Christophe Lewis: The Reality of Life Sentences in Canada

Christophe Lewis was 20 years old when he made a decision that cost him the next decade of his life. Convicted of second-degree murder in 2011, he was handed a life sentence with a 12-year parole ineligibility period and sent to Millhaven Institution.In November 2012, he refused a strip search being conducted by a female guard — illegal under CSC protocol. Thirty guards responded. What followed was caught on CCTV. Then CSC said the footage was lost.Years of grievances were dismissed at every level. When his case finally reached the national level, CSC upheld the complaint for excessive force — and in the same breath said his behaviour contributed to the assault. He fought for nearly a decade to get the footage, get charges laid, and get to trial. One guard was convicted of assault with a weapon. The sentence: 12 months probation and 60 hours community service.Lewis was released on parole in November 2021 and still technically serves a life sentence. He's also the founder of Freedom Is A Must Foundation, a youth mentor working across Canada, a real estate investor, and a Concordia University student.A broken crayon can still colour.