Ramon Hnatyshyn, the grandson of Ukrainian immigrants, grew up in Saskatchewan and went to university there. He received his Bachelor of Arts (1954) and L.L.B. (1956) from the University of Saskatchewan. Upon graduation, he was admitted to the Bar of Saskatchewan (1957), and later to the Bar of Ontario (1986). He also served as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force 23 Wing Auxiliary (1956-58) before going to Ottawa as the Executive Assistant to the Leader of the Government in the Senate (1958-1960). In 1960, Hnatyshyn returned to Saskatchewan to practice and teach law.
Hnatyshyn was first elected to the House of Commons (1974-88) as a Progressive Conservative in 1974. Over the course of his political career, Hnatyshyn held a number of cabinet positions, including Minister of State for Science and Technology (1979), Minister of Energy Mines and Resources (1979-80), Minister Responsible for Regulatory Affairs (1986), and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada (1986-88).
In 1988, Hnatyshyn was appointed Queen's Counsel for Canada. In 1989 he was awarded the St. Volodymyr Medal Award from the World Congress of Ukrainians for his contributions to "justice and civil liberties". He became Governor General in 1990 and, in his inaugural speech, Hnatyshyn recalled his Ukrainian heritage. In 1992, he returned for a visit to the newly-independent Ukraine.
Hnatyshyn brought dignity and warmth to the Governor General's Office. On becoming Governor General, he re-opened the 88-acre Rideau estate to the public. It had been closed several years earlier. He also established the Governor General's Arts Award (1992), the Fight for Freedom literacy award, and envirnomental engineering and science scholarships.
