Christopher David Blaszk

Christopher (Squid) David Blaszk

October 09, 1986 – February 03, 2026

Chris the king of carrot flowers, was born to parents Lorna and Stephen Blaszk on October 9th, 1986. The Scottish blue wonderous eyes capturing the world and all its mysteries. His wild charismatic craziness, he was ready to live. The outdoors was where Chris thrived, seeking adventure and connection. He received a government recognition award in Scouts, traveling over a week canoeing, hiking, and biking, and as his sister of course I trickled behind him, Chris always leading the way. That kid was always on the move, and if you ever saw Chris playing soccer then you knew he wasn’t meant to be caught. Chris played soccer and his teams excelled in many medals and provincial championships. Chris tried some other sports as well such as lacrosse, karate, and later refereed soccer. Chris found skateboarding and music, and this is where he found freedom.

Self-expression and the creativity to move through vibrations is something Chris was always embodying. He jammed in bands, busked the busy streets in Calgary, danced nights away providing the music, and created music with some of his closest friends. After Chris graduated high school, he lived in Kelowna before returning to Calgary. It was in Kelowna, Chris found cooking to express his love and creative ideas in new recipes. Starting as a line cook, hot grills and being inside was short lived. His cooking never stopped, it shifted, he was starting to focus on the ingredients of life. Chris loved reading, from quantum physics to Tom Robbins and Hunter S Thompson, escaping through literature between universes. I shared his books, taking him on some of his favorite journeys, reading daily during his last months in the ICU.

Chris lived in a few places (Canmore, Jasper) before committing to a position in Calgary. The Zamboni wizard of Lake Sundance, the grounds keeper who would be reading on his breaks. Chris’s values of hard work and modesty glistened off that ice. It was here that Chris’s toes felt the earth. Some may recall Chris with blonde dreads, and for those that know me (Ses) well Squid was born. This is a nickname that many know Chris by, memories of him flying on his skateboard dreads smacking his face. With the dirt smashed between his toes, Chris traveled to the States for festivals, skated mills (Calgary gang), went to shows, arm in arm seeing Motorhead together. Planting moon flower and morning glory as reminders of simple beauty. Chris was known around Calgary for his loyalty and that big mischievous smile. Many of our friends can recall Chris’s music blasting from our hidden balcony downtown Calgary. That balcony is where Chris and I saw life through one another. Chris, shades on, baby blue Umbro soccer shorts, faux fur jacket with no shirt, no shoes,

no problem, his smile and those squid dreads, that was him. Studying horticulture through Olds College of Agriculture and Technology, Chris was shoes off and all in. Like I said the dirt kept coming, the coastal air was blowing I like to think maybe he was following Ses for once, but Chris left Calgary and headed to Salt Spring Island where “life’s a garden, dig it.”

Chris poured his heart into the soils of Duck Creek Farm. Bringing new life to areas of the farm that may have been stagnant. Many market days, up with the roosters tending to the seeds of life. Chris planting parts of himself all over the farm in new veggies, to squeezing the juice out when it came time for juicing season. Chris was nothing but hard working, modest and digging life. On the farm this is where Chris met Ella. Like the farm, Chris brought beauty into those whom he cared for. He loved fully and without condition. After an unfortunate accident, Chris went full tilt in caring for Ella, balancing the farm and crafting new ideas on what life might look like once recovered. Slow and steady, Ella was healing and they dived toes first back into the farm. Garlic, beets, and carrots oh my. Chris introduced wildflowers, rubs and salts for cooking from garlic and peppers they planted. The farm was blooming and Chris was always grooving. Have you heard Chris howl? It got a lot louder when they got Zappa. Chris loved his dog Zappa, finding peace in silence, unless they were howling. Like the farm blooming with beauty, Chris and Ella shared their wedding there in 2021. Chris was able to put some dirt down and pick up some sand exploring Costa Rica with Ella. Chris loved the silence of listening to the ocean, it is because of his squid sense. Chris built a family on the farm, he also built the structures that would allow their space a walk way, a patio, a deck, nursery, tiny home , and indoors bathroom. Chris and Ella had been growing their own seed. I am so proud of Chris, he got to be a dad and that was his biggest joy.

Chris loved seeing his beautiful daughter Ezme. His eyes would twinkle back at hers. He was also terrified at loving her so much and at times caused him more self doubt. The way he talked about being Ezzy’s dad, brought him so much joy, that his pain at times was lighter. I am forever grateful he got to show his daughter this kind of love. Chris showed Ezzy his love for music, her first festival, and playing drums with her dad.

The farm’s winds shifted and Chris was exploring a new aspect of growth. Chris started working on his climbing for his arborist ticket. Learning knots, working on ground crew, climbing with spurs, avoiding wasps nest…Chris was also working on landscaping, and concrete work while pursuing any climbing opportunity. If you were Chris’s friend, he made you know that the relationship you shared with him was one of a kind. Chris was not fake, he gave everything and up until the day he passed he kept on giving. Although life had

thrown Chris full tilt from the day he was born, Chris lived fully. He did everything at full tilt, even his pain hit him like that.

The last 10 months of Chris’s life had its challenges. Navigating a new chapter of his life, Chris and Ella separated in the early summer of 2025. There were fears and uncertainty that his navigation was already troubled, but Chris was continuing to work hard into the fall months, just completing a big concrete pour. Chris is a beautiful soul. After a long journey, fighting, Chris’s final embrace was staying long enough to be here for his daughter’s birthday. He felt so proud of her, the following day Chris was free of tubes and pain. He transitioned with Ses by his side on Feb 03 2026. I hope those who were touched in some way by Chris remember that he lived and loved. The wild, magical heart Chris also had many silent struggles. It is not how Chris passed, but who he is, the good, bad, and not so pretty. I am honored to have had him in all my life, to show me unconditional platonic love, for protecting me. When you see a full moon, know Chris is dancing and if you listen to silence Chris is whispering you a message.

Chris spent his final two months in the intensive care unit at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. Chris was met by some of the staff with such compassion and care. They took care of Leslie too, chats, hugs, and VIP hospital socks. I am forever grateful, if thinking about wanting to donate please consider Adult Mental Health and Substance Use for the Southern Gulf Islands, or the ICU at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. I’m honored to be Chris’s sister, forever known as Ses to him. I will never know how to live this life without you but thank you for living everyday with me. I love you forever.