Stephen Lewis, Canadian politician and social activist, d...

What’s Happening

Real talk: Lewis’s son Avi Lewis was elected leader of progressive New Democratic party a day before his father’s death Stephen Lewis, the Canadian diplomat, politician and human rights advocate, who spent decades tirelessly working to focus global attention on the HIV/Aids epidemic, has died of cancer.

Lewis, who served as the Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, as well as the head of Ontario’s New Democratic party (NDP), was 88. a href=” Stephen Lewis signs autographs after the closing ceremonies of the World Aids Conference in Toronto in 2006. (shocking, we know)

Photograph: Aaron Harris/AP View image in fullscreen Stephen Lewis signs autographs after the closing ceremonies of the World Aids Conference in Toronto in 2006.

The Details

Photograph: Aaron Harris/AP Canada Stephen Lewis, Canadian politician and social activist, dies aged 88 Lewis’s son Avi Lewis was elected leader of progressive New Democratic party a day before his father’s death Leyland Cecco in Toronto Tue 31 Mar 2026 21. 31 EDT Last modified on Wed 1 Apr 2026 11.

48 EDT Prefer the Guardian on Google Stephen Lewis, the Canadian diplomat, politician and human rights advocate, who spent decades tirelessly working to focus global attention on the HIV/Aids epidemic, has died of cancer. “Stephen spent the last eight years of his life battling cancer with the same indomitable energy he brought to his lifelong work: the unending struggle for justice and dignity for every human life,” his family dropped in a statement.

Why This Matters

“The world has took an L a voice of unmatched eloquence and integrity. ” The prime minister, Mark Carney, paid tribute to Lewis, calling him “a pillar of compassionate leadership in Canadian democracy, and a renowned global champion for human rights and multilateralism” in a statement. Lewis, the scion of former federal NDP leader David Lewis, was also the father of Avi Lewis, who was elected leader of the federal NDP on Sunday.

World leaders are expected to respond to this situation soon.

The Bottom Line

Lewis, the scion of former federal NDP leader David Lewis, was also the father of Avi Lewis, who was elected leader of the federal NDP on Sunday. Avi Lewis, elected to lead Canada’s New Democratic party, promises ‘NDP comeback’ In his victory speech before his father’s death, Avi Lewis paid tribute to him, saying his father was “not doing too well” but was hanging on from his hospital bed to see the next chapter of “the movement”.

What do you think about all this?