Hadfield named to Order of Canada

Adjunct professor of aviation and retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield can add one more title to his growing resume: Officer of the Order of Canada.

On June 30, 2014, Hadfield was among 86 outstanding Canadians appointed to the Order of Canada by Governor General and former University of Waterloo president David Johnston.

“This is a truly well-deserved honour for a remarkably distinguished Canadian and a great friend of the University of Waterloo,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo. “As a valued member of our professoriate and an inspiration to millions of Canadians, the University of Waterloo extends our sincere congratulations to Colonel Hadfield and his family.”

Chris Hadfield speaks at the University of Waterloo during a December visit to promote his book, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth.

As the first Canadian astronaut to command the International Space Station, Hadfield used social media to share his extraterrestrial experience with more than a million followers on Earth. He is expected to assuming teaching and advising responsibilities at Waterloo beginning in the fall term.

Other appointees named to the Order of Canada on Monday include Jean Chamberlain Froese, who received an honorary doctor of laws from Waterloo’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences in 2013, honouring her work in maternal health and social justice.

Hadfield and Froese join other notable Waterloo alumni in the Order of Canada, including Ron Schlegel, Robert Harding, Tom Jenkins, Stephen Carpenter, Doug Letson, John Daniel and Wesley Nichol.