Born, Winnipeg, April 24, 1946, died of metastatic liver cancer, Victoria, March 11, 2013.
Predeceased by his mother Norma in 2008. Survived by wife Keltie Zubko, son Cadeyrn, daughter Kalonica, sisters Jane Christie and Myna Cryderman, brother Neil, father Douglas, and the extended Zubko family.
Doug graduated with a double major in political science and philosophy from the University of Winnipeg in 1967. He moved to Vancouver where he graduated in law from UBC in 1970. He has lived in Victoria, B.C. since 1970, where he has maintained a sole proprietorship law practice in an age of large legal corporations, occupying a humble office the size of two parking spaces across from the courthouse. His practice initially focused on criminal law, but he later developed a deeply passionate interest in freedom of expression and civil liberties. Throughout his life as a lawyer, he embodied the true spirit of “pro bono publico” often representing clients of little means to ensure they had a voice. He was a born defense lawyer, brilliant cross-examiner, and tenacious arguer.
As Canada’s most prolific defender of free speech, he appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada for this issue more times than any other counsel in Canada, to date.
He defended the landmark cases of Keegstra, Zundel, Malcolm Ross, John Ross Taylor, Canadian Liberty Net, and Finta, all before the Supreme Court of Canada. Doug also appeared in the Old Bailey and the Court of Appeal in London, England, and throughout Canada in all levels of court, and his family spent much time seeing him off and greeting him at airports.
His wife Keltie worked with him as his legal assistant during the years before the children were born and together they worked on the case of which Doug was proudest. As defense counsel in Canada’s only war crimes trial (the Finta case), he took part in court proceedings for the defense in Hungary, Israel and Canada. After a 2 year investigation, millions of prosecution dollars and a 9 month trial, the accused was acquitted without calling evidence, in less than 2 hours on the basis of Doug’s cross examination. After the crown’s appeal to the Supreme Court, he was successful in having the law severely restricted and it has never been used again.
Up until the time of his death, he continued to advise clients around the world on publication and free speech issues. Two and a half weeks before he died, he was struggling to finish a jury trial, fighting pain and nausea, but true to his aim, he still wanted to finish the trial to the best of his ability. He deeply regretted to the end that he was leaving his clients unrepresented by his illness and death.
During the 1990’s he built a reputation as a major inspirational speaker for freedom, travelling the world speaking about its importance.
In 1978, he created a political movement called the Western Canada Concept, for the Independence of Western Canada. As the major advocate of Western Canadian independence, he spoke in 100’s of meetings in most little towns and cities of Western Canada, on talk shows, to schools and universities, and widely varied associations. For example, in July of 1981, he gave 36 speeches in 30 days, travelling throughout BC and Alberta, advocating Western Canadian separation. He ran in many provincial and federal elections, always taking the opportunity to express his political opinions.
Cadeyrn and Kalonica will greatly miss his ever-present guidance, encouragement, love and support as well as the spirited arguments he delighted in starting around the table at meals. Keltie is profoundly grateful for the great joy (amid the challenges) of life and work with him for 32 years. He was a kind and humorous man who gave freely all that he had of his wisdom, his fighting spirit, his off-the-wall solutions and his love of beauty. In memory of Doug, and in lieu of flowers, we ask simply that you do as he always tried to do: pass on any kindness shown to you, to someone else.
Prayers will be held at McCall’s Downtown, Johnson and Vancouver Streets at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14th. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Andrews Cathedral, 10 a.m., Friday, March 15th, with private interment to follow. There will be a reception at the Laurel Point Inn, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. All those who wish to share their memories or who were moved by his life, are welcome. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
28 Responses
I have been reading transcripts of Doug’s cross-examinations in the Ernst Zündel trial of 1985. Despite the formidible forces against him and his client, his cross-examination skills were very important. The questioning of Prof. Raoul Hilberg was an eye opener for me. The entering into evidence the aerial photos of Auschwitz and the examination thereof were undervalued in its time. The same photos would later show up in the David Irving versus Prof. Lipstadt libel trial.
Criminal proceedings require a much stricter level of evidence than a civil suit. He established that the US National Archives held deliberately falsified photos supplied by the CIA.
