Todd Lewis, a farmer and prominent voice for Saskatchewan agriculture who was appointed to the Senate in February 2025, has died at the age of 65, his supporters and colleagues confirmed.
Lifetime rooted in the land and local service
Lewis farmed near Gray, Saskatchewan, continuing a family operation as a fourth-generation producer. His public profile grew from local government and industry leadership to national agriculture advocacy and, most recently, a seat in the federal Senate.
Before his appointment to the Red Chamber on Feb. 7, 2025, Lewis spent more than two decades on the council for the Rural Municipality of Lajord. He also served in senior roles with provincial and national agriculture groups, including as president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) from 2016 to 2022.
| Role | Organisation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| President | Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan | 2016–2022 |
| Second then First Vice-President | Canadian Federation of Agriculture | Held senior vice-presidential posts (dates not specified) |
| Councillor | RM of Lajord | More than 20 years |
| Senator | Senate of Canada | Appointed Feb. 7, 2025; deputy liaison for the Canadian Senators Group |
Colleagues and political leaders pay tribute
Local and federal politicians expressed sorrow at Lewis' passing and highlighted his decades of advocacy for farmers and rural communities.
"He was a strong advocate for Saskatchewan and Canada's agriculture sector. His knowledge and experience in the Senate will be missed," said Swift Current-Grasslands-Kindersley MP Jeremy Patzer.
Another brief tribute in the source material came from Mark Carney, identified there as Prime Minister, who praised Lewis as a "strong and steadfast voice for rural communities" and noted his conviction that farming is both a livelihood and a responsibility to future generations.
What he represented for Saskatchewan agriculture
Lewis' trajectory — from municipal council to provincial producer organisation leadership and national federation office, then to the Senate — reflected a steady commitment to representing farm interests in policy discussions. As APAS president he led a provincial producers' lobby through a period that included trade tensions, labour and input-cost concerns, and climate-related conversations shaping Prairie agriculture.
In Ottawa, he served as deputy liaison for the Canadian Senators Group, a role that involves helping coordinate the group's work and communicating between senators and external stakeholders. His experience in producer organisations provided him with networks across the farm sector and government.
Community impact and next steps
Lewis' death will be felt in several communities: the Gray area where his family farm is located, the RM of Lajord council and membership, and among provincial and national agricultural leaders who worked with him over decades. The immediate procedural steps for filling his Senate seat will follow established federal guidelines; those are managed from Ottawa and not within provincial jurisdiction.
- Age: 65
- Senate appointment: Feb. 7, 2025
- Major roles: APAS president (2016–2022); vice-presidential roles at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture; more than 20 years on RM of Lajord council; deputy liaison, Canadian Senators Group
Remembering public service
For many rural residents, Lewis represented a form of public service that moved between the practical demands of the farm gate and the longer-term policy debates that shape agricultural livelihoods. That combination of experience — hands-on agriculture and advocacy leadership — was the core of his public profile.
As officials, family or the Senate provide further details about arrangements or any public commemorations, those notices will clarify how the province and nation will mark his contributions.
Reporting from Saskatchewan.
