Milestones
In 2024, the Roberta Bondar Foundation is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Since the Foundation’s establishment, our mission has been to connect people to the natural world, inspiring curiosity, respect for, and protection of the environment while building healthier lives.
We extend our endless gratitude to our many donors, partners, and supporters over the years, without whom these milestones and accomplishments would not be possible.
Take a look below to see some of the highlights of the Foundation’s work over the last decade and a half!
2009
The Roberta Bondar Foundation was officially established as a registered not-for-profit charity under the Income Tax Act of Canada on July 28th, 2009.
2010
Work began on the first Travelling Exhibition and Learning Experience (TELE), presenting images on the theme of Biodiversity and Extinction, generously donated by Dr. Bondar to the Foundation.
Fieldwork began, focused on capturing landscapes in various biomes and animals in their natural environments.
2011
Yearly international fieldwork for the Foundation, funded through a personal commitment of Dr. Bondar, began with travel to the Masai Mara, Kenya and Bosque del Apache, New Mexico, United States.
Over 40,000 visitors toured the first TELE exploring the themes of biodiversity and extinction, Within the Landscape – Art Respecting Life, opened at First Canadian Place in Toronto, Ont. The exhibition then travelled to the Art Gallery of Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Launched a Speaker’s Program for Earth Day at First Canadian Place in Toronto, Ont.
The Bondar Challenge is piloted at summer camps for the first time, and at schools in three school boards in Brampton, Ont. in the Fall.
Developed Bondar Challenge learning materials to support teachers and trainers delivering the Challenge, including new EcoSeek and Learning Guide resources.
2012
The Foundation website was launched thanks to expert volunteer support.
A second Speaker’s Program was offered to 1,000 local students in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. on the 100th anniversary of the city’s incorporation.
New Speaker’s program fusing art & science through music was run and included several events; Music of the Spheres with the Amadeus Choir and the Elmer Iseler Singers at the Ontario Science Centre (the conductor and artistic director was Lydia Adams), Blast Off with Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar Philharmonic Concert with Boris Brott in Hamilton, and Art of the City, Walrus Talk with Deepa Mehta, Matt Galloway, Jamie Kennedy, and our own Dr. Bondar.
A new partnership was created with the Canadian Camping Association (CCA) to expand the Summer Camp Bondar Challenge in youth camps.
Launched the Wilderness Bondar Challenge for Indigenous and Northern youth in September in partnership with Parks Canada. Students travelled to Wood Buffalo National Park to learn nature photography.
2013
The Summer Camp Bondar Challenge expanded across Canada and ran in 6 provinces.
A new camera loan program through Nikon Partnership began for the Bondar Challenge.
The first winter Bondar Challenge was run through Girl Guides camps for youth and families.
The Foundation delivered photography workshops at Viewing the World Through a Different Lens at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) to celebrate Earth Day.
WINGS, the official newsletter of the Roberta Bondar Foundation, was launched.
A special TELE was curated for their Excellencies Governor General David Johnston and Sharon Johnston.
Dr. Bondar travelled to Kenya to photograph savannah wildlife.
2014
Within the Landscape – Art Respecting Life, travelled to TELUS Spark in Calgary, Alta.
Speaker’s Program travelled to Kenya in partnership with Hoopers Africa Trust, at Starehe Girls School in Nairobi. A second Learning Guide publication was developed featuring Kenyan and Canadian nature.
30 camps registered for the Summer Camp Bondar Challenge in 6 Canadian provinces, and the program was piloted in 2 U.S. states and Australia.
Dr. Bondar was awarded a RCGS Gold Medal.
Selected TELE images were featured in the Dreams & Realities – Human Sensitivity of Place exhibit at the Buhler Gallery in Winnipeg, Man., in collaboration with Carole Sabiston.
2015
The collaborative exhibit Dreams & Realities – Human Sensitivity of Place by Dr. Roberta Bondar and Carole Sabiston travelled to the Art Gallery of Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
A new TELE Savannah Survivors debuted at First Canadian Place in Toronto, Ont., featuring Dr. Bondar’s new works and photography from Bondar Challenge Winners.
The School Bondar Challenge pilots in Alberta and Nova Scotia. 50 Camps registered for the Summer Camp Bondar Challenge.
A new Speaker’s program event fusing art & science through music, Of Heart and Tide: The Gift of Water, was held with guest host Ben Heppner, C.C. and the Amadeus Choir to celebrate their 40th anniversary. The conductor and artistic director was Lydia Adams.
2016
A new TELE, Landscapes of Biodiversity was displayed at the Butterfly Conservatory in Cambridge, Ont., featuring Dr. Bondar’s new works and photography from Bondar Challenge winners.
The Foundation celebrated the Royal Canadian Mint’s unveiling of a coin to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Dr. Bondar’s space shuttle mission.
