Latest news with #MarcGarneau
National Post
3 days ago
- Science
- National Post
Marc Garneau left lasting legacy on Earth and in space, former colleagues say
MONTREAL — Canadian scientists working on asteroid missions, exploring the universe through the James Webb Space Telescope or helping to put rovers on Mars say they can in some way thank Marc Garneau, who left an enduring legacy both as an astronaut and head of the country's space agency. Article content While best-known in later years as a federal cabinet minister, Garneau, who died this week at 76, was also a Navy officer, a systems engineer, and an astronaut with a lifelong passion for science, according to his friends and colleagues. Article content Article content Article content In 1984, he made history as the first Canadian in space when he served as a payload specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. He returned to space twice more, in 1996 and 2000, before serving as the president of the Canadian Space Agency from 2001 to 2005. Article content Article content 'All his life was devoted to public service,' said Gilles Leclerc, an ex-CSA official who worked with him. 'And he was really a role model to all the Canadian astronauts who came after him.' Article content As CSA president, Garneau laid the building blocks for the space exploration program that would bring together other initiatives previously developed separately, Leclerc said. Article content He was also 'ahead of his time' when it came to being conscious of the environment and understanding the importance of applying space technology for practical uses such as satellite communications. Article content 'During his tenure, he really wanted us to focus more on science: astronomy, planetary science, lunar exploration,' Leclerc said in a phone interview. Article content Article content 'So all these things that now we see, all these missions that Canada participated in, like a mission to the asteroids, two missions to Mars, the James Webb Space Telescope…Marc had a real strong influence in shaping the future of the space program for a long time.' Article content Article content On Friday, CSA President Lisa Campbell paid tribute to Garneau, who she called a 'cherished member of the space agency family.' Article content Garneau would carry his love of science — as well as his significant technical knowledge — into his next role as a politician, according to his former chief of staff and close personal friend.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Science
- CTV News
Marc Garneau left lasting legacy on Earth and in space, former colleagues say
Mission specialist Marc Garneau waves to photographers as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building with four other crew members for a trip to Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on the space shuttle Endeavour in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Chris O'Meara
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Science
- Toronto Star
Marc Garneau left lasting legacy on Earth and in space, former colleagues say
MONTREAL - Canadian scientists working on asteroid missions, exploring the universe through the James Webb Space Telescope or helping to put rovers on Mars say they can in some way thank Marc Garneau, who left an enduring legacy both as an astronaut and head of the country's space agency. While best-known in later years as a federal cabinet minister, Garneau, who died this week at 76, was also a Navy officer, a systems engineer, and an astronaut with a lifelong passion for science, according to his friends and colleagues.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Marc Garneau left lasting legacy on Earth and in space, former colleagues say
MONTREAL — Canadian scientists working on asteroid missions, exploring the universe through the James Webb Space Telescope or helping to put rovers on Mars say they can in some way thank Marc Garneau, who left an enduring legacy both as an astronaut and head of the country's space agency. While best-known in later years as a federal cabinet minister, Garneau, who died this week at 76, was also a Navy officer, a systems engineer, and an astronaut with a lifelong passion for science, according to his friends and colleagues. In 1984, he made history as the first Canadian in space when he served as a payload specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. He returned to space twice more, in 1996 and 2000, before serving as the president of the Canadian Space Agency from 2001 to 2005. "All his life was devoted to public service," said Gilles Leclerc, an ex-CSA official who worked with him. "And he was really a role model to all the Canadian astronauts who came after him." As CSA president, Garneau laid the building blocks for the space exploration program that would bring together other initiatives previously developed separately, Leclerc said. He was also "ahead of his time" when it came to being conscious of the environment and understanding the importance of applying space technology for practical uses such as satellite communications. "During his tenure, he really wanted us to focus more on science: astronomy, planetary science, lunar exploration," Leclerc said in a phone interview. "So all these things that now we see, all these missions that Canada participated in, like a mission to the asteroids, two missions to Mars, the James Webb Space had a real strong influence in shaping the future of the space program for a long time." On Friday, CSA President Lisa Campbell paid tribute to Garneau, who she called a "cherished member of the space agency family." "We remain deeply grateful for his extraordinary public service and enduring contributions to Canada and the world, from making history as the first Canadian in space to guiding the Canadian Space Agency as its president," she said at an event at the agency's Montreal-area headquarters. "his integrity, his generosity of spirit touches everyone who had the privilege of working with him." Flags at government buildings in Montreal have been lowered to half-mast in tribute. Garneau would carry his love of science — as well as his significant technical knowledge — into his next role as a politician, according to his former chief of staff and close personal friend. Marc Roy said Garneau decided to run for office out of a desire to give back after his successful space career. Garneau often spoke about how seeing the Earth from above "changed his perspective on many things," including conflicts and environmental protections, Roy said. "So many things that unfortunately divide us as humans that become so irrelevant when you look at our world from abroad," Roy said in a phone interview. "And that desire to want to contribute at an even higher level, at a different, at a policy level, at a governance