The Harry Critchley Prison Justice Fund
In Loving Memory of Harry Critchley
​Our hearts are broken to share that Harry Critchley, a dearly loved and cherished member of Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia, PATH Legal, and East Coast Prison Justice Society, passed away suddenly on Friday, February 21st, 2025. We are devastated and in disbelief that someone so integral to our work and community is gone at such a young age- we will forever feel his loss.
Harry was a fierce, brilliant, and unwavering advocate who met each person, regardless of their backgrounds, histories, and lived experiences, with empathy, kindness, care, and dedication. The Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia would not be anywhere near where it is today without Harry’s incredible contributions and insight. To help expand our programs and services, to meet the ever-growing and changing needs of the community we serve, Harry, starting in 2017 as a volunteer, spent countless nights writing grants, doing legal research, and strategizing on projects with our executive director, Emma Halpern, who he encouraged to keep going regardless of the constant uphill struggle. Because of his vision of expanding our work to supporting survivors of human trafficking, and his success with finding the funding to make it happen, we were able to open the doors of our Truro office and launch the Girls Against Trafficking and Exploitation program- a program that has had immeasurable impacts on so many of our young, vulnerable clients. As a member of our Board of Directors (2019 to 2023), which eventually transitioned to the role of Vice Chair (2021 to 2023), and his time as a Legal Advocate student in summer of 2021, Harry devoted his days to advocating and supporting our clients, engaging in activism, and contributing his skills and enthusiasm to planning successful fundraisers and awareness-building events.
Harry further channeled his passion for social justice, human rights, and prison abolition as co-chair for East Coast Prison Justice Society, his role in planning and establishing PATH Legal, drafting the first memorandum of the legality of dry cells, being a Commissioner on the HRM Board of Police Commissioners, and working as a Lawyer for Nova Scotia Legal Aid. Causes where Harry’s advocacy efforts were felt in particular include pushing for the implementation of “sobering centres” in Nova Scotia, imposing mandatory reviews following death in police custody, and advancing civil oversight of prison conditions. Because of his unmatchable ability to build relationships, collaborate, and inspire, Harry connected our community to lawyers across the country and supported hundreds of students interested in prison law over the years.
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Harry was as patient as he was kind, and as witty and funny as he was intelligent. He was gentle and loving to his core, but also whip smart, hardworking, and dedicated to holding our systems accountable and fighting for the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized. His death is a horrible, devastating loss to our legal, activist, and social justice communities. Harry, who loved his family more than anything else in this world, leaves behind his wife, Erin Creighton, daughter, Wren, and dog, Sophie, his parents, Dr. Leah Harrington and Barry Critchley, and brothers, Jack and Theodore Critchley. He will also be dearly missed by his friends, colleagues, collaborators, communities he impacted, and many other individuals that his light touched. He will be missed and remembered for decades to come.
In Harry’s memory, to ensure that his dedication to justice, equity, and human rights lives on, we have established the Harry Critchley Prison Justice Fund in collaboration with PATH Legal, East Coast Prison Justice Society, Nova Scotia Legal Aid, and Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law. Devoted to sustaining the integrated prison and policing oversight work of our organizations, the Harry Critchley Prison Justice Fund will support the hiring of a paid, full-time articling position at PATH Legal. Harry was deeply passionate about bridging post-secondary education with community service, and the Harry Critchley Prison Justice Fund will allow us to do just that.
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To contribute to the Harry Critchley Prison Justice Fund, please donate directly through our donation page. When making your donation, please put “Harry Critchley” in the message line of the form.
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On behalf of all our organizations, from the bottom of our hearts,
thank you for helping us continue Harry’s incredible legacy.
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