Christopher Blake

I decided to become an Officiant after both my daughters were married by Humanist Officiants. Both experiences were incredibly moving and made me interested in sharing that intensity and joy with other couples. I am semi-retired with most of my career in the performing arts, first as an actor and then in the office as a marketer and fundraiser. I have spent quite a bit of my life on my feet in a public setting. I enjoy standing in front of a group and managing the experience of the attendees. And I love creating celebrations and rituals. I have been a stage actor, municipal politician, fundraising and marketing executive and community leader. I’ve created, promoted, managed, hosted and cleaned up after numerous celebrations, events and galas, so I understand how a wedding needs to be both entertaining and formal. This has convinced me of the importance of ritual and ceremony in creating significance in people’s lives. I have devoted a lot of time, creativity and commitment to community work as I believe in connecting people to each other and to the common resources of the community. And I was once a ringmaster in a Chinese Circus. I believe that milestone events in life are best experienced within a community of family, friends, children, neighbours and that acting as an Officiant is an exercise in focused community building, ensuring that the meaning and moment are recognized and duly celebrated.