Head and shoulders image of Ray Hnatyshyn, Governor General of Canada, possibly taken at time of presentation of an honourary Doctor of Laws degree.

Bio/Historical Note: Ramon John Hnatyshyn, a Ukrainian Canadian, was born in Saskatoon in 1934 to Helen Hnatyshyn and her husband, John, whose political links and friendship with John Diefenbaker, the future prime minister, would provide his son with frequent exposure to high-calibre political debate. He attended Victoria Public School and Nutana Collegiate Institute. He attend the University of Saskatchewan, earning there in 1954 a Bachelor of Arts and, two years later, a Bachelor of Law. Hnatyshyn played clarinet in the playful group College Nine. The University of Saskatchewan publication Green and White report that he was known as “King of the Belly Laugh” by longtime friends and classmates. Hnatyshyn married Gerda Andreasen (1935-2023) (BSc. Sask) in 1960. Beginning his legal practice in 1957, Hnatyshyn ran unsuccessfully for the provincial Conservatives in 1964 and taught in the U of S College of Law. Hnatyshyn was elected federally as a Progressive Conservative in 1974, and held a number of posts including government house leader, Minister of Mines, Energy and Resouces, Minister of Justice and Attorney General. He was defeated in 1988. As Governor General of Canada from 1990-1995, Ray and Gerda Hnatyshyn were celebrated for bringing a friendly, approachable energy to the role and Rideau Hall. They founded the Governor General’s Summer Concert Series, reopened a historic skating rink, started the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award and an award for volunteerism in the arts. After leaving the office of Governor General, he returned to practicing law and was chancellor of Carleton University. He died, after a battle with cancer, in Ottawa in 2002 at age 68. Canada Post created a stamp in his honour in 2004, and a statue of him stands by the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon.