At the Halton District School Board meeting on April 14, 2020, the Board of Trustees approved “Dr. David R. Williams Public School” as the name of the new elementary school in Oakville. The school, which is currently under construction, is located at 3199 Post Road in northeast Oakville.
Dr. David Rhys Willliams, an Oakville resident, is an Emergency Physician, Healthcare Executive, Canadian Astronaut, Aquanaut, Exploration Scientist, Author, and Commercial Pilot. Dr. Williams was a mission specialist on two Space Shuttle Missions in 1998 and 2007, and an Aquanaut on three Undersea Research Missions (2001, 2004, 2006). In his storied professional career, Dr. Williams has taken on roles including President and Chief Executive Officer of Southlake Regional Health Centre (2011–2017), Chair of the Ontario Health Innovation Council, Chief Medical Officer for Patient Safety and Quality at St. Joseph’s Healthcare System in Hamilton, Director of the Space and Remote Care Medicine Program at McMaster University, Director of the McMaster Centre for Medical Robotics, and other administrative and medical research roles for NASA and the Johnson Space Centre.
Dr. Williams has received numerous career honours and awards including Officer of the Order of Canada (2013), Order of Ontario (2014), and the Award of Excellence from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (2015).
Upon learning that his name was to be considered for the new school, Dr. Williams responded: “It is a very great honour and I would be thrilled to have my name brought forward as a potential name for the new school. I have always been passionate about a lifetime commitment to learning and am humbled by the Naming Committee including my name among the finalists.”
Most recently, Dr. Williams has written children’s books to capture their imagination in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
“Through the books, working with teachers and when possible, giving presentations to students, it has been a thrill sharing my passion for space exploration and science with children,” added Dr. Williams.
For additional information, contact:
Marnie Denton, Manager, Communications and Community Engagement
Halton District School Board
dentonm@hdsb.ca
