SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Tributes
The Honourable Stan Kutcher
May 7, 2026
Honourable senators, I rise today to recognize the remarkable service of our colleague and one of my dear friends, the Honourable Stan Kutcher, as he retires from this chamber.
Serving alongside him has been one of the great privileges of my time here. I have seen up close his blend of quiet humility, fierce integrity and unwavering commitment to doing what is right for Canadians, especially for young people and for those struggling in silence.
Before arriving here, Senator Kutcher built a world-class academic and clinical career, but what has always struck me is not the length of his CV; it is the way he treats every person in front of him. In caucus rooms, committee hearings and casual conversations in the corridor, he listens first, asks the hard questions gently and never lets any of us forget that behind every policy file is a human story. I have watched him offer support, without fanfare, to colleagues and staff who were going through difficult times simply because that is who he is.
In this chamber, his interventions have been models of what we should all aspire to: evidence-based, respectful and focused on solutions, not headlines. More than once, after a long day of hearings, I have gone to him for counsel and have left with clearer thinking and a steadier heart.
His friendship has made me a better senator and a better person.
Colleagues, Stan’s story is also a Canadian story: The son of post-war Ukrainian refugees, he went on to earn a medical degree at McMaster, trained in Canada and abroad and returned home to serve as a physician, a globally respected researcher, a teacher and, ultimately, a parliamentarian.
He has shown unwavering support for Ukraine, speaking consistently for its sovereignty, democracy and the rights of those displaced and traumatized by Russia’s aggression. He has worked closely with Ukrainian-Canadian communities and advocates, bringing their voices into this chamber and pressing Canada to match its words with concrete assistance.
Colleagues, as we mark his retirement, I hope he knows that he does not simply leave behind a legislative record; he leaves behind a community of friends and proteges who will carry his values forward.
To Jan and the family; to my bestie, Maisie; and to all those who love and respect him, I offer my deepest thanks.
I will miss the thought-provoking conversations, the dry humour, the infectious laughter and the way you could turn a room full of tensions into a room full of purpose. May your next chapter be filled with ongoing improvements in your health, joy and the same curiosity and kindness you have given to all of us.
And Stan, my friend, my brother, know that while you may be leaving this chamber, you will never leave our hearts.
Thank you.
Honourable senators, it’s with mixed emotions that I rise to pay tribute to a metaphorical giant — in spirit, in impact, in joy, in life — in the character and person of our dearest colleague the Honourable Senator Dr. Stan Kutcher.
I won’t reiterate his accomplishments and numerous accolades but propose to simply share some personal anecdotes that speak to his character, honour and deep commitment to Canada and Canadians, especially in the areas of mental health and wellness.
It was Stan who sent me my first handwritten card, which will remain displayed in a place of prominence in my home. I’m not sure how it got there so quickly because it arrived within days of my appointment. He must have some magical connections to some higher authorities. Yes, his call was one of the first calls I received after my appointment. That warm welcome created a space for me to grow, and his constant support nurtured every initiative that I was bold enough to embark upon. I think of when just the kernel of the idea of the mental health and substance use parity round table began to germinate. It was Stan who took the time to say, “Let’s meet and discuss this.”
The parable of the mustard seed reminds us that small ideas, when nurtured, can grow to have far-reaching and substantive impacts. My feet had, indeed, led me to the right place, and the path I was now on was filled with gems and not crumbs along the way.
Stan’s work, presence and direction are on full display throughout the report, and it has begun to bear fruit. I’ve gone to international parliamentary conferences, and speakers and participants have read it. Locally and nationally, it has made an impact. A young woman who recently graduated from a university here in Ottawa shared with me that the report is now required reading.
Then, there was the time he handed me the baton on mental health by presenting me in my office with a unique, prestigious hand-crafted plate, signifying one’s commitment to advancing the cause of mental health in Canada. It is the Paul Hansell Foundation ConvoPlate.
I could go on and on.
His joyful smile and wide arms call us into dialogue to work together, and I couldn’t end this speech without talking about Stan’s wit and his wicked sense of humour that, as we got to know each other and sharpened our responses and comebacks, had us in stitches.
Honourable Senator Dr. Stan Kutcher, to your wonderful wife, children, grandchildren and family, thank you. I wish you good health, joy and fulfillment in this new chapter.
