He may have been receiving one of Canada’s highest honours but William Shatner — Captain Kirk himself — got a lesson in space Thursday from someone who’s been there.
Shatner was made an officer of the Order of Canada, one step above a member, for a lifetime of achievement and merit, in service to Canada or to humanity at large. Joining Shatner was Donald Sutherland, another Canadian actor, who became a companion of the Order of Canada, a slightly higher honour.
Before the ceremony, former astronaut and now Gov. Gen. Julie Payette took the floor and, with two actors who have travelled to space on the big screen sitting in front of her, wondered curiously about the Hollywood fascination with the stars.
Payette told the story of the time she went to the movies with her friend Scott Kelly, the astronaut who recently spent a year in space. Of course, they took in a space movie, and for Payette it was more familiar than she expected.
After going into space in 1999, Payette was given a short video of her time on the Space Shuttle Discovery, which included a long shot of her launch. Thanks to the video, she has seen herself launching into space so many times that the image is seared into her memory.
Now, as she watched Clint Eastwood blasting off in the movie Space Cowboys, she realized that they were using the footage from her own launch.
“What would you do if I stood up in the movie theatre and said, ‘I’m on that shuttle!’” she whispered to Kelly.
The implication to the actors in attendance was clear: they could have their fun on the soundstage, but they needed people like Payette to actually do the job, even in the movies themselves.
When Shatner’s bio was read to the assembled crowd it noted that he had “boldly gone where few have gone before,” Payette raised her hand in mock confusion.
Shatner turned to her and gestured good-naturedly, in an apparent admission of her superior space credentials.
It was a low-key affair for the actors. Shatner posted happily on Twitter about receiving the award, but kept quiet otherwise. Sutherland, with long white hair and silver-topped cane, exchanged whispered greetings with Payette as he accepted the award.
Reporters were warned as they were shepherded through the back entrance of Rideau Hall that neither Sutherland or Shatner would be doing interviews. Shatner smiled widely as entered the room with the other members and bounded up to the front when his name was called.
Shatner’s age is reported to be 88, but there is no supporting evidence of this fact in his appearance or in his movements. He was sprightly and buoyant before and after the ceremony and, after receiving his medal, he walked by Sutherland and gave him a friendly pat on the arm.
The ceremony came just a matter of hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau watched his new cabinet be sworn in at Rideau Hall and the prevailing mood Thursday morning was almost an exact inverse to the previous day. The cabinet swearing-in was full of enthusiasm and hope, with ministers bustling up the path with spouses and children accompanying them.
The mood in the room on Thursday morning was serene and satisfied, in stark contrast to the fraying, nervous energy of the cabinet event. Even a smattering of toddlers sat through the Order of Canada ceremony on their best behaviour.
Although there was significant star power in the room, and Shatner and Sutherland both received lengthy ovations, it was another new member of the Order of Canada who caused a sensation.
Christina Jennings was introduced like most other members, with polite applause from the room, but when her bio noted that she created the CBC period drama Murdoch Mysteries, an electric murmur jolted through the crowd. Jennings smiled in appreciation at the popular affirmation to go along with her institutional honour.
