Wednesday May 13, 2026 | OTTAWA, ON [Posted 6:14 pm PT | Updated 6:48 pm PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
“It was an honour to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney alongside my Artemis II crewmates and Jenni. I am deeply grateful for the support Canadians continue to show our crew and our space program,” said Col Jeremy Hansen today in Ottawa (and posted online).
Carney hosted the Artemis II crew in his office today, to give each of them a 99.9% silver coin featuring Jeremy Hansen on one side and King Charles III on the other.
The crew members are Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist) and Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist); they were joined by Jenni Gibbons who co-trained alongside Hansen and was the communications contact at NASA for part of the 10-day mission in April.
Hansen also received from Carney the Canadian flag that was flying on the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill on the day that the Orion space capsule called Integrity splashed down at home (in the Pacific Ocean) on April 10, 2026.
Hansen was visibly moved by being awarded the flag, folded up nicely in a box. Usually it can take many decades for procurement of flags of that status. Carney clearly ‘pulled a few strings’ to make that happen.
Carney received from Hansen a framed small Canadian flag (with Carney’s name on the back) that had flown on Integrity around the moon with the Artemis II crew.
Carney’s remarks:
“It’s a big big lesson for all Canadians what team work does, what dedication does, what courage does, what human ingenuity is capable of and that it’s just the beginning,” said Carney as TV cameras rolled this morning.
“Welcome to Ottawa, thank you for what you’ve done. Thank you for inspiring us all,” said Carney to the Artemis II crew.
Hansen’s remarks:
“I really resonate with your words, sir, about this just shining a light back on Canada about what we are capable of on the world stage. And that Artemis II was just step in our much longer journey,” said Hansen to the prime minister.
“And like you, we can’t wait to be part of what’s next,” said Hansen to Carney about the astronaut team that is in Ottawa this week for a number of recognition events coordinated by the Canadian Space Agency.
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: 45th PARLIAMENT of CANADA | AEROSPACE | CULTURE & HISTORY | CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY