Metro Vancouver, B.C. - Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) congratulates Julie Payette on her installation as Canada’s 29th Governor General today.
“Our students, staff and faculty take inspiration from Ms. Payette’s career, as we believe all Canadians have,” noted KPU president and vice-chancellor Dr. Alan Davis. “What she has accomplished in her lifetime is nothing short of astounding—she is an inspiration to us all.”
Astronaut, engineer, scientific broadcaster, businessperson, and scholar, Payette was sworn in as Canada’s new Governor General at an installation ceremony on Parliament Hill this afternoon. Her role as a valued advisor to the prime minister tops a long list of impressive achievements that include domestic and foreign honours, appointments and medals.
Payette flew two missions in space, was chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency, and served for many years as capsule communicator at NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas. In total, she spent 25 days in space, logging 16.5 million kilometres during more than 400 orbits of the Earth.
Payette has produced several scientific outreach short programs on CBC Radio-Canada and is a member of McGill University’s Faculty of Engineering advisory board. She has long served on the board of Own the Podium and has recently been appointed to the International Olympic Committee Women in Sports Commission. She is also a director of the National Bank of Canada.
Payette, who speaks six languages, has received 27 honorary doctorates from universities across the country. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec.
“On behalf of the entire KPU community, we are looking forward to Ms. Payette’s influence and leadership in the role of Governor General,” said Davis. “She has our unqualified and enthusiastic support.”
Davis adds that Payette’s voice is important to all Canadians, but in particular to young women and girls, who can take inspiration from all that Payette has achieved and continues to achieve in her lifetime.
More than half of KPU’s domestic students are female.