Senator a well-known human rights champion
Raynell Andreychuk has said that one of the first things she saw after being appointed to the Senate in 1993 was a lawn sign calling for the Red Chamber’s abolition.
Though calls for the Senate to be abolished have only intensified during Andreychuk’s 24 years in the Upper House, the former lawyer, judge and diplomat has never lost sight of how she can use her post to advance causes dear to her heart such as promoting human rights and advancing Canadian-Ukrainian relations.
Andreychuk was born in Saskatoon and completed a BA and law degree at the University of Saskatchewan. She was appointed a Saskatchewan provincial court judge in 1976 and later served as associate deputy minister of social services and chancellor of the University of Regina. She also held a number of diplomatic appointments before she became the first Saskatchewan woman to be named to the Senate in 1993.
As senator, Andreychuk played a key role in starting up the standing committee on human rights and was responsible for getting the Canadian government to recognize the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 as a genocide. Her work has won her many awards, including the Ukrainian World Congress’ St. Volodymyr the Great Medal and the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations’ Woman of Distinction Award for her work defending human rights and freedoms and raising awareness of the Ukrainian Famine. She has been recognized as one of the top 100 distinguished graduates of the U of S in its first 100 years.
Andreychuk is currently one of the longest-sitting senators in the upper house. She is expected to continue serving until her mandatory retirement date in August 2019 when she turns 75.
As we celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, the StarPhoenix and Leader-Post are telling the stories of 150 Saskatchewan people who helped shape the nation. Send your suggestions or feedback to sask150@postmedia.com.