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The first Canadian woman to fly in space, physician, scientist,
astronaut and photographer Roberta Bondar was aboard the space shuttle
Discovery for its January 1992 mission, realizing a personal dream and
capturing the imagination of millions. She received her undergraduate
degree from the University of Guelph, a Master of Science from the
University of Western Ontario, a Doctorate from the University of Toronto,
a Doctor of Medicine from McMaster University and a Fellowship in
neurology from the Royal College of the Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
She completed post-graduate training in neuro-ophthalmology at Tufts New
England Medical Center (Boston) and at the Playfair Neuroscience Unit of
Toronto Western Hospital.
Since her flight in 1992 she has written a book, Touching the Earth,
where she speaks of her love for the planet and the impact of achieving a
dream. Dr. Bondar holds a scientific appointment at Sunnybrook &
Women’s College Health Sciences Centre and North York General Hospital. In
November 1997 she was appointed volunteer Chair of a special Health Canada
panel of 20 scientists advising the federal government on health policies.
Roberta Bondar photographed all of Canada’s national parks for a
millennium project entitled Passionate Vision ~ Discovering Canada’s
National Parks, which began touring Canada as an exhibition at the
Canadian Museum of Nature in June, 2000. It completed a four-month showing
at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and opened in April, 2001 at the
Regional Art and Historical Museum in London, Ontario. The exhibit will
continue to tour to related venues across Canada through 2002. The book
Passionate Vision, published by Douglas & McIntyre, was successfully
launched in November, 2000 in Toronto and is currently in its second
printing.
She is an Officer of the Order of Canada and has been appointed to the
Order of Ontario. She has been awarded 21 honorary doctorates and the NASA
Space Medal. In October, 1998 Dr. Bondar was inducted into the Canadian
Medical Hall of Fame for her pioneering work in space medicine. In
November, 1999 she was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of
Canada.
Experience:
Dr. Bondar is a
neurologist and researcher. After internship in internal medicine at
Toronto General Hospital, she completed post-graduate medical training in
neurology at the University of Western Ontario; neuro-ophthalmology at
Tuft’s New England Medical Centre (Boston) and at the Playfair
Neuroscience Unit of Toronto Western Hospital; Carotid Doppler and
Transcranial Doppler at the Pacific Vascular Institute, in Seattle,
Washington, 1988. Appointed assistant professor of medicine (neurology),
McMaster University, 1982-84; Scientific staff, Sunnybrook Medical Centre,
Toronto, 1988-present; Visiting Research Scholar, Department of Neurology,
University of New Mexico, 1993-94, Adjunct Professor, Department of
Biology, University of New Mexico, 1992-1994; Distinguished Professor,
CATE, Ryerson, 1992-present; Visiting Distinguished Fellow, Department Of
Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1993-94;
Visiting Distinguished Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, The University
of Western Ontario, 1994-1996. CIBC Distinguished Professor, Faculty of
Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, 1996-1998.
She was one of the six original Canadian astronauts selected in
December, 1983 and began astronaut training in February, 1984. She served
as chairperson of the Canadian Life Sciences Subcommittee for Space
Station from 1985 to 1989, and as a member of the Ontario Premier’s
Council on Science and Technology from 1988 to 1989. In early 1990, she
was designated a prime Payload Specialist for the first International
Microgravity Laboratory Mission (IML-1). Dr. Bondar flew on the space
shuttle Discovery during Mission STS-42, January 22-30, 1992 where she
performed life science and material science experiments in the Spacelab
and on the middeck.
Education:
Attended
elementary and secondary school in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Received a
Bachelor of Science degree in zoology and agriculture from the University
of Guelph in 1968, a Master of Science degree in experimental pathology
from the University of Western Ontario in 1971, a doctorate in
neurobiology from the University of Toronto in 1974, a Doctor of Medicine
degree from McMaster University in 1977 and was admitted as a Fellow of
the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as a specialist in
neurology in 1981. She has certification in scuba diving, parachuting, and
holds a private pilot's license. Honors student in professional nature
photography (Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, California).