Honourable senators, I, too, am pleased to pay tribute to our departing colleague, the Honourable Stan Kutcher.
Much has been said about Senator Kutcher’s personal qualities, his time as a senator, his previous illustrious career, his intellect, his sharp wit, his legacy and, most important, his lustrous hair. While I dispute none of it, I will give you what can only be described as the insider’s perspective, that of his seatmate of 2,703 days.
Like all of us, I am often asked how I am enjoying the Senate. I have my stock response: “It is tough and challenging, but, fortunately, my seatmate is a psychiatrist.”
During these past seven years, Stan has provided me with advice, consolation and humour. It is a good thing I wasn’t lying down. Could you imagine the rate he would have charged me? I have tried to reciprocate, although I don’t have a prescription pad. Our quips and banter have been compared to those of “The Muppets” characters Statler and Waldorf, the two critics of a certain age sitting in the balcony.
We have all been touched by Stan’s relentless commitment to important issues, such as mis- and disinformation in public health, especially on vaccine use during the pandemic, medical assistance in dying and the war in Ukraine. His dedication to Ukraine, the country from which his parents came to Canada as World War II refugees, cannot be overstated. In particular, Stan distinguished himself by being Canada’s only senator to visit Ukraine. It is fitting that his last regular Senator’s Statement this week was again dedicated to the current and historic struggles and resilience of his people.
Positive, informal and gregarious, Stan was always — usually, anyway — friendly to everyone and generous with his time. He was also generous with gifts, especially socks. I have several pairs, including one with the lobsters of his beloved Nova Scotia and the latest pair that came with the advisory that the socks are “purposely mismatched.” I’m wearing them today and keep thinking that only a psychiatrist could give a gift like that. They are a metaphor for the two of us as a pair.
Stan has been selflessly helpful to many in this chamber, including myself. In Don Quixote, the great Spanish writer Cervantes wrote, “Great persons are able to do great kindnesses.”
Stan Kutcher is that type of great person. He is a confidant, a good and kind friend and a great Canadian. His work in the Senate has enriched us all, and he leaves a legacy of a legislator with purpose and drive.
Go happily into your retirement, my good friend, and enjoy quality time with Jan, your children and your grandchildren.
Thank you, Stan. You are unforgettable.
Honourable senators, I’m so happy and pleased to honour my friend and our colleague Senator Stan Kutcher.
I first met Stan soon after his appointment in late 2018, as we both sat right over there, where Senators Klyne and Henkel are sitting right now. Senator Boehm was his seatmate then as now. We became friends early in our Senate journey as we tried to make sense of this place.
To his deliberations in this chamber and in committees, Stan brought professional expertise and experience in Canada and worldwide. With his wide experience with people in their day-to-day lives, a sense of humour and deep empathy, he spent a lifetime putting these qualities together to improve lives.
To get the measure of Stan, look at his advocacy on medical assistance in dying, or MAID, and his forceful arguments that those suffering from mental illness are fully competent to make decisions on their own behalf and deserve equal treatment and their full constitutional rights.
Disinformation and misinformation are other themes in his work, as he strived to expose it in the health sciences, such as vaccine disinformation, and elsewhere, especially as we became aware of Russia’s efforts to subvert democracy in this country and elsewhere through destructive campaigns.
Our friendship took another turn after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and our shared Ukrainian heritage formed the basis of a deeper bond. Stan characteristically got to work on initiatives to support Ukraine, working with the Ukrainian Canadian community and advocating for those displaced by war and for strategic defence initiatives. We proudly co-hosted moving and memorable commemoration events together.
Recently, he travelled to Ukraine at his own expense to learn and share his professional expertise with those suffering the trauma of war. He was awarded the Order of Merit of Ukraine, which is a recognition of great honour.
His bill, Bill S-210, An Act respecting Ukrainian Heritage Month, was another way to strengthen the Ukrainian community and Canadian resolve. “Our heritage is a celebration of who we are, what we aspire to be and the glue that binds us to each other,” he said in his speech last June. But, most importantly, he also said:
. . . I also take this time to acknowledge that I respect and want to learn more about your heritage — for in that mutual journey of discovery, we can hope to better understand each other and, by so doing, define and reach for a better common tomorrow.
Thank you, Stan. I will miss you very much. Godspeed to you on your next journey, and, yes, together, we will all reach for that better common tomorrow.
