I was looking online to re-connect with Chai and have discovered that he has passed away. My condolences for his family. I always saw Chai at Environmental events in and around Toronto. His energy was amazing and the conversations were always enlightening.


Regards,
Amanda Cain

I met Chai in the early seventies when I came to study at the U of T. Chai was there at every event that tried to create a better society. He lived by his ideals and made it better for all newcomers to Canada. I remember when he fought for the right to swear on a religious book other than the Bible and won! RIP Chai. I will cherish your memory until I pass.

I offer my condolences to the family on the sudden passing away of Chai Kalevar. I met Chai in early 90's and met, talked several occasions most of the time along St. Clair. His dedication and commitment for the environment is an example for others to follow. We all miss his presence along St. Clair. Rest in Peace Chai! 

My dear Chaimama,as fondly I called you mamu why you left us so early. I still remember vividly how you use to tell us jungle stories where you fought with lion Or a big python,though it was yor imagination but as children we believed every word of you.Then in mumbai you used to bring largest watermelon which we used to finish in no time.Then you have printed those ONE WORLD t-shirts many of them were sold by me and my family on your insistence being a noble cause and we responded.There are endless memories of you to describe it a book has to be written. At this point I will only prey to almighty to keep your vivacious and noble soul near to him and bless his soul .Mamu I will miss you forever.

I am saddened that Chai, whom I had the pleasure of knowing for so many years, has left us. He was a moral person, uncompromising and prepared to stand up at any cost for the values he held dear. Chai's range of commitments was all encompassing and he accepted sacrifices to fight for them. I got to know him in the late 1970s and developed an admiration for him that did not wane. Chai was a unique person and there aren't many like him. While engaged in the many issues that concerned him, Chai raised children he was proud of. May his life and memory be a beacon when there are so few like him. RIP, dear Chaitanya Kalevar. You were always true to your name.

I was not a friend of Chai but I fondly remember him riding his bike when canvassing in every election. I have spoken to him on a few occasions. I will miss seeing him doing his canvassing on his bicycle. Condolences to his family.

Chai will be missed. I appreciated his passion and dedication. It was always clear what he stood for and he was a constant presence at protests and bike rides.

I'm sorry I didn't know him better. Reading his obit and other people's memories of him showed me there was a lot of depth to Chai.

Chai on T-shirts. 2009
PFP - riders: It was great riding with you all in the hot sun and the  cool breeze and lucky no rain
It was a week I will not forget. After a long time, a long bike ride!

As promised, you have earned one "Just One World" T-shirt for your commitment to "PFP"

You have seen the designs, you make your choice and hopefully accept the 'Just One World' outlook and philosophy, which by now you must have heard at least once from me or overheard when I was narrating it to some one else. It is:
"Wear the T-shirt at least once a week in public and make that your global education day. Yes, turning your back on folks can be educational and not impolite. There are global problems in the world, and we will not solve them unless there are enough people thinking globally.  A one minute read of global commandments is a short course in global awareness. A critical number of global thinkers are required for the world to make a transformational leap that is required asap." 

I do hope that you agree and begin practising it. If not, let me know, where I am wrong in this simple plan to get there from here?

1 One World/Our World
2 CO2 Emissions per capita
3 Mining our Planet
4 Charge Gas Tax
5 Fishing anyone? - No fish to fish
6 Planet Emergency
There is no reason to be shy about trying to save the only planet we have by increasing global awareness asap!
I really do not expect any disagreement about all this from any one of you, but you just have to get over your personal hang ups.As I say to some who object to wearing anything written on their bodies - "Why is your personal style and image more important than our planet?"
If a boat is sinking, you will be asked to wear a life jacket and you will comply and perhaps fight for it.In the age of stupid, our land mass may be sinking or catching fire,  I urge you to consider anyone of the T-shirt as your choice T-shirt once a week to get your social circle in sight on board. I promise it will increase your social circle.

Ride on dear climate buddy! Thank you for sharing your embrace of life! Rita, René and Kvesche 


I am sorry to hear of the passing of Chai. A wonderful guy. I met him years ago with the Liberal Party and enjoyed talking with him whenever we would bump into each other. Smart and full of ideas. All the best to his family and friends in this time of difficulty. Jack Heath, former Deputy Mayor of Markham

I remember Chaimama's smile and hearty laugh every time I met him.We are there with his family,Sanjeev,Prem and Pricella in these sad hours. I pray  to the God to give stength to them to bear the loss. May his soul rest in peace.
Alka Shere.(Kamaltai 's daughter)

The last time I saw Chai at church was in December when he wanted a sign protesting the construction of HWY 413, because he felt strongly about it. That's how I will remember him -being passionate about issues he felt needed change - and always with that smile -

We are sad to hear about the demise of Chaitan Mama. We offer our condolences to the family. 

