Hon. Marty Klyne: Honourable senators, friends and members of Senator Lewis’s family, Senator Lewis was with us in this chamber for a short time, but he left a lasting impression on all of us who had the privilege of knowing him.

One of the memories that will stay with me is a visit to his farm near Gray, Saskatchewan, with my staff last July. That day offered a glimpse of the qualities that made Senator Lewis such a remarkable person and colleague.

We began our visit at the rink in Gray, which also serves as the town museum. It was filled with hockey memorabilia, decades of local history and all the signs of a community that looks after its own and takes pride in where it comes from. It struck me that there could hardly have been a more fitting place to meet Senator Lewis. He was a man with deep roots in his family, his community, Saskatchewan and the land he had farmed for more than 40 years.

That connection to community was reflected in how he lived. He served more than 20 years on his municipal council, sat on his local school board, volunteered as a firefighter and devoted countless hours to his community rink and hall. He spent a lifetime showing up for the people and places he called home.

At his family farm, Senator Lewis showed us his land and equipment. It quickly became clear that he knew his way around even the most sophisticated, high-tech machinery, yet he saw no contradiction between innovation and tradition. For him, new technology was another way of caring for the land, protecting its future and carrying forward a craft passed down through generations.

As a fourth-generation farmer, he was a strong advocate for Saskatchewan agriculture, serving as President of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, or APAS, and, later, as First Vice-President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.

He brought that practical perspective to the Senate.

I remember more than his accomplishments, though. I remember how warmly he spoke about his family and land. I remember his genuine nature, his generosity and, of course, his loyalty to the Roughriders. He had played for the Rams at the University of Regina, too, and seemed to carry that same pride and connection to Saskatchewan throughout every chapter of his life.

Crystal and Toby Frisk, who had a 40-year friendship with the Honourable Todd Lewis, described him as a humble man from a small town who was a leader, a gentleman and a pillar of his community. Crystal, who met Senator Lewis when they were much younger, said his “big smile and easy laugh made him a friend the moment you met him.” I can’t disagree.

I will also remember how warmly he spoke about his staff. It was a small but telling reflection of his leadership. He understood that good work is never done alone. Senator Lewis’s time in the Senate was far too short, but he gave us a glimpse of knowledge, practical wisdom and a commitment to Saskatchewan and rural Canada that he left with us to carry forward.

Before I sign off, I want to let senators know about this 25-foot topsoil. That came out of the big dig from the Wascana Lake in front of the legislature.

To his family, we’re deeply grateful that he shared himself with us, however briefly. He is still in our hearts; we will never lose him.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.