SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Tributes
The Honourable Stan Kutcher
May 7, 2026
Honourable senators, on behalf of the Independent Senators Group, or ISG, I have the immense privilege to pay tribute to Senator Stan Kutcher. Today, we celebrate not only a remarkable career but also a man of profound humanity, gifted with the ability to connect with others and forge genuine bonds.
A renowned psychiatrist and professor, Senator Kutcher has brought essential rigour to legislative work. He has reminded us that understanding must precede judgment and that rigorous analysis is the prerequisite for informed decision making. He has consistently emphasized the need to overcome biases, question assumptions and rely on evidence.
An approachable and deeply compassionate colleague, Senator Kutcher combines intellectual rigour with a sense of humour, even when addressing the most complex issues. His ability to bridge the gap between knowledge and people has made him a highly respected voice in this chamber.
During his eight years in the Senate, he has consistently championed youth mental health and helped advance national discussions, particularly on suicide prevention and medical assistance in dying. He has played a key role in the fight against misinformation, notably through his involvement with ScienceUpFirst.
He has also demonstrated his commitment to Ukraine, turning his family roots into concrete action and speaking out forcefully for the freedom and dignity of the Ukrainian people.
Senator Kutcher, we will continue to echo your enlightened and wise voice in our work. Your voice will also remind us that politics, at its best, is rooted in intellectual curiosity, compassion, the courage to do things differently and, of course, a touch of humour. In these times, your reflections on the importance of democracy and the essential role of an independent Senate will certainly continue to resonate in this chamber.
On behalf of your ISG family, please accept our deepest and most heartfelt thanks. Your dedication has touched us in ways that go far beyond your remarkable contributions to our institution. Each of us has been enriched by your presence, your generosity of spirit and your unwavering commitment.
You are one of those rare individuals whose kindness and integrity leave a lasting imprint not only on the places you serve but also on the people fortunate enough to know you and work alongside you.
We will miss you, dear Stan.
Honourable senators, in Stan Kutcher’s office, there is a framed print that reads, “Calm seas never made a skilled sailor.” Stan has navigated the sometimes raucous seas of the Senate for some time and has now set the course for home and family.
Today, on behalf of the Government Representative’s Office, I would like to express our gratitude for the journey he has shared with us.
Shortly after he and I made our entrance to this chamber with Senators Moodie and Anderson, Stan’s caring collegiality was immediately evident. He and former MP Ya’ara Saks produced the Mental Health Handbook just for us — well, and the other place, too — parliamentarians and, more importantly, for our staff as well.
Stan’s legacy in Parliament is far more than this handbook. His mentorship and kind tutelage of young people, staff and younger parliamentarians will be forever appreciated by the staff as they continue their careers and by Canadians as we parliamentarians grow in our understanding that health is mental health.
A skilled sailor, Stan Kutcher’s expertise and passion for mental health include an appreciation for our vast country. As we were waiting to enter this chamber for the first time, I shared with Stan that I was from the Yukon. I was already respectful of his incredible caring skills. He reminded me of a study from his work at Dalhousie, published in the Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, entitled Do National Frameworks Help in Local Policy Development? Lessons from Yukon about the Evergreen Child and Youth Mental Health Framework.
Senator Kutcher, your work and your words continue to resonate throughout our country and in this chamber. May I remind our colleagues of your words in this chamber? You said:
. . . I see our country through the metaphor of a tapestry. Each unique thread is woven together with many other unique threads. Each thread strengthens others and, in turn, is strengthened by other threads. These threads hold us together instead of pulling us apart. These are the ties that bind us together.
Senator Kutcher, your thread in the chamber’s red tapestry has been many colours, most especially blue and yellow. A tireless voice for Ukraine, we share your heartache. You have called upon us all to do more. We have heard you. Your voice for Ukraine continues to resonate.
Whether he is standing with Ukraine, addressing neglected tropical diseases, helping family members find peace in their loved ones’ final moments or mentoring, Senator Kutcher has conducted himself with unwavering and unrelenting moral strength. Standing up every time duty called to remind this chamber and the country that we can and must hold ourselves to the highest moral and ethical rigour and that our actions can change the world for the better, Stan Kutcher did not despair and he did not pass the buck. Rather, he helped us all to be good sailors in these sometimes rough seas.
Now, Stan, as you find your way to shore with your family, on behalf of the Senate and all Canadians, we are grateful to you for your service and to your loved ones for loaning you to us.
Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute, on behalf of the Conservative caucus, to Senator Stanley Kutcher, a physician, a scholar and, above all, a champion for youth mental health.
Many people know Senator Kutcher for his distinguished career in psychiatry and for his advocacy on the mental health and dignity of young people. Some may know his affinity for the arts — something the two of us have in common. In this chamber, we also know him for his fierce advocacy for Ukraine and displaced Ukrainians. But what I will remember most about him is something quieter but no less extraordinary. I will remember his kindness and the way he listens, analyzes and responds in a calm, respectful way.
