Chris Morrissey was a powerhouse of a human being, an indomitable, unflinching defender of human rights. Her work as an advocate and community builder, expanded the rights of 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians and defended the rights of refugees—breaking down barriers, forging new paths, creating change-making organizations and catalyzing legislation. Her advocacy spanned decades, countries, and languages and had massive impacts on countless people locally, across the country and around the globe. She faced every challenge life threw at her courageously and collectively—organizing, collaborating, and leading with others to actualize practical, everyday justice. In 2020, the immensity of her contributions was recognized by Canada’s highest honour, the Order of Canada.
As extraordinary as she was as a social justice advocate and community builder, Chris’ generous heart made her a magnificent sister, grandma, chosen family member and friend. Many of us are missing her today, and forever. We will remember and cherish her wry humour, delight in simple joys, and steadfast love.
Christine Mary Morrissey (December 27th, 1942 – April 14th, 2025) was born in Leicester, England. Her family immigrated to Prince George, BC when she was eight. Even as a very young child, Chris believed in challenging traditional ‘ways’ and ‘why’s’ to life’s rules. Her ethical conviction and courage to speak truth to power were apparent early—and well known to all who witnessed her advocating in Federal Parliamentary Standing Committees, Provincial and Municipal Advisory Committees and City Hall throughout her life. When Chris met and fell in love with her partner Bridget Coll in a convent in Albany in 1973, she soon realized that the love of her life was in fact also her partner in action. Together, they fought injustice in every community they made their home. Chris’ social circles were made up of many dear friends and chosen family members who worked together to advance human rights through community organizing. The ripples of impact of her and Bridget’s lifelong feminist social justice and community-building work, reverberate widely.
Chris and Bridget courageously organized against dictatorship in Chile, while building women-supporting food banks in Santiago. When they returned to Canada in 1992, Chris put these feminist collective organizing practices to work in transition homes for women leaving violence and at Vancouver’s 2SLGBTQI+ community centre (now Qmunity) to expand programs for seniors and youth through the generations project. Here, she collaborated in the creation of a Queer seniors writing collective now known, and very active as QUIRK-E.
When Canada’s immigration system refused to recognize their relationship as family, Chris and Bridget turned their own struggle into a country-wide movement for immigration rights for 2SLGBTQI+ individuals by co-founding LEGIT. Advocacy with LEGIT was instrumental in securing 2SLGBTQI+ family recognition in Canada’s Immigration Act. In 2000, Chris co-founded Rainbow Refugee to support and advocate with refugees leaving sexuality and gender-based persecution. In addition, Chris’ passion and wisdom created significant impact and change by serving on multiple City of Vancouver public advisory committees, including the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee, their Seniors Advisory Committee and the 2SLGBTQI+ Advisory Committee, and Dignity Seniors Society. She was a loved and enthusiastic member of the All Bodies Community Recreation.
Chris’ example of service to justice is legendary and inspirational; Less known, but equally important, we will hold the many everyday joys she cherished in our hearts. Chris liked to wear purple and inexpertly dabbled purple colour in her hair. She was stumped and proud of it—don’t pull her leg. Every challenge was embraced, personalized and made her own. Chris was authentically Chris. Modest, engaged and listened – mostly – unless you were offering help. So fiercely independent. She loved deeply and showed that with her action and openness. Bluntly honest—you knew what Chris thought, and those truths may not have been appreciated in the moment, but we miss them now. She made us laugh and she laughed with us. Chris was that friend that showed up, again, and again. Chris was there to share your trials and tribulations, your successes, your down time…. whatever it was, she was there. We will share London Fogs, Corona, Ice Cream, Piscos Sours with her mutual friends and toast to Chris. We will have to catch up on Coronation Street and play crib games with lots of trash talk. And, what are you reading now? Chris loved nothing like a good murder mystery. Chris was proud of her Spanish language—multilingual playfulness and cheek! She was that dedicated Grandma who doted and guided with wisdom and a good cast of side eye for emphasis. She was that sister who never quit. Chris is the devoted partner to Bridget in Life, Action and Rest. Chris is predeceased by her partner Bridget Coll, and her parents Olive and Norbert Morrissey and her brother Peter Morrissey. She leaves behind her family and friends including brother Paul Morrissey and his partner Rita Runge, many cousins, Kate Gibney and her partner Barb McEachern, grandchild Colleen Gibney and partner Parsa Oftadeh; Sheila Carreon and Alexa Aguilar; and so many more cherished folks. Chris leaves behind so many people who love her immensely; it is not that we ‘loved’ her in the past tense; we will forever love her. Chris taught and mentored the importance of action, persistence, and courage to make change with compassion – an inspiration for all. Some of the most powerful and sizable ways Chris has impacted people are through the organizations that she founded or co-founded.
Some of these incredible groups include:
Rainbow Refugee a life-changing organization that has helped thousands of people fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status.
LEGIT the Lesbian and Gay Immigration Task Force: 30 years ago, Chris, Bridget and Rob Hughes filed a suit in Federal Court alleging discrimination in Canada’s Immigration Act on the basis of sexual orientation, gender and family. In 2002, Canada’s Immigration Act was changed to include same-sex partners of Canadians in the family class
QUIRK-E standing for Queer Imaging and Riting Kollective for Elders, QUIRK-E is an important group focused on documenting and amplifying elder queers’ stories and advocating for queer elders.
Chris and Bridget will be interred together at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.
A collective is currently working on a Celebration of Life for the wider community, and it will take place in Vancouver in the summer of 2025.