On May 13th, Nathalie Bondil, Director and Chief Curator of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA), was invested into the Order of Canada by the Governor General, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston. This honour recognizes her contributions to the promotion of the arts and culture as a museologist and administrator.

«Nathalie Bondil is an inspiring museologist known for her vitality, creativity and openness. As both the director and chief curator of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, she developed an outstanding social and educational mission, oversaw the museum’s expansion with the creation of two new pavilions, and put together multidisciplinary exhibitions to reach as many people as possible. Under her leadership, the institution doubled its attendance figures and joined the exclusive ranks of museums that have welcomed one million visitors in a single year. Through her efforts, the museum also became Canada’s leading exporter of exhibitions to museums in other countries. » (excerpt from Order of Canada’s press release published, May 11, 2016)

Since Ms. Bondil’s appointment as Director of the MMFA in 2007, the Museum has undergone remarkable growth. It is Quebec’s most popular museum, one of the most visited in Canada and tenth in North America. It has the highest number of memberships in the country, and over 300,000 people participate in its educational and community programmes.

This award joins a long list of honours that Ms. Bondil has already received, such as the Medal of the National Assembly, which she was awarded on International Women’s Day in March 2016 for her exceptional accomplishments. She was promoted to the rank of Officer in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (République française) for her tireless dedication to culture. In 2015, she received an honorary doctorate from the Université de Montréal in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the development of the MMFA, the promotion of culture, popular education and the consolidation of links between museums and the Université de Montréal. She was also awarded the Prix Camille-Laurin by the Office québécois de la langue française in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the enrichment and promotion of French in the cultural sphere and in Quebec society. In 2013, Ms. Bondil received an honorary doctorate from McGill University, and she was appointed a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec in 2011.

Learn more about Ms. Bondil by reading The Montrealer’s August 2012 cover feature: Nathalie Bondil

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts