The Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn

Mr. Hnatyshyn and his wife Gerda were determined to develop Rideau Hall into a showcase for Canadian excellence. In 1994, Mrs. Hnatyshyn co-authored a book, "Rideau Hall - Canada's Living Heritage", with the understanding that the proceeds would be used to expand the national collection of art and furnishings at the official residence. Mrs. Hnatyshyn also collaborated with the Canadian Heritage Garden Foundation, an independent charitable foundation, to construct a Heritage Garden as a particular point of interest on the Rideau Hall grounds.

As Canada's de facto Head of State, Mr. Hnatyshyn and his wife received leaders and dignitaries from around the world. Their guests included President Lech Walesa of Poland, Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin of Israel, President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation, Their Majesties the King and Queen of Jordan, and President Vaclav Havel of Czechoslovakia. Mr. and Mrs. Hnatyshyn also welcomed many members of the Royal Family, including Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1991. The Hnatyshyn's also travelled abroad, representing Canada at the 50th anniversary celebrations of D-Day in France in 1994, and going on several State visits, including one to the Ukraine, which was particularly special because Mr. Hnatyshyn is of Ukranian descent.

The Hnatyshyn's encouragement of the arts in Canada was one of the important accomplishments of their term. They established the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards in 1992, along with the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Arts in the same year. Every fall, both awards are presented at Rideau Hall followed by the Performing Arts Awards Gala at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, which is broadcast at a later date by the CBC.
Mr. Hnatyshyn demonstrated his commitment to education through his support of a number of initiatives. He gave support to the Governor General's International Award for Canadian Studies, established by the International Council for Canadian Studies, the Governor General Ramon John Hnatyshyn Education Fund administered by the University Hospital Board and Foundation of Saskatoon, as well as the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Law with the Canadian Bar Association. He promoted literacy through the Governor General's Flight For Freedom Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literacy established in 1992.

During their time at Rideau Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Hnatyshyn strengthened ties with Canadian youth. They ensured that young people were invited to as many events as possible and stressed the importance of encouraging Canada's young people to achieve their academic potential. In 1992, Mr. Hnatyshyn hosted a rock concert on the grounds of Rideau Hall focussing attention on the Stay in School campaign and the Canadian Scholarships Program. The concert aired on YTV as "His Excellency's Most Excellent Rock Concert."

Several other awards and scholarships were established during the Hnatyshyn mandate including the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Cup, presented annually to the winning team of the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival, and the Governor General's Canada Scholarships in Environmental Engineering and Environmental Sciences.
As Canada's Governor General, Mr. Hnatyshyn understood the vital need to champion the diversity that enriched Canadian society, and he was a strong advocate of multiculturalism.

Life Before and After Rideau Hall
Mr. Hnatyshyn attended Victoria Public School and Nutana Collegiate Institute. He continued his studies at the University of Saskatchewan, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954 and a Bachelor of Law degree in 1956. He married Karen Gerda Nygaard Andreasen on January 9, 1960, and the couple had two sons.
He was called to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1957, and to the Ontario Bar in 1986. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1974, and on June 4, 1979, he was sworn into the Privy Council, after which he held a number of different ministerial portfolios.

Mr. Hnatyshyn's honours include a 1988 appointment as Queen's Counsel (QC) for Canada, and a year later, an honorary life membership with the Law Society of Saskatchewan. In 1989, he received the St. Volodymyr Medal Award from the World Congress of Ukrainians, in recognition of "outstanding contributions to the cause of justice and civil liberties." Following his departure from Rideau Hall and a return to law practice in Ottawa, he received the Mount Scopus Award from the Hebrew University in 1996 for "demonstrating broad humanitarian concern throughout his career."

Related Information:
Message from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson Governor General of Canada on the death of the Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn

Encyclopedia: Ray Hnatyshyn
Sponsored links:

Ramon John (Ray) Hnatyshyn (March 16, 1934 - December 18, 2002) was Canada's twenty-fourth governor general, serving from 1990 to 1995.

Ray Hnatyshyn, of Ukrainian descent, was born the son of a Canadian senator in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He attended the University of Saskatchewan and practised law in that province until being elected to the House of Commons. He served as Conservative Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-area ridings from 1974 to 1988.

He was appointed as the energy minister under the Joe Clark government, and as house leader and justice minister under Brian Mulroney. Hnatyshyn was appointed governor-general on December 14, 1989, succeeding Jeanne Sauv

. He was officially sworn in January 29, 1990.

Hnatyshyn was largely responsible for popularizing the office of the governor general. He opened Rideau Hall, the governor general's official residence, to tourists in 1990, reversing Mme. Sauvé's security policy. He also opened the residence's skating rink to the public and hosted a rock concert to promote education.

He also established the Governor General's Awards for the Performing Arts in 1992.

The Jean Chr tien government named Senator Rom o LeBlanc as his successor, and Mr. Hnatyshyn completed his term on February 6, 1995. During his time as the Queen's representative, he was the well-liked, humorous official host to 26 Heads of State and made at least 1200 speeches.

From April 1989 to January 1990, he practised law at the establishment of Gowling, Strathy & Henderson.

Though he was Ukrainian Orthodox, he was commemorated at a multi-faith ceremony held December 23, 2002 at Ottawa's Christ Church Cathedral.

On March 16, 2004, the Government of Canada unveiled a $.49 stamp with an image of him taken on the day he became Governor General (January 29, 1990), he is dressed in formal wear, standing against a bronze, tone-on-tone background depicting part of the heraldic coat of arms created for him. The picture was taken by Canadian Press photographer Paul Chaisson. The stamp itself was created by Vancouver designer Susan Mavor depicting his humour and thoughtfulness. His wife Gerda was in attendance.