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At the annual Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) meeting being held in Quebec City this week, the Canadian Space Agency honoured former Canadian Space Agency President William ‘Mac’ Evans with the John H. Chapman Award of Excellence.
Evans is regarded as one of the pioneers of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and was a driving force for the agency in its early years.
Evans was President of the CSA from 1994 to 2001 and guided the development of the Canadian Astronaut and RADARSAT programs, and negotiated Canada’s role in the International Space Station.
“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.”
Evans is a 34-year veteran of Canada’s Federal Public Service and 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).
The John H. Chapman Award of Excellence was established in 2000 and is presented by the Canadian Space Agency to distinguished members of the space community. The award celebrates a remarkable contribution to the advancement of the Canadian Space Program and a lifetime of achievement in space science and technology.