The only definitive aerial photos of Auschwitz in an unbroken chain of custody now lie in the Kremlin archives in Moscow. Our entire historical narrative can be rewritten depending on the will of Russian authorities.
Douglas Christie has left his mark on world history. He will not be easily forgotten.
To Douglas’s family, My sincere sympathy on the loss of your
beloved partner and father. I was a very young person when I met him and actively followed his career over the past four decades.I have a wonderful memory of him riding his bicycle at top speed down Cook Street, singing I am I, Don Quixote at the top of his lungs. His enthusiasm for life was irrepressible. He may have tilted at windmills,much like Don Quixote, but his windmills were real to hm, as well as to others. Peace and prayers go with you, sincerely bonnie
I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Doug’s family.
I had known of Doug for over 30 years and had followed his courtroom career with passing interest, vaguely wondering why anyone would take on the task of defending the kind of clients he was most celebrated for defending and how it must be to deal with the level of criticism he inevitably faced as a result, being judged so wrongly as necessarily holding the same beliefs as his clients. I don’t think lawyers who cheerfully and lucratively defend organised crime figures ever face the shameful abuse that Doug had to merely for upholding fundamental rights and principles..
I finally met Doug in person at Church a few years ago – he introduced himself only as “Doug” – and we often walked to our vehicles together after Mass. We would chat about this and that and I was impressed with his decency, humanity and gentle humour, none of which I would have expected from a lawyer of his stature and reputation. It was then that I began to appreciate the true measure of the man.
We met again about a year ago at the Jubilee Hospital when we were both going for tests. Doug seemed more concerned about my welfare than about his own. My news as it turned out was reassuring, Sadly, Doug’s was not.
I last saw him on a BC ferry a few months ago when he told me that his cancer had returned, but so calmly and matter-of-factly that I assumed the longer term prognosis must have been encouraging.
When I heard two weeks ago that he was dying and listened to him being interviewed, I was not only shocked but deeply moved by his courage and acceptance.
A splendid and principled human being has left us.
To Doug’s family, my sincere condolences.
I met Doug just once. In the 1980s, in my twenties, I worked at 844 Courtney Street, near Doug’s little office.
I had gone to Fort Street to pick up some printing. When I saw the box I was a little dismayed, it was a bigger box then I expected and I wondered if it was too heavy to carry back to the office. I decided that it was only 3 blocks and that I could manage it, so I started back. By the time I turned off Blanshard Street onto Courtney, I thought my arms were going to drop off and my back was telling me clearly, “What were you thinking?” Then suddenly at my side, a tall gentleman appeared, and said in a slightly scolding tone, “That box is much too heavy, let me carry it for you.” He asked me where we were headed and we walked together to the reception area of my workplace. We didn’t chat, I was trying to get the feeling back in my fingers and arms and my back was still yelling at me. The gentleman deposited the box on the counter and I thanked him very much and then he left as unassumingly as he had appeared. A colleague in my office said, “Do you know who that is?” I replied, “A nice man who assisted a damsel in distress?” She said that it was Doug Christie.
From then on, whatever the controversy and whenever Mr. Christie was in the news, I recalled the kindness of a stranger, knowing firsthand that Doug Christie was a good and kind man.
I am so sorry for your loss.
With warm wishes that the memories of your time together will bring comfort and warmth to the grief of losing your husband, father and friend.
Many of us in Brazil have been inspired by Christie’s struggle for freedom and have admired his brightness, courage and his determination in making this world more livable.
We are lucky to have him in this generation, and while we may miss his body, his ideals and strength will be hosted and observed with love and care in our hearts and mind.
Thank you Cristie!
Dear Keltie,
My sincerest condolences to you and your family. I will always remember Doug as a man of commitment and integrity…
Our condolences + sympathy to Keltie, Kalonica, Cadeyrn + all of Doug’s family, friends + his many clients, admirers + supporters who will miss him. We shall write a fuller tribute, to follow in due course. We only regret that it is not possible for us to pay our last respects in person. Rest in peace, and Godspeed!
It was an honour to call Doug my friend. He was the greatest person I have ever known. We met over a case and I’m certain our paths would never have crossed otherwise and it was the best thing that happened. My condolences go out to Keltie, Caderyn & Kalonica. I have the greatest respect for Doug.
Rest in peace.