On her first official visit to Nova Scotia as Governor General, Julie Payette included a discussion with local students about her time as an astronaut, hopefully inspiring the youth to reach for the stars.

Trumpets, horns and drums filled the air as a military procession welcomed Payette to Government House in Halifax.

After meeting with the premier, lieutenant-governor and a Mi’kmaq chief, Payette’s next stop was at the Discovery Centre where hundreds of Grade 6 students sat quietly and listened to her speech.