What he will be most remembered for by his family and friends and the people around him is that he dedicated his life to creating awareness about the impact of climatic change. 

We remember from our childhood days how he used to advocate the urgent action required to stabilise the planet's climate and how to protect people from the damage caused by the destruction of the world environment. He must have had his share of hardships during his journey, but that never stopped him. But as he passes away from this life, everyone can see all that he has achieved in his endeavour to make the world a better place for future generations. 

He will be fondly remembered flaunting the t-shirt with the message, 'One World' written on it. 

So despite the grief and pain, we hope that his family can take solace in knowing that his team and like-minded people will carry forward his persistence in achieving and creating awareness about a more sustainable world. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Priscila Mami, Prem and Sanjiv.


As his next-door neighbour for 12 or more years and his friend for the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Chai both in and outside of his role as an activist. Chai has certainly lived a full life with a career as varied as engineer, math and computer science professor, freelance journalist, author, poet, politician, environmental activist and maybe more. With regards to his activism, Chai was passionate and determined. He ran in every single political election on the same environmental agenda. I’ve helped him in his election campaigns as his financial officer once and helped him with his websites and videos at other times; it was through this experience that I got to know him and his views a little better. Even when he was still recovering from his TTC accident, he ran for MPP and went around campaigning. His perseverance is absolutely inspiring. With regards to his life in general, he was so full of energy just like his name. My family and I have so many memories of him. He liked fruits and often offered fruits to others as well. My grandpa and him would fix things together. He let us borrow his backyard this past summer to grow some vegetables and we shared some vegetables with him every day, which he then shared with others. He loved to learn and was especially curious about new technology. He was very kind and welcoming to us when we first moved in next to him and gifted me a book with different pictures of birds. He tried to encourage me to go outside and be in the sunshine more often. It’s only after Chai’s passing that I’ve started to realize just how involved Chai is in my life and I may be in his. We will miss him. Rest in peace Chai. 
P.S. To Sanjiv and Prem, my deepest condolences to you for the passing of your father. He was a proud father, and still kept your plastic World’s best dad medal you presumably gave him as a child (last seen in the middle drawers of the tall porch drawers, but he may have put it away elsewhere)


I thought of Chai as my political conscience.  Whenever he felt there was a whiff of cowardice or hypocrisy, Chai was there lobbying somewhere with petitions and policy papers in hand to ask why, why not stronger, why not tougher, why not sooner...questions he was relentless in asking.  His courage and his perseverance were inspiring.  I will miss him.

As fellow peaceful protesters at many marches and demos over the years, I knew him to be dedicated to leaving the Earth a better place. He radiated such a youthful energy, I was surprised to read his age in the obit. I expect his spirit will be with us at many more demos to come. I will certainly be remembering him then.  Maria Kasstan

My daily walks to and from home on Glenholme was made complete when I had a chance to greet and chat with Chai. He always had a thought to share, a petition for me to sign or a scolding for accepting plastic bags from the grocer instead of bringing my own reusable non-plastic bag. 

For more than 20 years Chai has been a fixture in my small St. Clair west village. Last summer my daughter Kalia and I once again signed his nomination papers to run in the federal election. We realized we were early signers and commented on that. He told us we should feel privileged!! 

I smile and chuckle when I remember the many conversations, debates and laughs we’ve had over the years. The gates of the ancestral realm are open to welcome him. May he be at rest. Chai you will be greatly missed.

Chai was someone you could count on seeing at many activist events.  His presence and his commitment will be missed.  My condolences to his family and loved ones.

Ceta Ramkhalawansingh
Toronto

My condolences to the family. He was one of "our own." "Our own" means "our family of dedicated and principled environmentalists and concerned citizens for social justice." He always had the warmest handshake at all our meetings. Even though others knew him better than I did, I always felt like we had an automatic bond of friendship and solidarity every time we met at an event. So now I must pause at this moment of sadness...... 

