Chris Barran Memorial Fund
Much loved friend and classmate Chris Barran passed away of cancer on August 18th, 2020.
Chris started his journey at UVic law in 2016 and quickly became an irreplaceable figure in the Fraser building. His achievements during law school and contributions to the UVic law community are too many to list. Notable accomplishments include volunteering with Pro Bono Students Canada, tutoring first-year students through the Amicus program, managing the intramural soccer team, competing in the Wilson Moot, and working as an editor of the UVic law journal Appeal.
Chris was a diligent student and was a fixture in the law library and lounge. He could be found in the law building at all hours of the day. Between preparing for his courses, Chris took breaks to socialize, play soccer, and run up Mount Tolmie. Chris loved a good bit of banter, and his sense of humour and smile often lit up the room.
During law school, Chris met Hannah Thomson—a law student at UBC and the love of his life—while working together at WorkSafeBC. Chris and Hannah were inseparable, and the two of them provided an endless supply of laughter to those around them as they enjoyed each others’ company and strived to outwit each other.
Following graduation in June 2019, Chris began clerking for the Honourable Russel W. Zinn of the Federal Court in Ottawa. After his clerkship, Chris intended to return to Vancouver to article at Farris LLP, where he had previously worked as a summer student. Chris’s time at the Federal Court was cut short when he returned home to Vancouver to be with his family and undergo treatment.
Chris will be missed every day by his family—father Paul, mother Judith, siblings Ilona, Alexa, and Michael, and partner Hannah—who were able to spend the last few months of his life constantly by his side. Friends and family alike will fondly remember his kindness, empathy, insight, wit, and enthusiasm for the outdoors.
Chris was an incredible man. His promising future as a lawyer, family member, partner, and lifelong friend was cut tragically and incomprehensibly short. Please help keep his spirit of kindness, hard work, and humour alive as an enduring inspiration for future law students by contributing to the Chris Barran Memorial Fund.
To make your gift by cheque, please mail a cheque payable to the University of Victoria to the following address:
Please include "Chris Barran Memorial Fund" in the memo of the cheque.
Development Office
University of Victoria
PO Box 1700, Victoria, BC
V8W 2Y2 Canada
If you have any questions, please contact our Development Office at 250-472-4924, or by email at giving@uvic.ca. Please note our hours of operation are Monday-Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.