Avi Lewis: Journalism, Documentary Filmmaking and a Life in Canadian Public Debate

Avi Lewis has built an unusual career at the intersection of journalism, documentary filmmaking, political activism and electoral politics. Born into one of Canada’s most prominent political families, he grew up surrounded by conversations about public policy, social justice and the responsibilities of political institutions. Yet rather than simply following his relatives directly into elected office, Lewis initially developed his own identity through television and documentary storytelling. Over time, the subjects he covered as a journalist increasingly became causes he advocated for personally.

Growing Up in a Political Family

Avram David Lewis was born in Montreal in 1967 into a family with deep connections to Canadian public life. His grandfather, David Lewis, was a major figure in Canadian social democracy and served as leader of the federal New Democratic Party. His father, Stephen Lewis, led the Ontario NDP before becoming internationally known for his diplomatic and humanitarian work, while his mother, Michele Landsberg, built a distinguished career as a journalist, author and feminist activist.

Growing up in this environment meant that politics was not an abstract subject reserved for election campaigns. Questions involving inequality, workers’ rights, international affairs and social policy were part of the intellectual world surrounding Lewis from an early age. At the same time, journalism was equally prominent through his mother’s career, helping explain why communication and politics would eventually become intertwined throughout his professional life.

Building a Career in Television

Lewis first became widely recognizable through Canadian television, including his work with MuchMusic during the 1990s. At the time, the channel played a major role in Canadian youth culture, combining music videos with interviews, commentary and programming aimed at younger audiences. Lewis’s work there gave him experience communicating directly with viewers while operating in a media environment very different from traditional political journalism.

His career subsequently moved increasingly toward politics and current affairs. Lewis hosted CBC Newsworld’s counterSpin, a debate-oriented program that brought together people with conflicting perspectives on political and social issues. The format suited his interest in ideological debate because guests were expected to defend their positions rather than simply deliver prepared statements. He later worked internationally as well, including with Al Jazeera English, expanding his experience beyond Canadian domestic politics.

Documentary Filmmaking

Lewis’s work as a documentary filmmaker became another major part of his career. He married journalist and author Naomi Klein in 1998, and the two developed a creative partnership around issues including globalization, economic inequality and climate change. Their projects frequently examine large political ideas through the experiences of communities directly affected by economic or environmental disruption.

Lewis directed the 2004 documentary The Take, written by Klein, which followed workers in Argentina attempting to restart abandoned factories following the country’s severe economic crisis. Rather than approaching globalization entirely through economists and political leaders, the film focused on ordinary people trying to regain control of their workplaces and livelihoods. This human-centered approach became an important feature of Lewis’s documentary work.

Climate Change and This Changes Everything

Lewis later directed This Changes Everything, a documentary inspired by Klein’s book examining climate change through an explicitly political and economic lens. The film followed communities confronting fossil-fuel development and environmental pressures in different parts of the world. Its central perspective suggested that the climate crisis could not be separated from broader questions about economic systems, inequality and the distribution of political power.

That argument naturally generated both support and criticism. Progressive environmental activists embraced the connection between climate action and economic reform, while critics questioned whether such broad structural changes were realistic or economically desirable. Lewis nevertheless became increasingly identified with this approach to environmental politics, moving gradually from the position of journalist documenting political movements toward that of an advocate participating in them.

The Leap and Political Activism

In 2015, Lewis became closely associated with the Leap Manifesto, a political document calling for rapid action on climate change alongside policies addressing economic inequality, Indigenous rights and public investment. The manifesto attracted significant attention within Canada’s political left and became particularly controversial within debates involving the New Democratic Party. Supporters viewed it as an ambitious framework for transforming Canada’s economy, while critics argued that some of its proposals could be politically or economically difficult to implement.

The debate highlighted the changing nature of Lewis’s public role. He was no longer simply moderating disagreements between other people, as he had done during his broadcasting career. Instead, he was publicly supporting a particular vision of social and economic change. This transition eventually led him toward an even more direct form of political participation.

Entering Electoral Politics

Lewis ran for the New Democratic Party during Canada’s 2021 federal election in the British Columbia riding of West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country. His candidacy attracted national attention because of his own media career as well as his family’s long history with the NDP. Although he did not win the seat, the campaign represented a significant milestone because Lewis had moved from interviewing politicians and advocating for policies to asking voters to elect him.

His career illustrates how the boundaries between journalism, activism and politics can evolve over time. Lewis began primarily as a broadcaster and documentary storyteller, but the issues he investigated eventually became central to his political identity. Whether appearing on television, directing a documentary or participating in an election campaign, his work has consistently revolved around questions of inequality, climate change and how political institutions respond to social problems.