Contributions to the tribute of Christopher Holt Waring

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Gregg LaMarsh posted a condolence

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Jeff, I was very sorry to hear about your loss of Chris. Wishing you and yours peace during this painful period. best Gregg LaMarsh PS I join Gord Foss, Wade Alphonso, Mike Cross, Thom Sloley, Greg Dysart and Jim Giordano for semi-annual pissups and am sure that you'd be welcome.

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Paul Harpley posted a condolence

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Chris was my most trusted and experienced Toronto Zoo staff member. He arrived right out of high school, about 5 years after I had been working in the Live Collections branch and starting in the Graphics Dept, as a Graphics Assistant where we worked together for about 3 years. The new Toronto Zoo had suffered through a major recession in the international oil crisis shortly after opening, when the Graphics Dept had all but disappeared due to City budget cuts during those difficult times. Chris left briefly to pursue other options but within a short time he was not happy out of the Zoo. A few years later I was leading a new initiative as Project Manager at the Zoo involving all design development and construction coordination of all capital and operating projects. Next came an Exhibit Department additional to the redesign of the Graphics Dept. As soon as I could I was able to hire Chris back to the Zoo, he being a natural artist with hands-on talent and experience in many different materials and methods, creative work. Chris was an Exhibit Design Production Assistant and was able to help me develop this whole new exciting initiative of finally opening up major redevelopments to the original Toronto Zoo adventure. Bringing in like-minded talented staff for project-specific implementation of our very ambitious 20-year Toronto Zoo Master Plan including the design/construction and fabrication, office and workshops. This work was essential to the reimagining and design of the Toronto Zoo. Together with many others, including zookeepers, curators, a broad range of general and specific maintenance staff, and senior staff, were engaged for many years in hundreds of projects from small to $25M capital projects during 25 years. Chris had an essential role in the back end production and actual detailed work to accomplish this redevelopment of the Zoo. Chris was always engaged in what could be done to improve the Zoo’s exhibits and visual development. His enthusiasm and certainly working shoulder to shoulder with myself, could not have been done in any other way. He and others there went above and beyond job descriptions to present the Zoo in its internationally important status and reputation. As a friend, I will never forget Chris, as we maintained our friendship after retirement. Our regular visits were to reminisce. They were humorous, and enlightening about the many years at the Zoo. He and I shared interests in nature and camping in Ontario Provincial Parks. Paul Harpley, Retired from Toronto Zoo 31 years Former Manager of Interpretation, Culture and Design

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Tracy jornsreeves posted a condolence

Sunday, April 19, 2026

I'll never forget chris from us eating aresol cheese and boil in foils after school. To his drawings if wizards and him playing "wish you were here". I thought he had written the song lol. So many funny stories to tell so many beautiful memories,so.many youthful adentures, he spoke often of his love for the zoo animals and his own pets. From pool fights at cedar valley to chats from his place at GUmmies. Being invited to bring my children over to visit his pet reptile ( lol.) Was planning on heading to cherry street and visit with him so sad I had not phoned sooner. He was my best cedar valley friend

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Peter Hughes uploaded photo(s)

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

I remember back in the 80s I was at their house on Obrian ave in stouffville. His parents were having dinner. When came in Chris announced that we where going to a Halloween party. That he was going as a Hooker,so he said to his Mom (Barb) I need to borrow some of your clothes (OMG the look on her face as she said PARDON in a loud voice!. Well his Dad( Norm) all most fell out of his chair laughing. I'll never forget looks on both their ( Norm and I had tears coming out of our eyes laughing. Barb was still in shock, as Chirs said I don't think that came out right. Barb said I should hope so!!!. Well all laughed until our sides hurt!!!!. I'll never forget the looks on Norm and Barb's faces,( and Chris) went he realized how it sounded.

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Billy Hughes posted a condolence

Monday, April 13, 2026

Chris was a great guy, being a close friend of my older brother Peters. I got to know him quite well. Glad you’re not suffering anymore, rest easy.

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The family of Christopher Holt Waring uploaded a photo

Monday, April 13, 2026

Christopher Holt Waring

1963 - 2026