[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/lewis_s.jpg” caption=”Stephen Lewis, Secretary General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. Photo credit: Nicole Toutounii, UNICEF”]Stephen Lewis, a Canadian icon who has established a global presence through his humanitarian and political roles, will be delivering a much anticipated lecture this weekend at McMaster University. Appointed in 2001 as the United Nations' Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Mr. Lewis has led the worldwide campaign to raise awareness about this devastating pandemic. Named by Macleans magazine as the “Canadian of the Year” in 2003, and recently in 2005 as one of TIME magazine's “100 most influential people in the world”, Lewis has no doubt left an impression on the world.

Lewis is featured as a keynote speaker of McMaster's Global Citizenship Conference taking place this weekend from March 3 to 5 in MDCL. His lecture, sponsored by the Faculty of Social Science, will be a rare and exciting event, as Lewis has given talks around the globe in many influential roles including the Canadian Ambassador to the UN, and the Deputy Director of UNICEF.

Lewis' diverse past and experiences makes his speech the perfect ending to a conference with the goal of finding and building relationships on a global level. By bringing together speakers, panelists and workshops from the streams of peace, human development, the environment, trade and human rights, the weekend will draw students from all disciplines and faculties to build a movement of change.

Saturday's events, under the banner of Individual Choices – Global Impact, will focus on exploring the importance and the power of individual choices and actions. The goal is to empower attendees to leap towards involvement. Sunday's theme, Global Challenges – Global Partnerships – Canada's Role, will highlight the duties and responsibilities of society in the effort to solve global challenges. The weekend will also feature a Friday night concert and art show, intended to spread the message of global citizenship through a variety of engaging outlets.

Lewis' keynote speech will be on Sunday, March 5 at 5 p.m. in MDCL 1305/07. Registration for the full conference is now closed, however, a limited number of tickets are available to the general public at Compass until Friday, March 3 at $15 each.