MONTREAL—As the world tuned in on Christmas morning to see NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope lift off, Canadian scientists who played a crucial part in its creation were emotional. The collaboration between European and Canadian space agencies soared from French Guiana on South America’s northeastern coast on Saturday, riding a European Ariane rocket into the Christmas morning skies. René Doyon, principal investigator of the telescope, said seeing the launch in−person was the best Christmas gift he could have ever hoped for. COVID−19 requirements meant most Canadian scientists who worked on the project had to stay home. “It was an intense moment, absolutely incredible emotions after 20 years of working on the project,” Doyon said in an interview Saturday. “I could have never imagined that it would have happened on Christmas. It was a good moment for Canada.” Nathalie Ouellette, outreach scientist for the Webb at the Université de Montréal, was …