Bishop Yakymyshyn was born in the family of ethnical Ukrainian Greek-Catholics in Canada.

After the school education, he subsequently joined the Order of Saint Basil the Great, where he had a solemn profession on January 1, 1953.

Then he continued his studies in the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy with degree of Doctor of Sacred Theology.

[2] After that he had various pastoral assignments and served as a parish priest, spiritual director, master of novices and lecturer at St. Paul University in Ottawa.

[1] Bishop Yakymyshyn retired on June 1, 2007, after reaching the age limit.