43 Facts About Julie Payette

Julie Payette worked as a research scientist before joining the Canadian Space Agency in 1992 as a member of the Canadian Astronaut Corps.

Julie Payette completed two spaceflights, STS-96 and STS-127, and has logged more than 25 days in space.

Julie Payette served as capsule communicator at NASA Mission Control Center in Houston and from 2000 to 2007 as CSA's chief astronaut.

In July 2013, Julie Payette was named chief operating officer for the Montreal Science Centre.

Julie Payette held a number of board appointments, including the National Bank of Canada.

Julie Payette resigned on January 21,2021, following the conclusion of a workplace review that found she had "belittled, berated and publicly humiliated Rideau Hall staff" and "created a toxic, verbally abusive workplace".

Julie Payette is the second governor general to have resigned the office, after Romeo LeBlanc, the first to resign due to scandal, and the first to have left a vacancy upon resignation.

Julie Payette was born on October 20,1963, in Montreal, Quebec, and lived in the Ahuntsic neighbourhood, attending College Mont-Saint-Louis and College Regina Assumpta.

Julie Payette's thesis focused on computational linguistics, a field of artificial intelligence.

Julie Payette is a retired member of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec.

Julie Payette speaks French and English, some Spanish, Italian, Russian and German.

At the beginning of 1991, Julie Payette joined the communications and science department of the IBM Zurich Research Laboratory in Switzerland, for a one-year visiting scientist appointment.

Julie Payette was selected by the Canadian Space Agency as one of four astronauts from a field of 5,330 applicants in June 1992.

In 1993, Julie Payette established the Human-Computer Interaction Group at the Canadian Astronaut Program and served as a technical specialist on the NATO International Research Study Group on speech processing.

In preparation for a space assignment, Julie Payette obtained her commercial pilot licence and logged 120 hours as a research operator on reduced gravity aircraft.

Julie Payette obtained her captaincy on the CT-114 Tutor military jet at CFB Moose Jaw in February 1996 and her military instrument rating in 1997.

Julie Payette has logged more than 1,300 hours of flight time, including 600 hours on high-performance jet aircraft.

Julie Payette reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996 to begin mission specialist training.

Julie Payette served as chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency from 2000 to 2007.

Julie Payette worked as capsule communicator at the Mission Control Center in Houston for several years, including the return to flight mission STS-114.

Julie Payette flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery from May 27 to June 6,1999, as part of the crew of STS-96.

Julie Payette became the first Canadian to participate in an ISS assembly mission and to board the Space Station.

Julie Payette visited the space station again in 2009 as a mission specialist aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour during mission STS-127 from July 15 to 31,2009, and was the flight engineer and lead robotic operator during the mission.

Julie Payette abruptly left the Science Centre after a prolonged strike, as she was tired of the battles that came with her position.

Julie Payette left the Canadian Olympic Committee in 2017 after two internal investigations into her treatment of staff including verbal harassment.

Julie Payette has served on boards of directors, at Queen's University, Canada's Own the Podium Olympic program, Montreal Science Centre foundation, Robotique FIRST Quebec, Drug Free Kids Canada, the Montreal Bach Festival, the National Bank of Canada, Developpement Aeroport Saint-Hubert de Longueuil, and others.

Julie Payette is a member of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec and a fellow of the International Academy of Astronautics.

Julie Payette was announced on July 13,2017, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recommendation to be the 29th Governor General of Canada.

Julie Payette was scheduled to take office October 2,2017, after the completion of briefings from the incumbent, David Johnston.

Julie Payette was installed as governor general on October 2,2017.

In subsequent comments, Julie Payette emphasized the importance of debate and critical thinking but admitted that she was still growing into her role and needed more time to adapt to the position.

On July 21,2020, CBC News reported that Julie Payette had allegedly created a toxic work environment at Rideau Hall by verbally abusing employees.

Julie Payette said that she supported the investigation into the workplace harassment.

On January 21,2021, in what CBC News described as "an unprecedented move", Julie Payette announced her resignation as governor general after the completion of an independent workplace review of several claims of workplace harassment, as remaining in her post "would risk inflicting serious damage on the office".

Julie Payette has been married twice, first to Francois Brissette in the 1990s, and secondly to William Flynn, with whom she had a son in 2003, and from whom she divorced in 2015.

Julie Payette plays the piano and has sung with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Tafelmusik Chamber Choir.

In July 2011, Julie Payette was driving and struck and killed a pedestrian who had stepped off a curb to cross the road when she should not have.

Julie Payette was charged with second degree assault in Maryland, on November 24,2011.

Julie Payette has stated that charges were "unfounded" but refused to comment further on the circumstances leading to her being charged with assault.

Once Julie Payette was named Governor General-designate, media organizations pressed for the release of the divorce records, which Julie Payette initially attempted to keep sealed before abandoning the bid.

Julie Payette holds 28 honorary doctorates, Some of the honorary degrees she has received:.

Julie Payette assisted in the carrying of the Olympic flag in the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Julie Payette attended the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Olympics eight years later.