The Honourable Benjamin Hewak is a former Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba, having served in that capacity for 17 years. Prior to that, he served as a Judge in both the County Court of Winnipeg and the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba. He is the first person of Ukrainian descent to have held the position of Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench in Manitoba. Under his term as Chief Justice, he brought significant changes and improvements. It has been said of that that « he has changed the face of the court system in this Province and changed and improved the system of justice in Manitoba. »
He has served his community in the following ways: former Alderman of the City of West Kildonan; former President of the Ukrainian National Youth Federation; former Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors of Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble; former President and Member of Hoosli Ukrainian Male Chorus; former Chairman of the Seven Oaks Hospital Foundation; former Member of the Holy Family Nursing Home Advisory Board; former Member of St. Andrews College Advisory Board; former Member of Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Cultural Centre (Oseredok) and Member of the Canadian Judicial Counsel
He is a recipient of a Honourary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Manitoba and was inducted into the Hall of Distinction of Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival
