Jeremy Hansen thanks his many teachers

Uploaded on October 5, 2023

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Jeremy Hansen thanks his many teachers

2023-10-05 – Teachers, we love you to the Moon and back! Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen gives his thanks to the many educators, Elders and mentors who have shared their knowledge with him and turned him into a life-long learner. 

Jeremy is making history as the first Canadian to fly to the Moon, as part of the Artemis II mission. (Credits: Canadian Space Agency, NASA, Ulnooweg Education Centre, Hansen Family)

My participation in the Artemis II mission is a tribute to my many teachers and mentors.

Your support and guidance mean the world to me and are literally propelling me to the Moon and back.

As an astronaut, I’m privileged to visit classrooms and youth groups across the country.

I like to tell young Canadians about the importance of setting goals and finding something they are passionate about…

I found my own passion at an early age, set goals and shared them with others around me.

I was lucky to have a number of people not only to cheer me on, but who also shared their knowledge with me and guided me on my journey.

My parents enrolled me in the Air Cadets program, where instructors taught me to fly…

…but also helped me develop leadership skills and become a good Canadian citizen.

In Grade 8, Mr. Robertson sparked a love for learning through robotics and coding activities.

And I had many other teachers who fed my inquisitive mind by teaching me to enjoy learning through problem-solving and reading.

In other words, they taught me to learn…

And they turned me into a life-long learner.

When you’re an astronaut, there’s always something new to learn, new classes to take or new training to refine skills.

So, I use this ability every single day.

In the past decade, I’ve been fortunate to be invited by numerous Indigenous communities to sit with Elders. 

And they have blessed me with teachings that I carry with me as I prepare for my mission.

These precious experiences have taught me a profound appreciation for Indigenous ways of knowing.

To all those who love to share their knowledge, thank you for making our universe a better place!

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