Memorial draws more than 1,000 to celebrate Stephen Lewis's life

More than 1,000 people gathered at the Chrysalis on TMU's campus on April 26 to honour the life of Stephen Lewis — politician, diplomat and global humanitarian — in a program filled with warmth, reflection and calls to action. The memorial was also livestreamed to approximately 1,500 viewers around the world. 

Family, friends, colleagues, activists and public figures came together in tribute to Lewis, who died peacefully in hospice care in Toronto at the age of 88 on March 31. The morning began with remarks from Angela Robertson, executive director at Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre, followed by welcome remarks from TMU President and Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi.

Speakers throughout the program reflected the breadth of Lewis's relationships and impact, including Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella and environmental activist David Suzuki, along with Lewis's children — Avi, Ilana and Jenny Lewis. Elected officials including Mayor Olivia Chow, Councillor Chris Moise and MPP Kristyn Wong Tam were also among those in attendance.

The memorial was warm throughout, as speakers shared memories of Lewis’s sharp wit and his strong command of language, with friends and colleagues often recalling that his remarks could send them reaching for the dictionary. 

Together, these reflections showed a leader remembered not only for his public roles, but also for his warmth and humanity.

In his remarks, Lachemi spoke to Lewis's connection to TMU and his global impact. "The work he did in Africa for the most vulnerable — combatting HIV/AIDS, investigating genocide, supporting grandmothers in community work — reflected both his compassion and his belief that change was possible."

International development leader Theo Sowa urged the audience to celebrate Lewis's "passionate belief in justice, in fairness rooted in love" and his commitment to standing with people the world wished to marginalize.

South African HIV/AIDS activist Vuyiseka Dubula spoke to his approach. "Stephen did not come to save me or Africans. He came to stand with us. He believed deeply that justice must be lived, that dignity must be defended, and that no one should be left behind."

Suzuki reflected on Lewis's reach, calling him "a beacon for every generation to see what can be achieved by one person without compromising his values." He also noted that Lewis’s passing shortly after his son Avi Lewis was elected leader of the federal NDP underscored the continuity of his political influence, adding that, “Avi is his political legacy.”

Lewis served as a member of the Ontario provincial parliament from 1963 to 1978 and led the Ontario NDP to official opposition status in 1975. He later served as Canada's ambassador to the United Nations and held senior roles with UNICEF.

In 2001, he was appointed UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. Two years later, he co-founded the Stephen Lewis Foundation, supporting community organizations working with people affected by HIV/AIDS.

Lewis's relationship with TMU spans more than six decades. He first spoke on campus in the 1960s as a rising political figure, addressing the university's Young New Democrats club.

In 1981, TMU awarded Lewis a university fellowship. In 2007, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws — the university's highest honour — in recognition of his public service and global leadership. He later served as a distinguished visiting professor, frequently lecturing on HIV/AIDS and global health.

The April 26 memorial made clear that Lewis's influence lives on in the people and communities he inspired. Speakers emphasized that the most meaningful way to honour his life is to continue the work he believed in.