Media 2022

Red Deer, Alberta, Canada

A winged, interfaith figure welcomes viewers to consider marginalized youth, immigrants, refugees, and invite onlookers to consider issues of Inclusivity, Homelessness and, moving forward, Hope. This is Red Deer Lake United Church’s Nativity Scene as envisioned by artist Larry Stilwell for Rev Nick Coates’ challenge – make it ethnically appropriate and suggest how the scene might look today, in 2018.

Of his installation, visual artist Larry Stilwell says the life size characters look viewers “square in the eye”.

In its online statement, the church says that “by contemporizing some of the traditional imagery and by decolonizing some of the characters, the hope is to create a scene that sparks curiosity, engagement, and wonder, and causes people to hear that invitation and enter into this story in a new way.”

What caught our eye is Stilwell’s set of the modern international magi representing love and hope in a gift of music, healing and space exploration in a gift of knowledge, and warmth and teaching in a gift of blanket. The Three are the recognizable figures of singer-songwriter Michael Franti, scientist-neurologist Dr. Roberta Bondar, and AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde.

Check it out! Let Stilwell’s installation engage your imagination, too. Chacun à sa crèche!

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Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Showcased during the UN Biodiversity Conference are some of Dr Roberta Bondar’s photographic images featuring wide-ranging bio-diverse portraits of both North American and African species from varied ecosystems. The Roberta Bondar Foundation presents this Travelling Exhibition and Learning Experience to support Dr. Bondar’s global efforts to raise awareness of species at risk and to include a glimpse of The Foundation’s newest research & education project, Avian Migration Aerial Surface Space [AMASS].

As Sharm El Sheikh hosts the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties [COP14] to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, attendees aim to accelerate transformations needed to achieve the three objectives of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity: conservation; sustainable use; and equitable sharing of the benefits resulting from the utilization of genetic resources.

More information and photos!

Barrie, Ontario
OrilliaMatters .com, Raymond Bowe

Image of people looking at an image in a gallery

‘I’ve always been able to bring technology to aid me with what I want to do in both art and science,’ says Bondar

Dr. Bondar donated eight of her landscape photographs to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre [RVH] through The Roberta Bondar Foundation. After several months display in Barrie hospital’s David McCullough Hearts and Minds Gallery, these images will form part of the RVH permanent collection.

Following the installation of these photographic images, Dr. Bondar addressed ethical leadership in her presentation “Leading Through Time and Space” to attendees of the RVH Leadership Program.

Pieces of the RVH collection display throughout the hospital.

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October 16 2018
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On Friday night, Dr. Roberta Bondar – Canada’s first female astronaut – was shocked when the Thebacha and Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society [TAWBAS] renamed its observatory after her!

Image of Roberta Bondar in front of poster

The observatory, located in the Fort Smith Star Park, will now officially be called the Dr Roberta Bondar Northern Observatory.

“It’s really nice to be alive [for the renaming],” she said. “It’s a huge honour.”

Mike Couvrette, TAWBAS Chair, says the society chose to honour Bondar because of the important role she has played in the growth of the society.

The roll-off roof observatory, now named after the astronaut, has two telescopes for observing the sky.

Wood Buffalo National Park Dark Sky Preserve

Image of welcome package at Dark Sky Festival

Dr. Roberta Bondar joined co-presenters Nicole Mortillaro and Roland Dechesne at the 4-day Thebacha & Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society‘s Dark Sky Festival.

This annual action-packed event occurs at the Fort Smith Star Park & Observatory and Wood Buffalo National Park Dark Sky Preserve.

Chief Frieda Martselos welcomes guests & Fort Smith community to the Traditional Lands of the Salt River First Nation:

https://youtu.be/EcjZ1yzbzb0

Activities over this intense weekend include an Observatory tour, Night sky viewings, Model rocket making, AuroraNauts programs, seminars, workshops, astrophotography, WBNP nature excursions, Salt River FN ceremonies, Presenter’s workshops, Dinners, Rover competitions, Guest Presentations Q+A.

MORE IN OUR PHOTO GALLERY right here!

