2ND Ottawa South News SECTION OttawaCommunityNews.com Shatner launches Star eet Academy exhibit

Erin McCracken [email protected]

Fifty years after Captain James T. Kirk rst took the helm as com- mander of the starship U.S.S. En- terprise, William Shatner strode con dently back onto the bridge and claimed his post once again. The Montreal native, known for many TV and lm roles but adored by legions of Trekkies around the world for his lead role on Star Trek, brie y sat in the commander’s seat for photos during an evening gala event on May 12. ERIN MCCRACKEN/METROLAND Just a few minutes earlier, Shat- Fifty years after Captain James T. Kirk rst took the helm as commander of the starship U.S.S. Enterprise, William Shatner strode con dently ner took the stage as the keynote back onto the bridge and claimed his post once again, along with his wife, Elizabeth, during the May 12 gala launch of the Canada Aviation and speaker before a sold-out crowd Space Museum’s new exhibit, Star Trek: The Star eet Academy Experience. of 1,000 people inside the museum for the world premier launch of the tin Trudeau,” he quipped. Space Nine, also made brief ap- and museum innovation, and, in ence brings 50 years of Star Trek to Canada Aviation and Space Mu- Shatner wasn’t the only Star pearances, much to the delight of the audience, Marc Garneau, min- life in a fun, accessible, immersive seum’s new exhibit, Star Trek: The Trek star to shine on stage. the crowd. ister of transport, whom Joly re- way,” Shatner said, reading from a Star eet Academy Experience. John de Lancie, who starred on Attendees also included a num- ferred to as “our very own Spock.” script. “For the rst time on this planet various Star Trek TV series as the ber of politicians, including Mé- “So 50 years of Star Trek — can the future has come to Ottawa, al- character “Q,” and René Auberjo- lanie Joly, minister of Canadian 50 YEARS you imagine?” he said. right?” he said to cheers. nois, who portrayed Chief Security Heritage, who took the stage to “I always thought this meant Jus- Of cer Odo on Star Trek: Deep speak about government funding “The Star eet Academy experi- See CAPTAIN, page 43

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Continued from page 41 “Unimaginable that a show lasts ... The show has gone He recounted the call he received from Star Trek creator and produc- on to become a phenomenon in show business. Or as er Gene Roddenberry, who wanted Donald Trump would say, ‘It’s huge.’” Shatner to play the lead role of cap- WILLIAM SHATNER tain for a second attempt at a Star Trek pilot. “It was great. It had heroes and villains and aliens and beautiful women in green paint in tiny biki- As an immigrant, he said the Shatner said. nis —everything I’m interested in,” character resonated with him. The Visitors will learn about various Shatner joked. android knew he was different Stareet careers, pilot a starship The pilot sold and the show ran though he looked human, and he and face the challenging Kobayashi for three years “barely hanging on,” tried his best to t in and learn how Maru, which will test their charac- and was eventually cancelled. to be a good person. ter. “And then slowly it was being re- “He tried to gure out how Visitors are welcomed to the played on stations … and people be- things worked,” said D’costa. 930-square-metre exhibit inside a gan to see the show the way we had reserve hangar next to the museum, hoped from the beginning it would CAREER DAY by signage in three languages — ERIN MCCRACKEN/METROLAND be seen.” English, French and Klingon — Greenboro residents Sherry Boucher and her husband Jason Dubeau “Gradually it became popular The public now has the chance before they turn a few corners and transformed themselves into Vulcans for the May 12 gala launch of Star again, and 50 years later …” he said, to gure out how things worked as feast their eyes on a large model of Trek: The Star eet Academy Experience, a new exhibit presented by his voice trailing off as cheers lled recruits at a Stareet Academy ca- the Enterprise. the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. the museum. reer day — the exhibit’s premise — There are also models of other “Unimaginable that a show lasts. working their way up from recruit iconic vessels, along with gadgets, I mean, people don’t last 50 years. to pilot. characters from the show and I’m having trouble lasting 50 years,” The experience is designed to props, such as costumes. the 85-year-old quipped. “The show offer a window into “the science This summer, kids will also have We Are Open Victoria Day has gone on to become a phenome- behind the science ction” of Star a chance to fall in love with the non in show business. Or as Donald Trek and share lessons in how the exhibit. Week-long Stareet Acad- Trump would say, ‘It’s huge.’” show inuenced real-life technolo- emy Junior Cadet camps will offer Week-End To further mark the milestone gies, including a functional tri- a variety of adventures, from learn- anniversary, the Royal Canadian corder, lasers and teleporters, said ing the Klingon language to taking Mint struck a new $10 coin that de- Shatner. a real ight in a Cessna aircraft. picts Shatner as Kirk when he rst “So the Star Trek Academy ex- The Star Trek exhibit will remain brought the character to life on the periences uses the Star Trek fran- at the museum until Sept. 5. Large Selection of small screen. The coin was unveiled chise as a springboard to teach visi- For exhibit details, visit stareet- during the gala ceremony. tors about science and technology,” academytour.com. Crab Apple & Rhododendron FANS FLOCK TO GALA In Full Bloom Case in point, Sherry Boucher and her husband Jason Dubeau, of Greenboro, attended the gala dressed as Vulcans and had their photos taken with Shatner and en- joyed the evening spectacle, which Buy 2 3.78 litres of Manor Hall included glow-in-the-dark sticks with cotton candy, photo-ops with Get 1 Absolutely costumed characters and live enter- • Nursery & Garden Centre tainment, including shows by aerial • Landscape Services acrobats. FREE! Tanya Harrison and her friend • New Boutique and Gift Gallery Gaelan D’costa didn’t have the op- portunity to travel at warp speed, • Consultation and so spent much of the day lead- • Design ing up to the celebration on the road. • Construction & More “I drove nine hours to get here,” said Harrison, who came in from • Free In-House Consultation London, Ont., picking her friend, Every Saturday & Sunday From 10-4 D’costa, up in Toronto on the way. For D’costa, the gala was an ex- • Open 7 Days a Week cuse to dig out his Klingon mask, which he last wore more than 20 Valid from May 16-31, 2016 years ago in middle school. AUTHORIZED Visit us today AUTHORIZED DEALER Despite his penchant for Klin- DEALER ARTISTIC gons, his favourite Star Trek char- 1242 Bank St., Ottawa • 613-523-1534 LANDSCAPE DESIGNS LTD. acter is Data, the endearing android 150 Iber Rd., Stittsville • 613-270-8504 SINCE 1955 from the Next Generation television WWW.BONDSDECOR.CA 2212 Gladwin Cr., Ottawa • 613-523-2440 series. 2079 Bank Place, Ottawa | 613.733.8220 | artisticlandscape.on.ca “I identi ed a lot with Data as a ~ Making Houses Homes Since 1927 ~ kid,” D’costa said. WE DELIVER 7 DAYS A WEEK Ottawa South News - Thursday, May 19, 2016 43