Stephen Lewis Biography Quotes 15 Report mistakes

Early Life and Family
Stephen Lewis was born in 1937 in Ottawa, Ontario, into a household deeply engaged in social democratic politics. His father, David Lewis, rose to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party, and his mother, Sophie Lewis, was a committed organizer and advocate. Growing up in that environment shaped his sense of public duty and sharpened his interest in questions of equity, democracy, and workers rights. He later married the journalist and feminist author Michele Landsberg, whose reporting and commentary became a companion thread to his own public life. Their family has been prominently engaged in public issues: Ilana Landsberg-Lewis helped found and lead a philanthropic foundation in his name, and Avi Lewis built a career as a journalist and filmmaker; Avi is married to the author and activist Naomi Klein. This family constellation placed Lewis in a network of people dedicated to social justice, media, and public policy from an early age through to his later international work.

Entering Public Life
Lewis entered elected office in the early 1960s, winning a seat in the Ontario legislature at a notably young age as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Scarborough West. At the time, the Ontario New Democratic Party was led by Donald C. MacDonald, and the provincial political terrain was dominated by Progressive Conservatives. Lewis quickly developed a reputation as a formidable debater and a principled advocate for tenants, low-income families, and workers. He promoted policies that emphasized access to housing, fair wages, and public services, laying the groundwork for a political style that combined moral clarity with practical negotiation.

Leader of the Ontario NDP
In 1970, Lewis succeeded Donald C. MacDonald as leader of the Ontario NDP. He modernized the party's message to address urban concerns and brought energy to the legislature as an incisive critic of government policy. The 1975 election was a breakthrough: under his leadership, the NDP achieved a historic seat gain and became the Official Opposition. In the minority parliament that followed, Lewis negotiated with Progressive Conservative premier Bill Davis, pressing issues such as rent control and social protections into the legislative agenda. While he did not enter formal coalition, his influence helped shape key policy outcomes. The 1977 election saw the NDP lose some ground, and in 1978 he stepped down as leader; he was succeeded by Michael Cassidy. The period remains one of the most significant in Ontario's social-democratic history, with Lewis recognized for expanding the party's reach and ideas.

Broadcasting and Public Voice
Leaving party leadership did not diminish Lewis's public profile. He became a respected broadcaster and public speaker, offering analysis on Canadian affairs with the same eloquence that characterized his legislative work. His commentary often intersected with the journalism of Michele Landsberg, and together their voices amplified debates on equality, women's rights, and the responsibilities of government. This phase refined his ability to translate complex public issues into vivid, accessible language, a skill that would prove crucial in his later international roles.

Diplomacy and the United Nations
In the mid-1980s, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney appointed Lewis as Canada's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. At the UN, he worked amid consequential debates on apartheid, famine relief, and the end stages of the Cold War. He was known for clear, principled interventions in the General Assembly and an ability to build relationships across regional blocs. The role deepened his understanding of multilateral institutions and the mechanics of humanitarian response, and it connected him with global leaders who were redefining international development priorities.

UNICEF and International Development
Lewis returned to the UN system in the 1990s, serving as a Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF. Working alongside UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy and colleagues across the agency, he concentrated on children's welfare, education, and health in low-income countries, with a special focus on the structural inequities that limit progress. The work demanded coordination with governments, civil society, and other UN agencies, and further cemented his view that durable change depends on locally grounded programs, women's leadership, and predictable financing.

Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa
In 2001, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Lewis as his Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. The posting coincided with a pivotal moment, as the global community was grappling with how to expand antiretroviral treatment, scale prevention, and support the millions of orphans and caregivers affected by the pandemic. Working closely with Peter Piot and the UNAIDS secretariat, Lewis crisscrossed the continent, bearing witness to the crisis and advocating relentlessly for resources, treatment access, and human rights. He championed initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and pressed donor governments to meet their commitments. His 2005 Massey Lectures, later published as Race Against Time, distilled his experiences into a pointed critique of international complacency and a call to action rooted in the voices of African community leaders and health workers.

The Stephen Lewis Foundation
In 2003, Lewis and Ilana Landsberg-Lewis co-founded the Stephen Lewis Foundation to support community-based organizations responding to HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. The foundation's approach emphasized partnership with local groups led largely by women, including networks of grandmothers, nurses, and educators sustaining families and rebuilding communities. The work resonated in Canada and abroad, inspiring volunteer movements that raised funds and awareness. Michele Landsberg's advocacy and public writing helped amplify the foundation's mission, and Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein often used their platforms to spotlight the same issues of inequality, climate, and justice that intersect with health and development. Through grants, training, and long-term accompaniment, the foundation became known for channeling support to grassroots initiatives that larger institutions sometimes overlook.

Advisor on Race Relations and Public Service in Canada
Between international roles, Lewis remained engaged in Canadian public policy. In the early 1990s, at the request of Ontario Premier Bob Rae, he served as an advisor on race relations, producing a candid report that urged governments and institutions to confront systemic racism in education, policing, and public services. The analysis reflected his long-standing belief that social progress requires both legislative change and a shift in institutional culture. His Canadian work bridged to his international advocacy, underscoring how equity, representation, and accountability are essential at every level of governance.

Honours and Legacy
Over the decades, Lewis has received numerous honours, including appointment to the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, as well as multiple honorary degrees recognizing his contributions to politics, diplomacy, and humanitarian work. His legacy rests on more than titles: it is visible in the tenants who gained protections during the Bill Davis minority years, in the children and caregivers reached through UNICEF and community partners, and in the activists and scholars inspired by his lectures and books. The people around him have been integral: David Lewis shaped his early political compass; Michele Landsberg's journalism broadened the reach of his causes; Ilana Landsberg-Lewis helped translate his convictions into sustained philanthropic practice; Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein carried forward a tradition of public engagement; and international colleagues such as Kofi Annan, Peter Piot, and Carol Bellamy worked alongside him to channel moral urgency into policy and funding.

Continuing Influence
Stephen Lewis remains one of Canada's most recognizable voices for social democracy and global health. Whether addressing a hall of students, a parliamentary committee, or a community fundraiser, he speaks in the language of practical solidarity: listen to the people most affected, fund the programs that work, and hold power to account. That thread runs from his youth in Ottawa through the Ontario legislature, the halls of the United Nations, and into the community organizations his foundation supports. It is the throughline of a life spent translating outrage into action, and principle into policy.

Our collection contains 15 quotes who is written by Stephen, under the main topics: Truth - Never Give Up - Leadership - Hope - Equality.