Marine Institute welcomes Governor General of Canada

Governor General Michaelle Jean visited the Marine Institute on Aug. 18 as part of her week-long tour of Newfoundland and Labrador. Gov. Gen. Jean toured MI's Centre for Marine Simulation, where she and her family experienced the full-motion, full-mission ship bridge simulator

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Together with her husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and daughter Marie-Éden Lafond, Gov. Gen. Jean arrived at MI AT 9:30 a.m. and was greeted by Dr. Gary Kachanoski, president and vice chancellor of Memorial University, and Glenn Blackwood, executive director, Marine Institute. The visitors then enjoyed a brief greeting from the officers of the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School – St. John’s detachment, located at the Marine Institute.

“We were very happy to have Gov. Gen. Jean visit the Marine Institute during her visit to Newfoundland and Labrador and we want to thank her and her family for choosing MI as one of their early destinations,” said Glenn Blackwood, executive director, Marine Institute. “It was a pleasure to give her a tour of MI and an overview of the Institute’s capabilities. It was only fitting she had the opportunity to meet the Navy officers of the Marine Institute detachment since Gov. Gen. Jean is the Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces.”

As part of her tour to MI, Gov. Gen. Jean also visited the Centre for Marine Simulation (CMS). Captain Christopher Hearn, director, CMS, escorted the Governor General and her family onto the Marine Institute’s full-motion, full-mission ship bridge simulator where they enjoyed a virtual tour of St. John’s Harbour. “Our full-motion, full-mission bridge simulator is one of only two of its kind in the world and is a key tool in a number of important and ground breaking research projects currently underway at MI. It was rewarding to see the Governor General take such an interest in a significant piece of Marine Institute infrastructure,” said Blackwood.

Gov. Gen. Jean, her husband and daughter also took time to sign the formal Memorial University Visitor’s Book in the CMS briefing room. The Governor General then departed MI alongside Dr. Kachanoski, however Jean-Daniel Lafond and Marie-Eden Lafond remained at the Institute and together with Blackwood toured the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources’ Flume Tank, the largest flume tank on the planet. Jean-Daniel Lafond and Marie-Éden Lafond were treated to a demonstration of a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in the flume tank before then having the opportunity to pilot the ROV themselves.

“We wanted to provide the Governor General and her family with a good display of the research and education potential that exists at the Marine Institute,” Blackwood said. “We were greatly impressed with her knowledge of the ocean and marine sector and would welcome another visit from her and her family in the future.”

Gov. Gen. Jean is in Newfoundland and Labrador from Aug. 17 to 24. In addition to the Marine Institute, she will also host a youth dialogue at Memorial’s Inco Innovation Lecture Theatre, take part in the unveiling of a sculpture dedicated to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and visit Labrador where she’ll travel to Red Bay, Battle Harbour, Mary's Harbour, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, North West River and Sheshatshiu.