Chai was always a joyful and determined presenter at any event dealing with peace, the environment and the World.

I am so saddened by his passing and was just thinking of how wonderful it will be after this pandemic to see him again.  

My Deep Condolences to His Family

Rev. Karen Harrison , Toronto Buddhist Council

Our heartfelt condolences Ditche... to you and to the whole family❤

From Tita Nelly Eugenio & family

Hi, Priscila. Sorry to learn of the passing of your husband, Chaitanya. I have been following links online this afternoon, finding he was a very accomplished man with very focused interests in environmental protection.  Obviously a man of principles.
May he rest in peace.
I still remember you well from the Che Guevara Brigade, one of my favourite brigadistas.

Chai will be dearly missed by his fellow Toronto activists. He rode his bike everywhere and would say “Wear what you think.” Walking his talk, he produced many different t-shirts with slogans that expressed what he thought:
Black list – coal, oil, gas, nuclear: Green list – solar, wind, waves, geothermal
Charge Gas Tax by their weight and horse power
Radiate today, mutate tomorrow – Close all nuclear plants
Are we serial killers of species? You bet! What do you think?
Mining our planet is for once only – toxic tailing ponds
C02 Emissions per capita – what is your shoe size? Nuclear power is not the answer!
G8/G20 – Quit your drug habits – carbon and uranium
One World Our World
 
Always a grand presence in the Toronto activist scene, Chai was an outspoken anti-car, climate and anti-nuclear activist.
 
While still in India, he worked on a Canadian CANDU nuclear reactor with Atomic Energy of India. He would ask his superiors "What are you going to do with the waste?" Their answer was "There are smart people in Canada that will solve this problem in 5-10 years." So he came to Canada, but never found those smart people. After 70 years, we still don't know what to do with the waste. Chai talked about this at hundreds of public meetings in Toronto and globally. He self-published a book of poetry and essays called Climate Change in the Nuclear Age: Fukushima is Beating War Drums! Here's a quote from it:
 
We have had enough of Carbon and Uranium!
It's time to go cold turkey!
CO2-Sky colonialism has more than reached its limits!
Will the gluttonous west turn around before it is too late?
It is just not small islands but polar bears are sinking too!
 
The world has lost a warrior. Rest in power Chai!

Original Toronto Star caption: Call for equality: Chaitanya Kalevar; at the mike; and Willis Cummins behind him; were among 150 at a public briefing at the Harbour Castle Hilton yesterday on a report urging Ottawa to use economic clout to persuade companies to hire non-whites.

"In 1975, the message Chaitanya Kalevar delivered to the Ontario Energy Board seemed bizarre: The Toronto engineer said he was worried about pollution heating up the world's atmosphere.

In the same brief, he warned that serious nuclear accidents were statistically likely to happen — somewhere — which would force the evacuation of thousands of people and send radioactive fallout around the world..."

Chai sent this birthday card before my visit to Toronto from Baltimore in April, '66. We had lovely time together.

Sending our condolences during this very difficult time. May Daddy Kalevar RIP. Lots of love and warm hugs. - The Mandelbaums

We called him Kuya Chai. A way to address with respect an  elder brother-in law. I met Kuya Chai during my first trip to Toronto when I had Christmas break from school in Memphis. I got to know him well because part of the plan during my visit was to attend an International gathering of students in Muskoka. We spent a lot of times together in the winter camp. Kuya Chai was very active and very opinionated in his political views. His advocacy focused on  preserving the planet. And we had a lot of conversations about this. He owned a bike.  I got  to ride with him, nervously  following him maneuver  the busy and  sometimes crowded streets of Toronto during one of my repeat visits to the city. Thank God we arrived safely to our destination at my sister's place. I heard several stories about his visit to our folks in the Philippines. He was well loved and admired. When there's a party or gathering, Kuya Chai was one of the most active dancers on the floor. Boy, he's got the moves! So long, Kuya Chai. May you Rest In Peace.

Chai's activist work was featured in the Toronto Star's article "The world is catching up to Kalevar." published in September 1988. 

With Sanjiv moving to the US, Chai was always delighted to be able to spend time with his two sons together.

Some may not recognize Chai with a full head of hair! :D

Sharing a few more photos in his family life, outside of his work as an activist and planetary patriot.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Chaitanya K. Kalevar

16 avril 1942 – 11 février 2022

Jerrett Funeral Homes - St. Clair Chapel

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