Former Canadian politician Stephen Lewis dies at 88

Stephen Lewis, Canada’s former ambassador to the United Nations, a lifelong social activist and a former politician, has died. Lewis was 88. The Stephen Lewis Foundation announced his death on Tuesday. He had been diagnosed with stomach cancer eight years ago. Lewis held multiple posts with the U.N. after his four-year stint as Canada’s ambassador, including as a special adviser to then-secretary-general Kofi Annan. Lewis spent a lifetime fighting for causes close to his heart — including human rights, equality for women and the plight of African families decimated by AIDS. He is the father of Avi Lewis, who was elected leader of Canada’s leftist federal New Democrat Party on Sunday.