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Stephen Lewis

Stephen Lewis is a prominent Canadian politician, humanitarian, and author, born on November 11, 1937, in Ottawa, Ontario. He is the son of David Lewis, a significant figure in the New Democratic Party (NDP). Although Stephen attended the University of Toronto, he left before graduating to work in Africa with the Socialist International. His political career began with the NDP, where he served as a Member of the Ontario Legislative Assembly from 1963 to 1978, eventually becoming the party leader in 1970. Lewis later served as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations from 1984 to 1988.

Beyond politics, Lewis is well-known for his extensive humanitarian work, serving as deputy executive director of UNICEF and as a UN special envoy addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. In 2003, he founded the Stephen Lewis Foundation, dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS in Africa, and co-founded the advocacy organization AIDS-Free World in 2007. His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including honorary degrees from thirty-two Canadian universities and the Companion of the Order of Canada. Lewis is also recognized for his written works, including "Race Against Time," which highlights the challenges of the HIV/AIDS crisis. He is married to journalist Michele Landsberg and has three children, all of whom have pursued impactful careers.

Full Article

Contribution: Stephen Lewis is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and author who has devoted his life to improving the social and economic welfare of people across the globe. He has been recognized for his humanitarian work, particularly his contributions toward alleviating the suffering of others and his involvement in HIV/AIDS advocacy.

Early Life and Education

Stephen Lewis was born on November 11, 1937, in Ottawa, Ontario. His father, David Lewis, was a Member of Parliament and the national leader of the social-democratic New Democratic Party (NDP) in the early 1970s. Lewis attended the University of Toronto in the late 1950s but left without graduating; he then spent time working and teaching in Africa with the Socialist International.

Political Career

Lewis worked for the federal NDP from 1961 to 1962. He was then elected to the Ontario Legislative Assembly for the district of Scarborough West, Ontario, and served from 1963 to 1978. While a member of the provincial parliament, Lewis became leader of the Ontario NDP in 1970. Lewis’s successes as party leader included electoral gains in 1975 that saw the NDP unseat the Liberals to become the official opposition. However, Lewis resigned as party leader in 1977 after the NDP lost seats in that year’s elections.

In 1984, with the support of Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Lewis was appointed Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations. During his four years in that post, Lewis chaired the committee that drew up a draft for an economic recovery program for Africa, and he was also involved in the first international conference on climate change in 1988.

Humanitarian Work

Lewis has worked with several major humanitarian agencies and organizations. He was based in New York City as deputy executive director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) between 1995 and 1999. Besides his work for UNICEF, Lewis was appointed in 1997 to help investigate the genocide and atrocities that took place in Rwanda. Between 2001 and 2006, Lewis acted as a United Nations special envoy to Africa, dealing with the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the continent.

In 2003, Lewis founded the Stephen Lewis Foundation, an organization that helps fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. In 2007, he cofounded the US advocacy organization AIDS-Free World. Lewis has also authored a number of books, including Race Against Time, which describes the effort to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. Lewis has continued to advocate for global health equity and HIV/AIDS awareness through public speaking and the ongoing work of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Awards and Honors

Lewis has received honorary degrees from numerous Canadian universities. He has also received two distinguished honors in Canada: Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the highest honors a Canadian can receive, and the 2003 Pearson Peace Medal for his humanitarian work. In the same year, Lewis was named Canadian of the Year by Maclean’s magazine. In 2005, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Personal Life

Stephen Lewis is married to journalist Michele Landsberg. They have three children: Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, who works as executive director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation; Avi Lewis, a Canadian broadcast journalist and husband of social activist Naomi Klein; and Jenny Leah Lewis.

In 2021, Lewis announced that he had been diagnosed with inoperable abdominal cancer. He also stated that he was undergoing experimental treatment for the disease.


Bibliography

Alberga, Hannah. “Stephen Lewis Awakened Canadians to the HIV-AIDS Pandemic in Africa, Experts Say.” CityNews Toronto, 1 Apr. 2026, toronto.citynews.ca/2026/04/01/stephen-lewis-awakened-canadians-to-the-hiv-aids-pandemic-raging-in-africa-experts/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

Lewis, Stephen. Race against Time: Searching for Hope in AIDS-Ravaged Africa. House of Anansi, 2006.

Palkin, Steve. “Stephen Lewis Is Fighting for His Life.” TVO, 20 Apr. 2021, www.tvo.org/article/stephen-lewis-is-fighting-for-his-life. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

“Secretary-General Appoints Stephen Lewis as Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa.” United Nations, 5 June 2001, unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/pressrels/2001/sga769.html. Accessed 4 May 2026.

