He was previously the president of the Canadian Auto Workers, Local 444 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Lewenza dropped out of high school after Grade 10, at age 16, worked in a gas station, married the next year, and had a son when he was still 17.

His father advised Lewenza to be careful about getting involved in the union, urging him instead to focus on his young family.

That allowed Lewenza to prove himself to the other workers, and in 1978, he was elected a full-time steward.

As president of the local, Lewenza became a well-known figure in the Windsor-Essex area.