Honours:
She has been awarded
honorary degree of: D.Sc., Mount Allison University, Sackville, New
Brunswick, 1989; D.Hum.L., Mount St. Vincent University, Halifax, Nova
Scotia, 1990; Senior Fellowship from Ryerson Polytechnic Institute,
Toronto, Ontario, 1990; D.Sc., University of Guelph, 1990; D.Sc., Lakehead
University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, 1991; D.Sc., Algoma College, Laurentian
University, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, 1991; D.Sc., Saint Mary’s
University, Halifax, 1992; D.Sc., McMaster University, Hamilton, 1992;
L.L.D. University of Regina, Regina, 1992; L.L.D., University of Calgary,
Calgary; D.U., University of Ottawa, 1992; D.Sc., University of Toronto,
Toronto, 1992; D.Sc., McGill University, Montreal, 1992; D.Sc., York
University, Toronto, 1992; D.Sc., Carleton University, Ottawa, 1993;
D.S.L., Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, Toronto, 1993; D.Sc.,
Royal Roads military College, 1993; D.Sc., Memorial University, St.
John’s, 1993; D.Sc., Laval University, 1993; D.Sc., University of
Montreal, Montreal, 1994, D.Sc., University of Prince Edward Island,
Charlottetown, 1994; D. Sc., University of Western Ontario, 1995; Honorary
Doctoral Degree, Niagara University, 1997, New York.
Special Honours:
She is the
recipient of the following awards: Officer of the Order of Canada; the
Order of Ontario; Canada 125 Medal; NASA's Space Medal; Hubertus Strughold
Award, Space Medicine Branch, Aerospace Medicine Association; Award Of
Merit, University of Western Ontario; Medaille de L’Excellence,
L’Association des Medecins de Langue Francaise du Canada; La Personalite
de L’Annee 1992, La Presse; 1993 Alumnus of the Year, University of
Guelph. Outstanding Canadian, Armenian Community Centre of Toronto; YWCA
Woman of Distinction Award, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Kurt Hahn Award,
Outward Bound; 1992 Paul Harris, Recognition Award, Rotary Club of
Ancaster, Inductee into the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction. Honorary Life
Member of the Canadian Federation of University Women, Girl Guides of
Canada, Federation of Medical Women of Canada, Science North, and Zonta
International. Honorary Member of I’Association des Medecins de Langue
Francaise du Canada, Bootmakers of Canada, Canadian Association for Women
in Science and the Canadian Aviation Historical Society. Honorary Patron
for the World Congress of Neurology (Vancouver), Canadian Federation of
Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Mission Air Transportation
Network, Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Young Scientists of Canada,
The Aphasia Centre (North York) and the Ontario Parks Association. She is
Honourary Chairperson for The Canadian Coalition for Quality Daily
Physical Education, Women’s Soccer Competition, World Student Games and
The Parkinson Foundation of Canada. She is Honorary Colonel of the 22nd
Wing, Canadian Armed Forces, Homell Heights, Ontario and Honorary Director
of Save Our North Atlantic Resources and the Canadian Space &
Technology Centre, London.
Honours In Name Of Roberta Lynn Bondar:
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Fellowship, Queen Elizabeth Public School Resource Centre, Sault Ste.
Marie, Alex Muir Public School Resource Centre, Sault Ste. Marie; Trophy
for Outstanding Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Sir James Dunn
Collegiate and Vocational School, Sault Ste. Marie; Roberta Bondar
Gymnasium, Sir James Dunn Collegiate and Vocational School, Sault Ste.
Marie; Soo College Scholarship, Sault Ste. Marie; Sir James Dunn
Collegiate and Vocational School Scholarship, Sault Ste. Marie; Bawating
Collegiate and Vocational School Scholarship, Sault Ste. Marie; Girl
Guides of Canada Scholarship; Province of Ontario Science and Technology
Awards; USS Bondar, The Guelph Trek Club; Roberta Bondar Earth and Space
Centre, Seneca College; Place Roberta Bondar Place - Province of Ontario,
Sault Ste. Marie; YWCA Scholarship, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Roberta
Bondar Rose, Hortico Nurseries. Roberta Bondar School Ottawa, Ont; Dr.
Roberta Bondar Public School, Ajax, Ont.; Dr. Roberta L. Bondar Elementary
School, Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Organizations:
Fellow, Royal
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and member of the American
Academy of Neurology, the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute, The
Canadian Society of Aerospace Medicine, the College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Ontario, the Canadian Stroke Society, the Aerospace Medical
Association, the Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association, American
Society for Gravitational and Space Biology, the Association for Space
Explorers, the Canadian Society of Aerospace Medicine, Greater Albuquerque
Medical Association, Canadian Medical Association, Ontario Medical
Association, Canadian Association of Sports Medicine, North American
Nature Photographers Association.
Recreational Interest:
Dr.
Bondar enjoys photography, biking, hiking, and flying.
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