Senator Kutcher and I had a conversation earlier in the week. Like so many in this place, I found in him someone willing to listen fully before speaking. There was no rush and no attempt to dominate the conversation. Instead, I was met with patience, thoughtfulness and a genuine desire to help. Somehow, by the end of that conversation, he had put my mind at ease. That is a rare gift.
In a place as demanding as this chamber, where people often carry burdens quietly, Senator Kutcher has always been someone others can turn to. He responds to people with steadiness and compassion, often in ways that happen far from public view. That quiet generosity has touched more people than he likely realizes.
Colleagues, public service is not only measured by the speeches delivered or the policies advanced. Sometimes it is measured in the moments when one person helps another carry the weight of a difficult day. Senator Kutcher has done that for many of us.
A few years ago, after a trip to Pakistan, I brought home some traditional hats called the pakol. We give them to people whom we want to honour. I gave one of those hats to Senator Kutcher. Senator Kutcher, I honoured you then as I honour you now.
As you turn to another chapter in your life, I want you to know how much you are appreciated for your wisdom, your compassion and your calm strength. You will be missed.
Thank you.
Honourable senators, one Sunday afternoon during the 2011 federal election campaign, our doorbell rang. It was in the midst of an April shower. Others might call it a torrential downpour. Opening the door, I was marginally relieved to not find Jehovah’s Witnesses but two completely sodden politicians: former senator Jim Cowan and the Liberal candidate for Halifax, Dr. Stan Kutcher. We’ve all experienced the sincerity of Stan’s enthusiasm. Impressively, this day was no different. Jim, however, was not nearly as convincing. But enthusiasm only gets you so far in life. Stan lost that election by a narrow 26-point margin. Yet he remained undeterred, ultimately throwing his hat back into the political ring, but this time — smartly — as an unelected politician.
Stan arrived in this chamber as a world-renowned academic in the field of child and youth mental health. Well before ever meeting him, I was inspired by Stan’s determination to find innovative ways to scale his knowledge. Understanding there would never be enough psychiatrists, he worked to bring effective treatment to the front lines through education in Nova Scotia’s junior high schools, high schools and universities. Today, his work continues across Canada and in over 20 countries globally in K to 12 settings and post-secondary settings. Stan’s practical and transformative approach to problems, together with his innovative mindset, introduces a type of thinking that’s needed across the public service. Stan is a doer. When he sees a problem, he gets to work fixing it and doesn’t wait for the red tape to be cleared.
Stan’s voice brought candour, scientific grounding and humour to this chamber. Above all, his voice brought humanity. That was never more evident than during our exceptionally weighty debates on medical assistance in dying during the Forty-third Parliament. His thoughtful contributions to the Bill C-7 debate were measured and deeply informed by evidence and compassion.
Needless to say, I’ve been a big fan of Stan for a long time. Stan was appointed six months after me, and I quickly called to congratulate him. We decided to go to lunch a few days later, where Stan peppered me with questions about the Senate. Now, in my defence, trying to explain the logic underlying the Senate’s culture to a psychiatrist is a very tall order. A few months later, I asked Stan if I had been any help. “None whatsoever,” he said.
Stan, I never would have imagined that we both would have the responsibility of serving in the Senate. Together with my Canadian Senators Group colleagues, I want to thank you for your insight, kindness, friendship and humour over all these years. It has been the best medicine.
Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to our dear colleague Senator Kutcher on behalf of the Progressive Senate Group.
As you’ve already heard, Senator Kutcher has been widely recognized for his lifelong commitment to improving mental health care, advancing youth well-being and strengthening the public understanding of mental health. His impact is, indeed, profound. I want to share a quote from Dwayne Provo, Executive Advisor to the Vice-President of the Nova Scotia Community College.
He says:
Stan has a rare ability to make people feel comfortable and valued through his respect, patience and quiet determination. His work made mental health central to Nova Scotia’s comprehensive school health program, strengthening support for students and our leadership.
That’s from Dwayne Provo.
Now here is something from me: According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a wise man is defined as a person possessing great learning, judgment, discernment or wisdom. A wise man may be a sage adviser — a person with profound wisdom, often a trusted guide or a thoughtful person. Looking more closely at this definition, I see a photo of Senator Dr. Stan Kutcher.
You may ask: why? Well, let me tell you.
First, he made a very wise decision to marry a social worker, Jane, also known as Jan to rhyme with Stan. And she is here today.
Second, I believe he made a wise choice to accept the Order of Nova Scotia at the same time that I did. It was very moving indeed to accept that great honour alongside him, and my daughter still remembers the conversation they had on that day.
Third, colleagues, Senator Kutcher made a wise decision to ask me to co-host “The Pandemic of Racism” Facebook Live series that we held during COVID-19 in 2021. As we witnessed two crises unfolding at the same time — a global health emergency and the heightened visibility of the deeply rooted pandemic of racism — we were called to action. He was called to action and invited me alongside. The disproportionate burden placed on Black and racialized Canadians was deeply concerning.
I could share many more stories, but, Senator Kutcher, I’m grateful to have served in this space with you, and I’m profoundly grateful for your wise counsel on so many issues, including the pandemic of racism. Asante. Thank you.
