Governor General Julie Payette Becomes Patron of RASC

The Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, has agreed to become Viceregal Patron of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

Viceregal patronage is granted for the length of a Governor General’s time in office. The first Governor General to be Viceregal Patron of the RASC was Ms. Payette’s predecessor, David Johnston.

The RASC was granted its “royal” designation in 1903 by His Majesty King Edward VII.

Dear Dr Strickland

On behalf of the members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada from across the country, I am delighted to offer my warmest congratulations to you on winning the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics.

I know that this prize will inspire many Canadians, particularly women, to look at studies and careers in physics and related sciences such as astronomy. I also note that lasers are becoming an important tool for astronomers, for example in the form of adaptive optics.

I also wish you the best in your continuing scientific work.