Honouring the Late Peter Showler, C.M.

On May 7, 2024, Senator Omidvar gave a statement to recognize the late Peter Showler for his many contributions to Canada . Watch her speech:

Hon. Ratna Omidvar: Honourable senators, I rise to honour Peter Showler and his many contributions to our country.

Peter was a professor of law, an activist, a teacher, an author, a scriptwriter, a wannabe film producer, a coach and a mentor. As you can see, he was a true Renaissance man and a real mensch. He was also one of the very few who understood the intricacies, the complexities and the many ins and outs of refugee law.

The centre of his passion was always the application of the law to refugees. He was relentless in his efforts to ensure that it was applied fairly, justly and consistently. In order to do so, he actively sought opportunities to work both inside and outside the system. At various times, he was the chair of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada; he taught law at the University of Ottawa; he worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, in training missions in Africa and Mexico; he co-led the Community Legal Services of Ottawa; and he co-founded the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, whose members are often called on to testify at our committees. Somehow, he also found the time to chair PEN Canada’s Writers in Peril Committee. Under his leadership, PEN became a trusted partner of the government’s human rights defenders program, which succeeded in bringing many Afghan human rights defenders to Canada.

Peter understood the power of storytelling like no other. He had scripts, TV shows and novels — all in the works — dramatizing the refugee experience, because he understood how powerful personal narrative can be, and how it can change hearts and minds.

I met Peter through my colleague Judy Broadbent — some 25 years ago, I think — who was the then-president of Maytree. Peter taught me how to connect the dots — connect the lived experience of refugees — to policy and legislative change. He was my guide and mentor in so many ways. He graciously contributed the final chapter of my book entitled Flight and Freedom, in which he said that generosity is its own reward.

It is fair to say that he taught me almost everything I know about refugee law, and any wisdom I bring to this chamber is due to him.

A few years ago, Peter developed cancer. In 2023, Peter was awarded the Order of Canada in a private ceremony by Governor General Mary Simon. He passed soon after by accessing MAID.

I had so wished to honour him while he was still with us, but that became impossible. In a final note to PEN, he said:

“I am a lucky guy. . . . I leave with more than my share of human kindness and I am grateful.”

Indeed, Peter, it is us who should be grateful. I thank you and your partner, Ellen Zweibel, for sharing your wisdom, passion and incredible sense of humour with us. May you rest in peace.