From the pitch to pitching in: Chris Griffin (BA ’99)

When asked what led Chris Griffin to Laurier, the answer comes quickly: football.

“I was at my high school in Burlington when Laurier’s football coach, Tuffy Knight, came to recruit players,” he recalls.

“Back then, Ontario still had Grade 13, but I had already finished three of the six required credits. The coaches told me that if I came to Laurier for the summer, took two courses, and passed, I could satisfy my requirements and enroll that fall. I went home and talked to my parents, and we decided it was an opportunity I should take.”

The decision wasn’t straightforward. Chris’ father was a police officer who insisted his son stay busy, no spare classes allowed, and money was tight in their blue-collar household. University wasn’t something they had necessarily planned for, but the chance to play football and continue his education was too good to pass up.

That summer, Chris lived on campus with about 30 other students and, by fall, was practicing with Laurier’s football team. His choice of major, however, was almost accidental.

“Somebody asked me what I was good at. I said math, and they said, ‘Well, you can’t major in math, so why not try economics?’ So, I did. There was no plan. It was just a different time. Jobs were easy to get; life was more affordable. It’s much tougher for students today.”

Switching Fields

Football didn’t last long. After an injury that resulted in less playing time, he gravitated toward rugby, where his friends were.

“I had played a little rugby in high school, but I wasn’t great. Still, the guys welcomed me, and that’s where I found my community. Those are the friends I stayed in touch with over the years.”

Rugby at Laurier was very much a student-led effort. The players didn’t want varsity status, preferring the freedom to organize their own games and enjoy the social side of the sport.

“We had a volunteer coach from the community, a few assistants, and a group of guys willing to show up and play. It wasn’t formal, but it worked. And we had some incredible players; guys who, if rugby had been a varsity sport with scholarships, could have gone anywhere.”

Detours and Discoveries

Like many students, the path wasn’t a straight line. After a few years, money ran short and so did his motivation.

“I told my parents I couldn’t afford to go back, which wasn’t the full story. I went backpacking in Europe instead. My mom cried, but it’s where I met my wife, so I guess it was meant to be.”

Once back in Canada, Chris went to work in carpentry, a family trade, before eventually moving with his wife to Eastern Ontario. By the late 1990s, they were ready for a change.

“Construction was cyclical, feast or famine, and we decided we wanted more. I joined USG (United States Gypsum Corporation), a building materials company based in Chicago. That move changed everything.”

Part of his agreement with USG was to finish his degree. Fortunately, Laurier offered one of the few correspondence programs at the time. Long before online learning, course materials and exams were mailed back and forth. His children’s school principal even proctored his exams. Nearly 20 years after first enrolling, Chris officially graduated from Laurier in 1999.

Giving Back

With his career established, giving back became a priority. Chris and his wife, now married more than 40 years, have long supported charities including Habitat for Humanity and Make-A-Wish. When Laurier reached out, he was surprised to learn about the financial barriers many students face.

“My view of Laurier when I was a student back in the ’70s was that everyone was wealthy compared to me, so I didn’t realize there was such a broad need. But when I learned more, it really struck me.”

That experience, combined with his own memories of struggling to afford school, inspired him to establish the Christopher Griffin Athletics Award in 2022. The award is granted yearly to Varsity Rugby athletes. Outside of his award, Chris continues to financially support the Men’s and Women’s Rugby teams as well.

“My wife and I have been very fortunate, and we believe in giving back. Supporting students at Laurier just felt like the right way to do it.”

From a chance encounter with a football coach in Burlington to a rugby pitch full of lifelong friends, and from carpentry in Ontario to a leadership role in Chicago, Chris’ story reflects resilience, reinvention and a commitment to community. Through his philanthropy, he’s making sure today’s Laurier students have the support they need to chart their own paths.