David and Roberta hang out. It's all golden

Two former Saultites got together for dinner on Wednesday evening at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa and it was golden.

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada and patron of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, officiated at the 2014 Medal Ceremony of the 2014 Annual College of RCGS Fellows Dinner.

At the dinner he passed out a number of prestigious awards, not the least of which was to Dr. Roberta Bondar, her fellow astronauts and the Canadian Space Agency, who were honoured for their scientific research and exploration in Canada and

space.

An abridged release from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society follows

*************************

His Excellency presented the prestigious Massey Medal to Vancouver's Graeme Wynn for his internationally renowned work on Canada’s historical geography and honour Canadian geographers who have helped build a broader knowledge and deeper appreciation of Canada.

The Society honoured our country’s trailblazers in the field of geography.

Canadian astronauts and the Canadian Space Agency received the Society’s highest honour for their scientific research and exploration in Canada and space.

Parks Canada’s Victoria Straight underwater archeology team received the Lawrence J. Burpee Medal for finding the HMS Erebus and helping to create a greater awareness of Canada’s Arctic.

Calgary’s Ross Thurston received the 3M Award for Environmental Innovation for his system that segregates and concentrates nutrients while recycling clean water from livestock manure.

George Hobson of Ottawa received the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration for providing logistical support in scientific and exploratory work in the Arctic.

For his lifetime work in Arctic geography, and as a mentor and leader in community adaptation to climate change in coastal Arctic communities, Dr. Donald Forbes of Halifax, received The Martin Bergmann Medal.

Mike Farley of Toronto received The Innovation in Geography Teaching Award for developing ChangeGamer, a free computer game database with original supporting curriculum to help students better understand geography.

Dr. Iain Wallace and Chris Burn, both from Ottawa, received The Camsell Medal for their tireless support of the RCGS and its commitment “to make Canada better known to Canadians and to the world”.

Funds raised during the evening will support the Society’s vital educational programs.

*************************

(PHOTO: SooToday stock shot shows Dr. Roberta Bondar during a visit to White Pines Collegiate and Vocational School in Sault Ste. Marie in 2012)