. Among his post-service achievements, Chris held a senior management position at the New York Metropolitan Opera Company, managed the Chemistry Dept Co-op Program at the University of Victoria, was Honorary President of the Vancouver Island Ex-Cadet Club (regularly laying the wreath at the November 11th Service of Remembrance at Royal Roads), supported international students as a Patron and host for Pearson College. He dedicated years of support to land conservation efforts around his home in Metchosin. In particular, the preservation of a Rural Metchosin and its jewel, Mary Hill, home to many unique and rare plants.
Chris was predeceased by his estranged wife Mary in 2022 and his sister Jean (AJ) in 2014. He is survived by his four children and their spouses, Mark (Megan), Tisha, Nick (Janice) and Sarah (Grant), seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
He was the last surviving Canadian Younger Brother of the Trinity House fraternity for seafarers and is believed to have been the last surviving member of the first graduating class from RRMC.
With many thanks to Garth and Kimberly Irwin, family and fellow Metchosin-ites who helped him achieve his final goal of spending his last years at home with his cat Friday and a panoramic view of the sea he loved so much.
Chris was curious about the beliefs of many faiths. Later in life, he became very interested in Buddhism and followed many of the practices of that tradition.
Chris was fond of saying:
So many faiths, so many creeds,
So many paths that twist and wind,
While all this world truly needs,
Is the just the practice to be kind.
A celebration of Chris’s life will be held at a later date.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
This obituary is the property of the “Pratt” family and may not be reproduced, distributed, or altered in any way without prior written consent.
-
Shelagh Harper Bunch
-
Nina and Rajen Dear Mark and Megan,
Our sincere condolences. We were very fortunate to meet Chris for the first time for dinner at his house a few weeks after moving to Canada in 2001. We talked about everything under the stars and he left a lasting impression on us with his illuminating smile, adventurous spirit and his boundless capacity of kindness and love for all. He will forever be in our hearts.
-
David Collins I joined the Naval Reserve through the ROUTP in 1972. For my first five years of service Chris was omnipresent in his role as Director Naval Reserve. He knew both my father and uncle who were naval contempories so that is perhaps why he took an interest in me. But he looked after all his reservists with empathy and compassion. In 1977 I was serving in Huron during the Silver Jubilee Fleet Review when he was appointed OMM. i wrote him a congratulatory letter and received a warm reply. A thorough officer and gentleman ‘of the old school.’ RIP.
-
Jennifer Wall Brownlow (niece) “However blow the winds over the pollen,
Whatever the course of the garden variables,
He remains the constant,
Ever flowering from the poppy seeds.”
E. J. Pratt “Come Away, Death” 1943. (Canadian poet, 1882-1964, relative of C.G. Pratt)Our family will be forever indebted to the kindness of our Uncle Chris and Aunty Mary, especially after the death of our father (also RCN) in 1962. Up to that time our family naval postings overlapped in Halifax and Ottawa where we were so fortunate to enjoy gatherings with our only cousins. There were four of them – Mark, Tisha, Nick and Sarah -and four of us, me and my siblings Philippa, Gervas and Simon.
This tradition continued when my husband and I found ourselves in Nova Scotia for 16 years, enjoying the frequent hospitality at Redbank Farm in Centre Burlington. Chris and Mary and family developed Redbank to become a jewel on the East Coast for those of us involved in the equestrian discipline of Eventing. Their grass-roots events and clinics were a highlight of the sport’s calendar, and these in turn spawned better riding and horsemanship. Some competitors continued in the sport to become nationally recognized riders, coaches or officials, many owing their equestrian experience in part to the Pratt family’s generosity.
When Tim and I moved to Vancouver Island we realized how lucky we were to have Uncle Chris nearby. This time the gatherings included Mark and Megan, extended family and friends, and occasionally my sister and Mark’s siblings. As our worlds overlapped again in this safe haven, we found ourselves still savouring our chats with Chris. He did remind me recently that he had known me for a very long time!
Our deepest condolences to the cousins and Uncle Chris’s many friends.