2017
A new TELE, Light in the Land: The Nature of Canada debuted at Science North in Sudbury, Ont. and travelled to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck, N.S., the Lunenburg School of the Arts in Lunenburg, N.S., the Art Gallery of Guelph in Guelph, Ont., the Art Gallery of Peterborough in Peterborough, Ont., the Strathcona Art Gallery in Strathcona, Alta., and the Art Gallery of Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Windows Onto the Wild TELE is displayed at the Woodstock Art Gallery in Woodstock, Ont.
A special Bondar Challenge was run to celebrate Ontario 150 with Ontario youth from 7 northern communities (Sault Ste Marie, North Bay, Timmins, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Kenora, and Manitoulin participated). Student photographs were displayed in an exhibit at the Art Gallery of Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
A new Speaker’s program event fusing art & science through music, High Flight: Songs of the Stars, was held in Baddeck and Lunenberg, N.S. with the Elmer Iseler Singers to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Dr. Bondar’s spaceflight. The conductor and artistic director was Lydia Adams.
2018
A new RBF initiative, Avian Migration Aerial Surface Space (AMASS), also called Space for Birds, was announced. The project aims to promote the protection of safe, sustainable habitats for migrating birds.
The Light in the Land: The Nature of Canada TELE was displayed in the rotunda at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Ont. and the Art Gallery of Peterborough in Peterborough, Ont.
At the UN Biodiversity Conference at COP14 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the Foundation displayed Dr. Bondar’s portraits of North American and African species and landscapes from varied ecosystems. Dr. Bondar delivered a keynote address at COP14 in Montreal.
The new School Bondar Challenge was run school-wide for the first time, in 11 classrooms from JK to Grade 6.
The RBF staff delivered the Wilderness Bondar Challenge in Wood Buffalo National Park.
2019
Funding from the RCGS supported field work in Saskatchewan, Kansas, and Texas to photograph the Whooping Cranes and their habitat. Dr. Bondar continued to fund fieldwork on Red Knots in Cape May, New Jersey, and Piping Plovers on Outback Key in Florida.
AMASS fieldwork continued
in collaboration with the Crew Earth Observations facility on NASA’s ISS.
The CSA and Dr. Bondar live-streamed an event for Ottawa youth with Dr. Jenni Sidey-Gibbons, currently Canada’s only active female astronaut, and Dr. David Saint-Jacques who was aboard the ISS.
2020
Dr. Bondar returned to Aransas National Wildlife Reserve and the surrounding area in Texas to complete AMASS/Space for Birds photographing of Whooping Cranes.
Began a partnership with EcoSchools Canada to expand The Bondar Challenge and make it available to all Canadian schools.
Launched the Online Bondar Challenge in response to summer camp closures.
2021
NASA released a video on the AMASS/Space for Birds and NASA project collaboration.
Work on the AMASS/Space for Birds research project continued.
Launched the Sharing Space podcast.
2022
A Foundation event was held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Dr. Bondar’s historic STS-42 Space Shuttle Mission launch.
Air Canada was chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Roberta Bondar Foundation’s Award for Innovation and Creativity.
Circle 129, a special community of RBF supporters, was launched.
Endangered Shadows was loaned and displayed at Visual Voices: Artists & the Environment, an exhibit highlighting the effects of climate change on the country’s landscapes and endangered species at The Senate of Canada in Ottawa, Ont. — a project led by new board member Hon. Patricia Bovey.
RBF staff attended the Whooping Crane Festival in Port Aransas, Texas, hosting an information booth, and Dr. Bondar delivered a talk on viewing migratory corridors from space.
2023
Launched a new TELE, Patterns & Parallels: The Great Imperative to Survive, focused on three near-threatened and endangered migratory bird species: the Whooping Crane, Lesser Flamingo, and Piping Plover. Debuted at the Art Gallery of Algoma in Sault Ste Marie, Ont., and then travelled to Science North in Sudbury, Ont.
Dr. Bondar photographed and tracked Red Knots and Piping Plovers in Florida near the Gulf of Mexico, and Piping Plover breeding in Wasaga Beach, Ont.
2024
The Patterns & Parallels TELE continues its tour across Canada, travelling to the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre at Humber College in Toronto, Ont. and the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls, Ont.
Dr. Bondar continues fieldwork photographing and tracking Red Knots in Florida. In collaboration with Dr. Paul Allen Smith of Environment & Climate Change Canada, Dr. Bondar also photographed the habitat of Red Knots that nest on Southampton Island, Nvt. Photographed Piping Plover breeding at Wasaga Beach, Ont.
New program development of a Video Bondar challenge piloted in Ottawa with volunteer teacher Luc Filion; now to be offered through EcoSchools Canada as a pilot in their accreditation program for schools.