The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy has devoted his life’s work: in academia, in politics, and in civil society, to highlighting and building the United Nations as a vehicle for peace and to promoting Canadian leadership and engagement in the UN . As a political leader, as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, he had a pivotal role in the development and strategic advancement of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention  (often referred to as the Ottawa Treaty). At the time, his engagement of world leaders and civil society was innovative, and ultimately successful in the adoption of this important treaty.  As an academic, both early in his career and later as the President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg, he instructed, lead and wrote on the imperative of education on peace and of critical thinking, informed by ideals and ambitious aspirations for a better world. As a university leader he focused attention and action on reconciliation with First Nations, launching important programmes to reach and engage indigenous students and communities and to advance social justice.