Published Apr 13, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
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McGillivray Central school in North Middlesex has been celebrating the adventures of Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who recently splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California after a successful 10-day, record-setting trip around the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis II voyage. Pictured is McGillivray student William Ritchie, who made an astronaut helmet and walkie talkie to share facts and information about the spacesuits used by the Artemis II crew on their spacecraft Integrity. Photo by McGillivray Central photo \/jpg, LA, apsmcArticle content<\/p>\n
McGILLIVRAY\u00a0\u2013 It was a long way from his Middlesex County roots when Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean with his three crewmates,\u00a0successfully completing\u00a0the\u00a0historic\u00a0Artemis II voyage around the moon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, Hansen \u2014 with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch \u2014 flew more than 6,400 kilometres past the far side of the moon, farther away from the Earth than humans have ever flown before. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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And for Hansen, it all started here.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Born in London in 1976, Hansen was raised in the hamlet of Brinsley, north of Ailsa Craig, where he attended McGillivray Central public school until he graduated in 1990, when his family moved to Ingersoll where he attended high school. \u00a0<\/p>\n
While he left the area decades ago, Hansen is an inspiration at\u00a0McGillivray,\u00a0principal Michelle Koop said recently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The school held a special assembly in February to update students on Hansen\u2019s activities, during which NASA photos were shared, as were videos of Hansen talking about his upbringing in the area. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFor our students, Jeremy isn\u2019t just an astronaut,\u201d Koop said. \u201cJeremy is a person that many of their parents sat beside on the bus\u00a0(and)\u00a0played alongside on the school yard.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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![\"Jeremy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0422-la-hansen2.la_.jpg\")
In this file photo, then Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MP Bev Shipley, left, took a few minutes to thank Col. Jeremy Hansen, right for serving and giving back to his country at an award ceremony for Hansen on May 26, 2018, in North Middlesex. Hansen graduated from North Middlesex\u2019s McGillivray Central school in 1990. Photo by William Proulx\/Times-Advance fil \/jpg, LA, apsmc<\/p>\n
During Hansen\u2019s voyage, students tuned into live coverage and gave presentations to their classmates.\u00a0They\u00a0also received a Hansen sticker,\u00a0bookmark\u00a0and button from the Canadian Space Agency.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Watching with pride during the voyage was retired McGillivray educator Drew Robertson of Crediton, who recalled his time as Hansen\u2019s teacher. He remembered Hansen as a solid student who went about things quietly and never caused any problems.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could tell he was brought up properly,\u201d Robertson said. \u201cHe was accomplished in what he did, but he did it quietly. He wasn\u2019t boastful; he wasn\u2019t arrogant. And I think he\u2019s the same now \u2014 he gives other people credit for his accomplishments.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
While Hansen left the area after graduating from McGillivray, he and Robertson bonded\u00a0a couple of years\u00a0later when they ran into each other at Masonville Place in London.\u00a0Robertson approached Hansen when he recognized him in\u00a0uniform\u00a0promoting the air cadets.\u00a0During their conversation, Hansen asked Robertson if\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0like to go up in a glider\u00a0aircraft\u00a0with him in Centralia.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Robertson agreed, and a couple of weekends later \u201coff we went,\u201d with Robertson describing the flight as\u00a0exhilarating and terrifying.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a 15-year-old\u00a0piloting\u00a0(me),\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Robertson then began to follow Hansen\u2019s career\u00a0as a colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and a fighter pilot.\u00a0He\u00a0said it was special for him to have that close connection with Hansen.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said Hansen\u00a0is a proud Canadian who\u00a0has\u00a0maintained\u00a0a close connection with his former McGillivray classmates.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat shines through is his enthusiasm and his humble attitude towards himself,\u201d Robertson said.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m very proud of him.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Above, a young Jeremy Hansen receives an award in the McGillivray Central gym. Photo by McGillivray Central photo \/jpg, LA, apsmc<\/p>\n
He also\u00a0highlighted Hansen\u2019s\u00a0courage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s got to be terrifying for all of them,\u201d Robertson said of the voyage. \u201cI just give the family of all of them so much credit for having the fortitude to be able to handle saying goodbye to somebody, knowing full well you may never see them again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Robertson also emphasized\u00a0small-town Ontario\u2019s role in\u00a0Hansen\u2019s upbringing, a thought echoed by McGillivray\u2019s current principal.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u201cJeremy\u2019s journey to the moon . . . is a powerful reminder that from even the smallest schools can come extraordinary futures,\u201d said Koop, describing Hansen\u2019s trip as a learning experience for the students.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents are seeing that important journeys can begin right here,\u201d she said. \u201cJeremy Hansen\u2019s story has become part of our story and has helped our students\u00a0think\u00a0more broadly about what\u2019s possible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Sign](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0422-la-hansen4.la_.jpeg\")
The school has been celebrating the outer space voyage of former student Jeremy Hansen, who landed safely on Friday, April 10, after a 10-day historic voyage around the moon. Photo by McGillivray Central photo \/jpeg, LA, apsmc<\/p>\n
Hansen appeared in the Times-Advance in June 2018, when he received the North Middlesex Sesquicentennial Inspiration Award at the North Middlesex Community Centre in Parkhill for his extraordinary achievements.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve done an incredible job of humbling me today,\u201d Hansen said at the\u00a0event. He credited his parents \u2014 Nancy and Gary \u2014 family,\u00a0friends\u00a0and teachers for helping him reach his achievements. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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