Bachelor of science in physics; Ph.D. in physics from York University in Toronto, Ontario, 1977 and 1983, respectively; three honorary doctorate degrees; was selected in 1983 for Space Team Canada and was assigned for the cancelled mission CANEX-2; since 1996 NASA astronaut; hobbies: hiking (March 1983, base of Mount Everest), canoeing, flying, parachuting, gymnastics (from 1976 - 1977 he was a member of the Canadian National Gymnastics Team); since 01.09.2008 president of the Canadian Space Agency.