Québec, Quebec, April 25, 2012 – In recognition of his exceptional contribution to the Canadian Space Program, William MacDonald (Mac) Evans was presented with the prestigious John H. Chapman Award of Excellence during a ceremony at the 16th Conference on Astronautics of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI ASTRO 2012) in Quebec City, in the company of representatives from industry, academia, and government.
A 34-year veteran of Canada's Federal Public Service, Mr. Evans was the key architect of the Canadian Space Program. As such, he led the development of the 1985, 1994 and 1999 Space Plans that defined and obtained approval for the Canadian Space Program and worked on the legislation for the creation of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
President of the CSA from 1994 to 2001, Mr. Evans was also instrumental in spearheading the development of the Canadian Astronaut and RADARSAT programs, and negotiating Canada's role in the International Space Station and a number of international agreements which are the foundation of our current international partnerships.
"Mac Evans has been at the heart of Canada's Space Program since the late 1960s. Outside of John Chapman, no other individual has been so directly involved in the leadership of our nation's space sector", said Steve MacLean, President of the CSA, during the ceremony. "In June 2000, Mac Evans presented the very first John H. Chapman Award of Excellence to John S. MacDonald, co-founder of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates. Tonight, we are honouring Mac Evans by recognizing his vision, commitment and exceptional contribution to the Canadian Space Program."
Mr. Evans has had a long and illustrious career involving significant contributions to several areas including satellite communications, government policy, public administration and international relations. Since his retirement from the Public Service, he has pursued an active role as a consultant, offering services to government, industry and academia, and remains a strong supporter of Canada's space sector.
Established in 2000 and presented by the Canadian Space Agency to distinguished members of the space community, this award celebrates a remarkable contribution to the advancement of the Canadian Space Program and a lifetime of achievement in space science and technology. The recipient of the John H. Chapman Award of Excellence is selected by a committee chaired by the Agency's President. With this award, the Canadian Space Agency honours John H. Chapman's foresight and his lifetime of dedication to space innovation, ingenuity, and excellence. Past recipients include: Henry Buijs, David A. Golden, Peter C. Hughes, Allan I. Carswell, John D. MacNaughton, Larry Clarke, Gordon G. Shepherd, Colin A. Franklin, Val O'Donovan, and John S. MacDonald.
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