Of Belgian descent and raised in Gracefield, Quebec and Orleans, Ontario, Ravignat received a master's degree in political science.
At the time of his election to Parliament, Ravignat was a federal government researcher for aboriginal and environmental issues.
On election night, he won his first term in office and picked up the seat for his party by defeating Conservative Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, despite the Conservative Party gaining its first majority government in the election.
Ravignat is a sensei at the Daijiken Traditional Karate Association which he founded in Wakefield, Quebec.
[7] He is also one of the founders of the Canada Hokubei Karate-jutsu and Kobu-jutsu Association, a national martial arts organization affiliated with the North America Karate-jutsu Kobu-jutsu Association and with the International Kenshi-kai Organisation (IKO) headquartered in Okinawa, Japan.