About Christopher Sharp

Christopher Sharp
1960-1978

Christopher Sharp, the third of Isadore and Rosalie Sharp’s four sons, was born in 1960.

Chris grew from a vibrant boy into a charming and handsome young man who had a way of putting people at ease. He developed into a natural host with a flair for public speaking and a warm, personable style that made his parents glow with pride.

As a child and younger man, Chris was the picture of health, fitness and charisma. He was the only Sharp boy to express an interest in pursuing a career with the Four Seasons Hotel, the business his parents had founded. 

An avid dog-lover, Chris was as loyal to the family’s Samoyed as she was to him. He also cultivated a fascination with vehicles. He relished riding his motorcycle, and later, driving the car his parents gifted him when he was diagnosed with melanoma at just 17.

Tragically, Chris’s cancer diagnosis came at a late stage, because of a previous misdiagnosis. Even as he became sick and weak, he kept trying to live life and have fun. In an effort to bring him comfort and hope, his parents insisted he live at home even in his final months. Chris died at home on Friday March 10, 1978, with his parents by his side.

Isadore and Rosalie had previously been involved in fundraising for cancer charities, and had even hosted Terry Fox at one of the Four Seasons hotels. Chris’s death inspired the Sharp family to found the Terry Fox Run, which has grown into one of the largest and most successful fundraising events in Canada.

In 2013, the Sharps donated $15 million to create the Chris Hugh Sharp Cancer Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital, part of Sinai Health. Their gift embodies the legacy that Chris left behind, and demonstrates their commitment to helping other patients and their families living with cancer.