Ray Hnatyshyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ray Hnatyshyn
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| 24th Governor General of Canada | |
| In office January 29, 1990 – February 8, 1995 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Jeanne Sauvé |
| Succeeded by | Roméo LeBlanc |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ramon John Hnatyshyn
March 16, 1934 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Died | December 18, 2002 (aged 68) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Cause of death | Pancreatitis |
| Resting place | Beechwood Cemetery |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse |
Gerda Nygaard Andreasen
(m. 1960) |
| Children | John, Carl |
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| Alma mater | University of Saskatchewan |
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Ramon John Hnatyshyn (born March 16, 1934 – died December 18, 2002) was an important Canadian leader and lawyer. He served as the Governor General of Canada, which is the Queen's representative in Canada. He was the 24th person to hold this role since Canada became a country.
Ray Hnatyshyn was born and grew up in Saskatchewan. Before becoming a politician, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. In 1974, he was elected to the House of Commons, which is where Canada's laws are made. He became a government minister in 1979 and served in different roles until 1988.
In 1989, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him Governor General, following the advice of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. He took over from Jeanne Sauvé and held the position until 1995. As the Queen's representative, Hnatyshyn was known for being a "people person." He made Rideau Hall, the official residence, more open to Canadians and tourists. He was also praised for celebrating the contributions of Ukrainian Canadians.
After his time as Governor General, he continued to practice law and became the Chancellor of Carleton University. He passed away in 2002 due to a serious illness called pancreatitis.
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Ray Hnatyshyn: Canada's 24th Governor General
Early Life and Education
Ray Hnatyshyn was a Ukrainian Canadian. He was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His parents were Helen and John Hnatyshyn. His father, John, was a lawyer who also got involved in politics. John Hnatyshyn became Canada's first Ukrainian-born senator in 1959. His father's connections, especially with future Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, meant Ray grew up around important political discussions.
Ray Hnatyshyn went to school in Saskatoon. He studied at the University of Saskatchewan, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954 and a law degree two years later. He became a lawyer in Saskatchewan in 1957. For a short time, he worked at a law firm in Saskatoon. In 1958, he moved to Ottawa to work for Walter Aseltine, a leader in the Canadian Senate.
In 1960, Hnatyshyn returned to Saskatoon and continued his law career. That same year, he married Karen Gerda Nygaard Andreasen. They had two sons together. He also taught law at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law starting in 1966. In 1973, he was named a Queen's Counsel in Saskatchewan, which is an honour for experienced lawyers.
When he was younger, Hnatyshyn was part of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. He also served as a reservist in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) from 1951 to 1958.
A Career in Canadian Politics
Serving in Parliament
In the 1974 federal election, Ray Hnatyshyn ran as a candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party. He won the election in the area of Saskatoon—Biggar and became a Member of Parliament (MP). This meant he represented his community in the House of Commons. In 1976, he became the deputy house leader for his party.
Before the 1979 election, his riding (Saskatoon—Biggar) was changed. Hnatyshyn then ran and won in the new area called Saskatoon West. His party won the election, forming a minority government. On June 4, 1979, Hnatyshyn was appointed to the Cabinet by Prime Minister Joe Clark. He served as the Minister of Energy, Mines, and Resources and also as the Minister of State for Science and Technology.
The government lost power in December 1979, and the Liberals won the next election in 1980. Hnatyshyn was re-elected as an MP for Saskatoon West. He became the opposition critic for justice, meaning he would question the government on justice issues. When Brian Mulroney became the new leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 1983, he made Hnatyshyn the Opposition House Leader.
Becoming a Cabinet Minister
In the 1984 federal election, the Progressive Conservatives won a large majority. In November 1984, Hnatyshyn was named Government House Leader. In February 1985, he also became the President of the Privy Council. In June 1986, Prime Minister Mulroney changed some cabinet roles, and Hnatyshyn became the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. In 1988, he was appointed Queen's Counsel in Canada.
Before the 1988 election, his riding was changed again to Saskatoon—Clark's Crossing. However, he lost this election to Chris Axworthy from the New Democratic Party. After his defeat, Hnatyshyn went back to working as a lawyer in Ottawa.
Governor General: Opening Rideau Hall
On December 14, 1989, Queen Elizabeth II officially appointed Ray Hnatyshyn as the new Queen's representative in Canada. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney had recommended him for the role. Hnatyshyn was the second Governor General in a row to be from Saskatchewan. He officially started his role in a ceremony on January 29, 1990.
As Governor General, Hnatyshyn worked hard to make Rideau Hall, the official residence in Ottawa, more open to the public. He created a visitors' centre and started guided tours of the palace and its beautiful grounds. This was a big change from the previous Governor General, who had kept Rideau Hall mostly closed to the public. In 1991, Hnatyshyn started the annual Governor General's Summer Concert Series on the grounds. The next year, he held "His Excellency's Most Excellent Rock Concert" and reopened the skating rink for everyone to enjoy.
Connecting with Canadians
Hnatyshyn had several goals during his time as Governor General. He wanted to connect with Canadian youth and focus on education. He also wanted to encourage the arts. To achieve these goals, he created several awards in 1992, including the Governor General's Performing Arts Award and the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Arts. He also founded the International Council for Canadian Studies and the Governor General Ramon John Hnatyshyn Education Fund.
He performed many other official duties, like leading celebrations for Canada's 125th anniversary. He welcomed important guests to Rideau Hall, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, and leaders like President of Russia Boris Yeltsin and King Hussein of Jordan. Hnatyshyn also made several official visits to other countries, including Ukraine. His time as Governor General ended on February 6, 1995.
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving Rideau Hall, Hnatyshyn returned to his law firm, where he became a senior partner. In November 2002, he became the Chancellor of Carleton University in Ottawa. However, he passed away shortly after, on December 18, 2002, from complications of pancreatitis.
Following tradition, and with his family's permission, Hnatyshyn's body lay in state for two days in the Senate chamber. This allowed people to pay their respects. Even though he was Ukrainian Orthodox, his state funeral was a multi-faith ceremony held on December 23, 2002, at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa. The service included parts of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church funeral rite and a speech from Peter Mansbridge, a well-known Canadian journalist. Adrienne Clarkson, who was the Governor General at the time, paid tribute to him in a video message. Hnatyshyn was then buried at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa.
Many memorials followed Hnatyshyn's death. On March 16, 2004, Canada Post released a special postage stamp featuring his portrait. Two years later, a documentary DVD about his life, called A Man for all Canadians, was released.
Honours and Awards
Ray Hnatyshyn received many honours and awards throughout his life for his service to Canada. These included:
- He was appointed Queen's Counsel for Saskatchewan in 1973 and for Canada in 1988.
- He became a Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada in 1979.
- He was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, which is one of Canada's highest honours. When he was Governor General, he was also the Chancellor of the Order of Canada.
- He was also a Commander of the Order of Military Merit (Canada).
- He received several medals, including the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.
- He was given many honorary degrees from universities across Canada, including the University of Saskatchewan, Royal Military College of Canada, and Carleton University.
He also had several awards and organizations named after him, such as:
- The Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Law
- The Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Arts
- The Hnatyshyn Foundation, which supports arts and culture in Canada.
See also
In Spanish: Ramon John Hnatyshyn para niños
