When Chris Pool was young, he held strong convictions about inequality. He believed material possessions mattered far less than making a difference in the world, but he also wanted to be his own unique self and to walk his own path. That conviction never left him, even as his life wound through unexpected turns: stockbroker, building inspector, immigrant services work in Vancouver, artist, spiritual seeker, and beyond.
During one particularly demanding stretch working as a stockbroker, Chris developed a practice: on the hard days, instead of letting frustration settle in, he would donate to Seva Canada. If he had to be at work, at least his labour could give someone their sight back. It was a small act of alignment, a way of ensuring his time counted for something larger. Chris first discovered Seva in 1978 or 1979, and he’s been a committed supporter ever since. What resonates most is the elegance of Seva’s model: one person’s restored vision gives back two people their lives. “You can do a lot for other people without having to donate a lot,” he reflects. For someone drawn to both spirituality and practicality, that efficiency matters deeply.
His connection to Seva Canada runs even deeper. A lifelong spiritual seeker, Chris spent considerable time meditating in India, and years ago in Tamil Nadu, he crossed paths with Jerry Jones, one of Seva Foundation’s early founders. That encounter, meeting someone at the heart of Seva’s origins, reinforced what he already believed: that this work was rooted in something genuine.
Chris and his wife Martha have continued their support from Arizona, where they now live, though Vancouver, where Chris spent about thirty years, and India, where Chris discovered so much of himself, remain close to his heart. After all these years, he has never abandoned his youthful belief in a more just world. He’s simply found a way to build it, steadily and thoughtfully, through nearly fifty years of partnership with Seva.
Thank you, Chris and Martha, for your enduring commitment.