level is what inspired him to run for federal politics." Garneau was elected as MP in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount in 2008 after failing to win another Montreal-area seat in 2006. Roy said Garneau's scientific background shone through most clearly as Transport minister, when he was able to instantly grasp technical briefings on ships, planes and trains. Above all, his history as a naval officer and astronaut gave him a laser focus on safety, Roy said, in a role that would see Garneau introduce measures including the safer skies initiative, and the oceans protection plan to monitor ship traffic, oil spills and wildlife. Roy said Garneau often spoke about the weight of the portfolio, "wanting to ensure that he did it to the best of his ability, that he truly understood every decision that he was taking and every decision that was possible for him to make in order to ensure the safety of the traveling public and the safety overall of our trade and transportation corridors." Roy said Garneau brought a scientist's analytic, "Spock-like" demeanor to his roles. But he said some of the issues Garneau championed most passionately were social causes, including serving as a joint chair of the special joint committee on medical assistance in dying. And, despite his considerable intelligence, Roy said Garneau remained humble. "He had a very rare quality in a politician, from his very debut until the very last day before he retired as member of Parliament, which was: he listened more than he talked," Roy said. He said his friend was diagnosed only months ago with two cancers: leukemia and lymphoma, and died after a battle that was "brave but short." Roy said his friend's time since retirement was spent enjoying time with his wife, Pam, and his children, and completing work on his autobiography, "A Most Extraordinary Ride: Space, Politics and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream." Roy said the book gave Garneau closure. "He wanted to tell the story that, 'I'm just like everybody else and I failed and I've screwed up and I pulled up my socks and I learned from my mistakes and I moved on,'" Roy said. "And that was very important for him to tell that story, and I'm just so fortunate that he had the time to do that." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2025. Morgan Lowrie and Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
CBC
3 days ago
- Science
- CBC
Canada's first person in space, Marc Garneau — and a privileged journalist who knew him
Canada lost a special citizen this week. Marc Garneau, Canada's first astronaut, passed away at the age of 76. I have had the privilege of knowing Marc for almost 40 years. Marc became a Canadian icon when he boarded the space shuttle Challenger in 1984, placing Canada onto the short list of countries with a human space program. It was the first of three flights into space for Marc. One of his jobs was using the Canadarm to help build the International Space Station. He also had a career beforehand as an officer with the Canadian Navy, and two more careers afterwards, as head of the Canadian Space Agency from 2001 to 2005, and as an member of Parliament and cabinet minister until he retired in 2023. His life is a story of continually re-inventing himself and pulling it all off with style. I was reporting on Marc's space flights as they happened but didn't meet him personally until 1986 at an unusual event called " Invent an Alien." This was a Canada-wide challenge for Grade 4, 5 and 6 students to design a creature that could live on one of the worlds in our solar system. Operated like a science fair, the students had to build a model creature and explain its special abilities to survive in an alien environment. The finals were held at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa, and Marc was one of our judges. It was there that I first encountered his calm demeanor, compassion and sensitivity as he interacted with the young students, listening to their explanations of how their creature could survive on Mars or an ice moon of the giant planets. Despite his fame, he was patient, totally engaged and provided encouragement to the nervous budding scientists. In 2005, Marc presented me with an honorary doctorate when he was chancellor of Carleton University. Being handed a diploma by an astronaut was a special thrill for this long-time space geek. Over the years, when we crossed paths at science events or conferences, or when he was a guest on Quirks & Quarks, I was impressed at each encounter by his ability to clearly focus on whatever task was before him and carry it out with humour and warmth. The last time I saw him was November 2024, when he came to Victoria to launch his memoir, A Most Extraordinary Ride. It is worth a read if you want to know his remarkable full life story. During my interview with him at a local bookstore, before a packed audience, I discovered many aspects of his life beyond an astronaut career, including how he had a bad boy side to him in his youth. He told the story that as a new cadet aboard the Canadian Naval ship HMCS Beacon Hill, he and two accomplices asked to go ashore while the ship was at anchor. Their request was denied, so they hatched a poorly thought out plan to pack their clothing in plastic bags, don swimsuits and slide down the anchor chain after dark to swim to shore. They almost got away with it, but the ship's radar picked up strange objects moving in the water, which were then targeted by searchlights. The escapees were picked up, returned to the ship, and heavily reprimanded for disobeying a direct order. Marc said the event almost got him kicked out of the navy, but he stuck with it, and eventually became a naval commander — and loved every minute of it. Marc also confirmed a story I heard back in the '80s during his first flight to space. When mission control made a wake-up call to the crew, Marc took the intercom and replied, "We're sorry, there is no one here to take your call, but if you leave your number we will get back to you." The trick was he did it in French, so only the Canadians on the ground got the joke and broke out in laughter, while the Americans had no idea what was going on. "The crew set me up for that," he explained. What's remarkable about Marc's history is how each of his careers was entirely different. No matter the context, he approached each challenge with clear focus, determination, high standards — and a warm personality and dry sense of humour. During the book launch, I asked him how he dealt with the transition of being a national hero to a politician who is always under attack. He replied with a grin: "Yeah, when I was an astronaut, everyone liked me." In fact, everyone did like him. That warm personality underlined everything he accomplished, and he accomplished a lot.