“Stephen Lewis.” Stephen Lewis Foundation, stephenlewisfoundation.org/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

“Stephen Lewis Foundation Impact Report 2024.’ Policy Commons, 2025, policycommons.net/artifacts/19892343/stephen-lewis-foundation-impact-report-2024/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

Whitehorn, Alan, and Andrew McIntosh. “Stephen Lewis.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 10 Apr. 2026, thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/stephen-henry-lewis. Accessed 4 May 2026.

Full Article

Contribution: Stephen Lewis is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and author who has devoted his life to improving the social and economic welfare of people across the globe. He has been recognized for his humanitarian work, particularly his contributions toward alleviating the suffering of others and his involvement in HIV/AIDS advocacy.

Early Life and Education

Stephen Lewis was born on November 11, 1937, in Ottawa, Ontario. His father, David Lewis, was a Member of Parliament and the national leader of the social-democratic New Democratic Party (NDP) in the early 1970s. Lewis attended the University of Toronto in the late 1950s but left without graduating; he then spent time working and teaching in Africa with the Socialist International.

Political Career

Lewis worked for the federal NDP from 1961 to 1962. He was then elected to the Ontario Legislative Assembly for the district of Scarborough West, Ontario, and served from 1963 to 1978. While a member of the provincial parliament, Lewis became leader of the Ontario NDP in 1970. Lewis’s successes as party leader included electoral gains in 1975 that saw the NDP unseat the Liberals to become the official opposition. However, Lewis resigned as party leader in 1977 after the NDP lost seats in that year’s elections.

In 1984, with the support of Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Lewis was appointed Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations. During his four years in that post, Lewis chaired the committee that drew up a draft for an economic recovery program for Africa, and he was also involved in the first international conference on climate change in 1988.

Humanitarian Work

Lewis has worked with several major humanitarian agencies and organizations. He was based in New York City as deputy executive director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) between 1995 and 1999. Besides his work for UNICEF, Lewis was appointed in 1997 to help investigate the genocide and atrocities that took place in Rwanda. Between 2001 and 2006, Lewis acted as a United Nations special envoy to Africa, dealing with the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the continent.

In 2003, Lewis founded the Stephen Lewis Foundation, an organization that helps fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. In 2007, he cofounded the US advocacy organization AIDS-Free World. Lewis has also authored a number of books, including Race Against Time, which describes the effort to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. Lewis has continued to advocate for global health equity and HIV/AIDS awareness through public speaking and the ongoing work of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Awards and Honors

Lewis has received honorary degrees from numerous Canadian universities. He has also received two distinguished honors in Canada: Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the highest honors a Canadian can receive, and the 2003 Pearson Peace Medal for his humanitarian work. In the same year, Lewis was named Canadian of the Year by Maclean’s magazine. In 2005, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Personal Life

Stephen Lewis is married to journalist Michele Landsberg. They have three children: Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, who works as executive director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation; Avi Lewis, a Canadian broadcast journalist and husband of social activist Naomi Klein; and Jenny Leah Lewis.

In 2021, Lewis announced that he had been diagnosed with inoperable abdominal cancer. He also stated that he was undergoing experimental treatment for the disease.


Bibliography

Alberga, Hannah. “Stephen Lewis Awakened Canadians to the HIV-AIDS Pandemic in Africa, Experts Say.” CityNews Toronto, 1 Apr. 2026, toronto.citynews.ca/2026/04/01/stephen-lewis-awakened-canadians-to-the-hiv-aids-pandemic-raging-in-africa-experts/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

Lewis, Stephen. Race against Time: Searching for Hope in AIDS-Ravaged Africa. House of Anansi, 2006.

Palkin, Steve. “Stephen Lewis Is Fighting for His Life.” TVO, 20 Apr. 2021, www.tvo.org/article/stephen-lewis-is-fighting-for-his-life. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

“Secretary-General Appoints Stephen Lewis as Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa.” United Nations, 5 June 2001, unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/pressrels/2001/sga769.html. Accessed 4 May 2026.

“Stephen Lewis.” Stephen Lewis Foundation, stephenlewisfoundation.org/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

“Stephen Lewis Foundation Impact Report 2024.’ Policy Commons, 2025, policycommons.net/artifacts/19892343/stephen-lewis-foundation-impact-report-2024/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

Whitehorn, Alan, and Andrew McIntosh. “Stephen Lewis.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 10 Apr. 2026, thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/stephen-henry-lewis. Accessed 4 May 2026.

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