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Stephen's obituary

LEWIS, STEPHEN (1937-2026) succumbed to cancer after years of superb care at Mt. Sinai hospital. He ended his days surrounded by his devoted family and wrapped in the radical love of the incredible staff of Kensington Hospice in Toronto.

He leaves a Stephen-sized hole in the lives of his wife Michele Landsberg, daughters Ilana (Arlene Battishill) and Jenny and son Avi (Naomi Klein); sisters Janet Solberg, Nina Libeskind (Daniel Libeskind), and brother Michael Lewis (Janice Sandomirsky); grandsons Zev, Yoav, Zimri, and Toma.

Stephen spent the last eight years of his life battling disease with the same indomitable energy he brought to his lifelong work: the unending struggle for justice and dignity for every human life. The world has lost a voice of unmatched eloquence and integrity.

We invite you to join the family in honouring Stephen Lewis on Sunday, April 26th at 11 a.m. ET at the Chrysalis Theatre at Toronto Metropolitan University (43 Gerrard St. E, Toronto, Ontario). 

MEMORIAL DETAILS: 

The outpouring of love for Stephen Lewis and support for his family is palpable and moving, and we look forward to coming together as a community on Sunday, April 26th at the Chrysalis Theatre at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).

REGISTERED GUESTS: Attendance is by registration-only. Volunteers at the venue will be checking off guests’ names. Those who have already registered to attend will have received an email with further details. (If you haven’t received an email yet, please check your junk/spam folder. Otherwise, please email us at honouringstephen@stephenlewis…)

If you are no longer able to attend, we kindly ask that you let us know as soon as possible so that space can be offered to others on the waitlist.

WAITLIST GUESTS: We are deeply touched by the many people who plan to be present on Sunday April 26 to honour Stephen Lewis. We are no longer accepting advance waitlist requests, but encourage those who still wish to be present to join us in person at the Chrysalis Theatre. Please join the line for admission and give your name to the volunteer at the door. Seats will be offered as space allows. If capacity is reached, we invite you to gather with others in an adjacent space where the memorial will be broadcast live.

DOORS: Doors will open at 10:00 am. The memorial will begin promptly at 11:00 am. Guests are to enter through the Main Entrance of the Chrysalis Theatre at 43 Gerrard Street East. Due to the large number of people expected, there may be a line outside before entry. We encourage you to dress for the weather and, if you are able, arrive close to 10am.

The memorial is expected to conclude at approximately 12:30 pm. There will be no reception following the memorial, so you may wish to bring water or a light snack for before/after.

ACCESSIBILITY: If you or your guest require accommodations to attend comfortably, we encourage you to email us in advance (if you haven't already noted it on your registration) and we will work with you to find the best possible arrangements within the limits of the venue.

For those who are comfortable using stairs, we kindly ask that you consider sitting in the balcony so that main-floor seating can remain available for those who need it.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Out of respect for the family and the nature of the gathering, photography and recording will not be permitted during the memorial, except for accredited media with prior authorization. Media requests should be directed to: media@stephenlewisfoundation.…

DIRECTIONS & PARKING: There is no direct access parking at the Chrysalis Theatre, however there are multiple parking options within a two-block radius as well as limited street parking.

We recommend allowing additional travel time, as there will be road closures downtown due to a charity run. While these do not directly impact the venue, they may affect travel time from certain directions.

LIVESTREAM: If you are unable to attend in person, you can still honour Stephen by joining us online.

On Sunday April 26th, click the link below at 11am Eastern Time when the memorial will be live:

https://theslf.org/Honouring-…

RECORDING:

A recording of the memorial will also be available afterward for those who are unable to join us live.

THANK YOU:

We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support for Stephen and his family. We look forward to gathering to honour his life and legacy together.

If you have any questions, please email us at: honouringstephen@stephenlewis…

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Stephen Lewis