-
Captain Steen Jessen, RCN(Ret'd.) Chris was an outstanding human being and an inspirational Naval Officer and mentor. He will be truly missed!
Steen Jessen, Victoria, BC
-
Michael Ervin, Cdr (ret'd) As a young Naval Reserve Officer Cadet in the early ’70s, I had the pleasure of of knowing Captain (N) Christopher Pratt in his then capacity as Director of Naval Reserves. Captain Pratt was one of the finest naval officers I had ever encountered in my subsequent 34 years in the naval reserve. My condolences to all who have known him, and especially, to his family members.
-
Julio May My heart is saddened but also grateful to have met Chris during my time as a young international student in the early 2000s. He took care of me when I needed it the most, opened his home, cooked home meals and offered a safe space. An avid conversationist, Chris’ admiration for life never ceased to amazed me. I was lucky enough to take a trip back to “La Saloma”, his lovely seaside refuge a couple of years ago. Garth, Kim, Chris and I enjoyed dinner together and then he took me for a short hike around the property on a beautiful BC summer day. I will never forget you Captain. Shine on. Until our next encounter. Love. Julio.
-
Pippa Wall I’m so grateful to have had many memorable Boxing Day and other visits with Uncle Chris in Metchosin over the years. He was a remarkable person with a sharp wit and keen intelligence, and broad world knowledge. He was also wise, compassionate, kind and thoughtful. He was the only person who sent me a congratulatory card after I made it through law school! And I’II always remember when he took me aside and we stood beside a railway track (I was about three years old at the time) and he sang the “Peanut Sat On A Railway Track” song to me, which I in turn had the honour to sing to him at his 100th birthday! He made me feel special, as if I really mattered.
-
Nathan Hjermstad Many memories of Chris spanning over a 1/2 century, and our family’s history have intertwined for over a hundred years. He was such a wonderful friend to my mother, Lally, and I shall miss his wisdom and wit. Our sincere condolences to his family.
Nathan & Shannon
-
Gretchen Markle & Larry Lauzon Dear Mark and Megan,
Please accept our deepest condolences to you and to all the rest of the family from both coasts. Chris was a very special person, and we consider ourselves extremely lucky to have known and loved him. He taught us so very much, perhaps most especially how to be generous and giving. We will miss him dearly.
Larry and Gretchen
-
William & Pamela Mitchell Pam & I truly enjoyed our visits to see Chris in Metchosin, our last being Sep 12th prior to us attending the Royal Roads Homecoming 85. Chris talked about the fond memories he had of his older cousin Alan Staniforth, Pam’s father, and mentioned that he was looking forward to laying the wreath on Nov 11th at Royal Roads.
We will miss him…
Pam & Bill
-
Russ, Marlene and family Mark. So sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing.
what a great history he left for his family and community.
Thinking of you and the boys and of course Meg!
-
Thomas De Wolf Truly a life of service to country and love for all things great and small. Fair winds and following seas, Sir. We have the Watch! We will remember Chris and all who serve!
-
Roland Burton Sarah and Grant. Ellie and I are so sorry for the passing of Christopher. An exceptional naval officer with an outstanding career. He was well known and respected by all who knew him. Please accept
Ellie’s and my sincere condolences.
Roly
-
Jim Trick Chris used to lead the odd hike for our informal group, “The Eccentrics,” and was quite the character. We were surprised at finding out his age as his energy was that of someone much younger. His knowledge of the local area was shared with us, and made our hikes with him even more interesting, especially in the Mary Hill area. Stand easy, Chris.
-
Jason McBride (Pearson College, Head of College) At a Pearson College assembly on Jan 15, we mourned the loss of Chris as a long-time supporter and Pearson Patron. In talking about what Chris meant to generations of people at the College, our faculty member leading the celebration (Garth Irwin) talked about some of the “why” behind Chris’ involvement; a shared belief that we can make the world more peaceful. May he rest in peace having been such a proponent of it throughout his life.
Our deepest condolences from the Harper Family