Christopher Seguin's family celebrates his birthday with fundraising competition
It has been five years since Christopher Seguin died, but his family is keeping his spirit and legacy alive for his children and community through fundraising.
Seguin was the Vice President of Advancement at Thompson Rivers University and would have been 45 years old today, Oct. 20.
“He was passionate about helping his community and making sure children and families didn’t go hungry,” said his mom, Deb Seguin.
With some friends and family located in Winnipeg and some in Kamloops, the Seguins are having a competition across the provinces, to see who can donate more food to local charities to honour Christopher’s legacy of giving.
It has become an annual memorial tradition.
“It is a good way to celebrate his birthday,” Deb said. “He supported different food security initiatives through Kamloops Food Bank and other events including rotary family dinners.
“Last year we were able to donate around 3,200 pounds of food in his memory.”
The friendly competition runs from Oct. 18 to 20 so people still have time to donate.
“The important thing is that they have to mention their donation is in honour of Chris and the weights will be tallied up. So far Kamloops has won every year.”
Chris’s sister Jennifer is heading the Winnipeg food drive with donations going to Harvest Manitoba. If Winnipeg loses the competition, she will have to do a spicy chip challenge called the Paqui one-chip challenge.
If Winnipeg wins, Chris’s friend Devon O’Toole in Kamloops will have to eat the spicy chip.
O’Toole donated a shopping cart full of food and related household supplies.
“I am donating to honour a best friend and brother’s memory,” he said. “If you knew him I encourage you to do the same and drop a donation or make a cash donation with “In memory of Christopher Seguin” in the memo.”
Deb said the family, friends and colleagues are trying to make Christopher’s birthday one that reflects who he was, and instead of spending it feeling sad, they are instead getting ambitious.
“It seems to be an especially tough year for families,” she said. “We are trying to help an organization to help Chris help others.”
READ MORE: New Kelowna Sikh temple looking to grow food for the needy
Deb said in the past Christopher got his rotary to sponsor dinners to make sure families were fed, with one dinner bringing in over 200 guests.
“The rotary would sponsor some of it and the Kamloops Food Bank would donate food as well,” she said. “I think there was a food share where restaurants would donate. He also got Toys R Us to sponsor gifts for the kids.
“He would gather all the volunteers and say ‘this is all about love, there is no judging, all we are going to provide is food and love'.”
Deb takes her two grandsons, Chris’s sons, to buy and drop off donations.
“It was important to Chris that his kids understand about kindness and sharing. They love to weigh the items at the food bank and tally up the numbers.”
Christopher Seguin was a member of the community and worked at the local university. He was an active member of TRU and made contributions to not only his community, but others surrounding the city.
He died tragically in Victoria Sept. 22, 2017 of a mixture of alcohol and fentanyl and the death has been classified as accidental.
READ MORE: TRU vice president died from mix of alcohol, fentanyl: Coroner
Go here to make a cash donation to the Kamloops Food Bank or drop off items at Kamloops Food Bank Society at 171 Wilson Street.
Go here to make a cash donation to Harvest Manitoba or drop items off at 1085 Winnipeg Ave.
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