School Name History
Location
32717 Chilcotin Drive, Abbotsford, BC
Opened
1997
The School
The school was built on Chilcotin Hill, which was previously a popular tobogganing hill. When it opened in 1997, the school had two hundred sixty students from Grades K-7, but later became a K-5 school. At the opening ceremony, Roberta Bondar spoke to the audience, then met with a grade 7 class. She is interested in physical fitness, educating children about environmental issues, and encouraging girls in math and science. One of her messages at the opening was, “Do what you want to do. It’s tough sometimes but stick with it.”
Upon entering this (seemingly) one-level school, there is a delightful surprise. It is three levels with awesome views of the distant Mission Hills and Matsqui Prairie from all eleven classrooms. The vaulted ceiling library with glass walls features a view of the North Shore Mountains. The staff and students of this unique school keep in great shape traipsing many times a day throughout this three-level school with a school yard on a slope!
Origin of the Name
Dr. Roberta Bondar Elementary was named after the first Canadian woman astronaut in space. The Abbotsford School Board chose to name the school in her honour because she is a great role model, particularly for girls. She inspires interest in the sciences and the protection of the natural world. She is also a wholesome example of focused persistence. As of 2023, the school is one of three in Canada named after her.
Roberta Lynn Bondar (1945-)
Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian woman astronaut, was born in Sault St. Marie, Ontario, in 1945. From an early age she showed a love of science. When she was eight years old, she began dreaming of space exploration. In Grade 7 her father, Edward Bondar, built a laboratory of her very own in their basement. Roberta did science experiments and built model rockets.
She received her Bachelor of Science degree in zoology and agriculture in 1968, then went on to earn a Master of Science in 1971 and a doctorate in neurobiology. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1977.
The Canadian Astronaut Program began in 1983. Roberta signed up for the program immediately. She was one of six Canadian astronauts chosen for the program. In 1992, her childhood dream came true. She flew on the space shuttle Discovery to conduct experiments to study how life in space affected the body. She received the NASA Space Flight Medal in 1992.
Her experience of looking down on Earth from space during those eight days in 1992 affected her deeply. She realized what a lonely planet it would be without life, so she “made a commitment to focus on protecting the natural world for the rest of her life.” Even now she continues to encourage people to connect to the natural world and to respect and conserve the global environment.
As well as an astronaut, she has been a physician, scientist, educator, professional photographer, and author. She has received enough degrees, doctorates, and honours to overfill this page. Dr. Roberta Bondar is also certified as a scuba diver, pilot, and parachutist. Her fascinating life experience has captivated many corporate, student, and public audiences.
The Abbotsford School District graciously acknowledges the Abbotsford Retired Teachers Association for collecting the histories and stories of our schools as part of their "What's in a name?" 50th-anniversary project.