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August 25 2018
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August 24 2018
Thebacha & Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society [TAWBAS]
Dr. Roberta Bondar Northern Observatory

The Roberta Bondar Foundation
Toronto, Ontario

A new education initiative from The Roberta Bondar Foundation, Avian Migration Aerial Surface Space [AMASS] seeks “to promote the protection of safe, sustainable habitats for migrating birds” with The Foundation’s regional and global partners. The Foundation aims to spark global conservation using its tools of “art and science, story telling and dynamic imagery to understand and communicate the scope and scale of international avian migratory pathways” and inspire people to act and to empower individual action.

The AMASS project will provide context and scale from different perspectives – surface, aerial, and spaceflight.

Comic book style collage of photos from WBNP fieldwork

The Roberta Bondar Foundation launched its first official onsite aerial activity at Wood Buffalo National Park in early August where it captured images and video footage of the endangered Whooping Crane, its nests, and its extensive habitat. The Whooping Crane is one of six migratory species to be examined.

The Foundation uses #AMASS to facilitate the project’s social media collation.

Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough Examiner, Cliffford Skarstedt

Children taking part in this year’s Bondar Challenge camp were at Beavermead Park Friday morning, learning about digital photography.

Spaces are still available for kids 9-15 in the Aug. 9-10 and Aug. 16-17 camps. The camps, presented by Riverview Park and Zoo and Otonabee Conservation and developed by the Roberta Bondar Foundation, run a day and a half and involve trips to the zoo, Beavermead and Warsaw Caves.

For further information or to register, visit the guest services building at the zoo, go to Riverview Park and Zoo Bondar Challenge or email riverviewparkandzoo@peterboroughutilities.ca

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Aug 10 2018
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Nature photography as part of the Bondar Challenge camp hosted by Otonabee Conservation and the Riverview Park & Zoo

Ottawa, Ontario

Roberta Lynn Bondar, C.C., O.Ont.
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

As a scientist and environmental advocate, Dr. Roberta Bondar continues to inspire Canadians. Following her pioneering spaceflight, she remained active in international space medicine, notably leading a research team at NASA that drew connections between astronauts’ recovery from microgravity and neurological illnesses on Earth. A world acclaimed photographer, she has demonstrated commitment to environmental sustainability through her stunning works that reconnect people to our natural world. Leading by example with the establishment of her eponymous foundation, she is a champion of education and the environment.

This is a promotion within the Order.

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Montreal, Québec

Comic image of Roberta Bondar at UN Conference

Dr. Roberta Bondar delivered the Keynote address to inspire and cheer on the international delegates to the UN Convention of Biological Diversity #SB!2018.

This Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI) faced a week’s demanding agenda that included:
– Reviewing progress in the implementation of the Convention along with the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020
– Global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism
– Cooperation with other conventions, international organizations and initiatives
– National reporting, and assessment and review

Her address, along with other program highlights, were live-streamed on Facebook.

After her Keynote address, Dr. Bondar sat for this interview.

Riverwood Conservancy
Mississauga, Ontario

At a special evening event, the Riverwood Conservancy honoured Dr Roberta Bondar with their Friend of Nature Award — the award’s launch and inauguration. The Riverwood Conservancy comprises 150 acres of City of Mississauga and Credit Valley Conservation river and wildlife areas, trails and public spaces.

L – R: Douglas Markoff Executive Director Riverwood, Ulrich Krull, Principal University of Toronto Mississauga, Bonnie Crombie, Mayor of Mississauga, Dr Roberta Bondar holding inaugural “Friend of Nature Award”, Hazel McCallion, former Mayor Mississauga, & Kevin Sherwin, Chair Board of Directors

Visit our gallery for more photos!

Toronto, Ontario
Circle of Care, Temple Sinai

Dr Roberta Bondar delivered a keynote address for the volunteer appreciation evening for Circle of Care at Temple Sinai. Bondar referenced her early years of volunteer activities growing up in her hometown of Sault Ste Marie. She reminded the audience of the impact they make on lives they support, encourage, and inspire.

“We can’t move forward as a society without volunteers.”
Dr. Roberta Bondar

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May 25, 2018
Circle of Care, Website
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A Fresh Crèche

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The Chancellery of Honours | La Chancellerie des Distinctions Honorifiques

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Dr. Roberta Bondar receives Inaugural Friend of Nature Award

Dr. Roberta Bondar Lauds Volunteers

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