Are you ready for January 22?

January 22 will be the 25th anniversary of Dr.  Roberta Bondar's launch from Earth aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, becoming the second Canadian astronaut in space, the world's first neurologist in space and Canada's first women in space.

At tonight's meeting of City Council, Mayor Provenzano proclaimed January 22 to January 30 to be Roberta Bondar Days in Sault Ste. Marie.

The mayor also announced that he's invited the Sault-born scientist to return on July 1 as an honorary ambassador presiding over Canada 150 celebrations in Roberta Bondar Park.

The following is the full text of the mayor's announcement:

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Whereas on January 22, 1992 Dr. Roberta Bondar made history when she became Canada's first woman astronaut and the world's first neurologist in space, when she flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery as a crew member of Mission STS-42, and

Whereas the year 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of Dr. Bondar's historic space flight and also marks the 150th anniversary of Canada, and

Whereas Dr. Bondar has been recognized as an outstanding woman in Canadian history having received a number of our country's highest recognitions bestowed on extraordinary Canadians, including the Order of Canada and another special honour as the Royal Canadian Mint has issued a unique glow-in-the-dark commemorative coin to mark the 25th anniversary of Dr. Bondar's 1992 eight-day space mission, and

Whereas as a medical doctor, scientist, author, photographer and Canada's first woman in space, Dr. Bondar has done so much to make her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie and the rest of Canada proud.

She's a Canadian who reached for the stars and accomplished something that will inspire us for generations for to come,

Now therefore I, Christian Provenzano, by virtue of the power vested in me as the mayor of the City of Sault Ste. Marie, do hereby proclaim January 22 to 30, 2017 to be Dr. Roberta Bondar Days in the City of Sault Ste. Marie, 

And further announce that I have invited Dr. Bondar to join me on Canada Day as our honorary ambassador to preside over our 150th anniversary of Canada celebrations in Roberta Bondar Park.

Happy 25th anniversary, Dr. Roberta Bondar!

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