The Manitoba government announced on April 26 the creation of a new post-doctoral fellowship in HIV/AIDS research to honor the late Stephen Lewis, according to Premier Wab Kinew. The announcement coincided with the day of Lewis’s funeral.
The initiative is intended to recognize Lewis’s contributions and continue his legacy in advancing awareness and action around HIV/AIDS. Kinew said, “Stephen Lewis was an inspiration. From serving as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations to his role as the United Nations secretary-general’s special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, and as the co-founder of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which supports community-based HIV/AIDS initiatives in Africa, Stephen drew international attention to the scale of the crisis and the need for urgent action, funding and access to treatment.”
The fellowship will be administered through Research Manitoba and will provide $60,000 in funding for an exceptional post-doctoral researcher focused on improving understanding and management of HIV/AIDS within Manitoba. The program aims to address issues affecting communities that are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. Areas of research may include disease transmission, prevention strategies, treatment interventions, community engagement, and health-care discrepancies.
Kinew reflected on his recent conversation with Lewis: “The last time I spoke to Stephen in early March he said to go represent what is best in life,” Kinew said. “So, to Stephen, we will. To honour him, we will establish a post-doctoral fellowship in HIV research, so future Manitobans and Canadians will live up to his challenge.”
Applications for this award are scheduled to open in September 2026.
The establishment of this fellowship marks a step toward continuing advocacy work around HIV/AIDS research at both provincial and national levels.