Colleagues, today it gives me great pleasure to introduce a very select group of Canadians. Because I want to join you in applauding them, I ask that you wait until I have introduced all of them.
I want to introduce your very own Canadian space heroes, our first Canadian mission specialist, Major Chris Hadfield, his wife, Helena, and the following astronauts from the Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Corporation: Dr. Steve MacLean, Mrs. Julie Payette, Dr. Dave Williams, Dr. Marc Garneau, Mr. Bjarni Tryggvason, Dr. Robert Thirsk.