150+ Canadians Day 60: Lloyd Axworthy

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Lloyd Axworthy contributed to peace through campaigning to ban landmines while Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his work today for equality and human rights. #Canada150

Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, statesman, politician, academic and author was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan.

His political career spanned 27 years, six of which he served in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, and twenty-one in Federal Parliament. As a Liberal, he held several Cabinet positions, most notably Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1996-2000.

He became internationally known for his advancement of the human security concept, in particular, the Ottawa Treaty – a landmark global treaty banning anti-personnel landmines. For his leadership on banning landmines, Dr. Axworthy was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The winners of the prize, International Campaign to Ban Landmines, noted that his work had contributed to their success.

For his efforts in establishing the International Criminal Court and the Protocol on child soldiers, he received the North-South Prize of the Council of Europe.

He has been a board member for a number of organizations, including the MacArthur Foundation, the Conference Board of Canada, the Aspen Ministers Forum and the Coalition for the International Criminal Court. He served as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg from 2004-2014, spearheading an expansion and transformation, raising millions of dollars, and launching outreach programs to prepare aboriginal and immigrant high school students for higher education.

In 2012, Elder, Dr. Tobasonakwut Kinew and, Dr. Phil Fontaine, honoured Axworthy at a sacred Pipe Ceremony.  Mr. Axworthy was recognized for his commitment to creating an inclusive learning experience at the University of Winnipeg; one that reflects Indigenous traditions and cultures.

Mr. Axworthy left the University in 2014, to become chair of the board of CUSO, where he guides the organization in a new push to help First Nations in North America.

He is chancellor of St Paul’s University College, a board member of the International Institute of Sustainable Development, member of The Hague Institute Commission on Governance and Security, and the American Academy Working Group on the Ethics of the New Technologies of War and Peace.

Some of the honours Mr. Axworthy has received:

  • North–South Prize of Central Europe, for the protection of human rights
  • Nobel Peace Prize (nomination)Officer of theOrder of Canada
  • Companion of the Order of Canada
  • Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • Honorary doctorate, Faculty of Environmentof the University of Waterloo
  • Honorary doctorates from 12 universities