Canada's new Governor General pledges herself to the values of tolerance, openness and working together

Payette will succeed outgoing Gov. Gen. David Johnston and will be the Queen's new representative in Canada, the government said.

The 53-year-old Montrealer, who speak six languages including English and French, would be the 29th governor general with a salary of $290,660 and an official residence at Rideau Hall.

Payette will be the fourth woman to be the governor general.

The installation ceremony for Payette will take place in the fall.

Payette is an astronaut, engineer, scientific broadcaster and corporate director, and an administratrice de sociétés certifiée (ASC is equivalent  to the Institute of Corporate Directors, Director [ICD.D] designation).

She is also an accomplished pianist, choral singer and an athlete.

She had participated in two space flights to the International Space Station and served as the CSA's chief astronaut between 2000 and 2007.

A computer engineer with a commercial pilot licence, Payette was picked from among 5,330 applicants in 1992 to be one of the four new astronauts with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

Payette had received many distinctions and 27 honorary doctorates.

She is a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Active on a number of causes, Payette served as a board member for Drug Free Kids Canada, was listed as a National Champion of the Trans Canada Trail and pledged herself to the values of tolerance, openness and working together.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

Image: Creative Commons.