Avi Lewis

Avi Lewis is a Canadian journalist and documentary filmmaker, known for his work on CBC Television and Al Jazeera English. He has reported on various global events, including the G20 Toronto summit protests and the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Lewis has also worked with notable journalists, such as Naomi Klein and Amy Goodman, and has covered stories related to Occupy Wall Street and the Idle No More movement. His documentaries often focus on social and environmental issues, such as climate change and income inequality, and have been featured on PBS and BBC.

● Early Life and Education

Avi Lewis was born in Toronto, Ontario, to a family of journalists and activists, including his father, Stephen Lewis, a former Ontario New Democratic Party leader, and his mother, Michelle Landsberg, a Toronto Star columnist. He grew up in a household that valued social justice and was influenced by his parents' work with organizations like UNICEF and the Canadian Labour Congress. Lewis attended Upper Canada College and later studied at York University, where he developed an interest in journalism and documentary filmmaking. He also spent time at McGill University, exploring the works of Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn.

● Career

Avi Lewis began his career in journalism at CBC Radio, working on programs like As It Happens and The Current. He later moved to CBC Television, where he reported on national and international news, including the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) and the Iraq War. Lewis has also worked as a correspondent for Al Jazeera English, covering stories in Latin America and the Middle East, and has collaborated with other journalists, such as Sarah Kendzior and Glenn Greenwald. His reporting has taken him to various parts of the world, including Haiti after the 2010 Haiti earthquake and Egypt during the Arab Spring.

● Filmography

Avi Lewis has directed and produced several documentaries, including The Take, which explores the Argentine economic crisis and the worker self-management movement. He has also worked on films like This Changes Everything, based on the book by Naomi Klein, and The Hole Story, a documentary about the Tar Sands in Alberta, Canada. Lewis's films often feature interviews with experts and activists, such as George Monbiot and Bill McKibben, and have been screened at festivals like Sundance Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival.

● Personal Life

Avi Lewis is married to Naomi Klein, a Canadian author and activist, and they have a son together. The couple has been involved in various social and environmental causes, including the Leap Manifesto and the Extinction Rebellion movement. Lewis has also been a vocal supporter of organizations like Greenpeace and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. He has written articles for publications like The Guardian and The Nation, and has spoken at events like the World Social Forum and the Aspen Ideas Festival.

● Awards and Recognition

Avi Lewis has received several awards for his work, including a Canadian Screen Award for his documentary The Take. He has also been nominated for a Gemini Award and a Prix Italia for his reporting and documentary work. Lewis's films have been recognized at festivals like the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and the DOXA Documentary Film Festival. He has also received awards from organizations like the Canadian Association of Journalists and the International Documentary Association. Category:Canadian journalists