Artist commemorates special occasions and the people who serve

Métis artist Bonnie Saunders has contributed to the Royal Canadian Legion’s 100th anniversary with a special piece that reflects the national organization’s dedication to service, sacrifice, advocacy and community.

“I was commissioned by the centennial committee to produce something or create something that’s quite unique that would be a keepsake for all the Legion’s members who’ve served and family members as a way to really commemorate this special year, said Saunders, owner of Saskatchewan-based Glass Treasures By Bonnie Saunders.

She designed a plate that uses the Legion’s historic and modern badges to form the zeros in 100, with images making up the number one.

Integrated into the artwork are representations of wartime service, nursing support, military branches, the policing service, modern members and veterans.

“The design I came up with was incorporating the British Empire’s Legion badge, which is the original badge before the Royal Canadian Legion’s own badge came into play,” said Saunders. 

“I incorporated different images of men and women with different backgrounds, different ages, and different areas of service. It’s all kind of hidden and shown in the number one in a very unique way.”

These elements observe the story of remembrance, gratitude and legacy being carried forward by the Legion.

For more than 20 years Saunders has been creating tributes and keepsakes for government bodies. She reaches out to them when there is a special occasion approaching.

“I started Glass Treasures by Bonnie Saunders in 2001. Originally, I started with my own coloured pencil work,” she explained.

In 2007 she approached the RCMP with a request to create its crest. It was then she became educated on the restrictions of altering any logo that has the King or Queen’s crown on it.

“I worked on gaining permission to actually use the official badge image,” she said. It took more than a year to achieve but once completed it did allow Saunders to work on many other projects.

After she had the RCMP project under her belt, she pursued the Canadian Armed Forces seeking approval to use its various badges.

“Throughout the years I’ve had some special opportunities,” she said. “I made a plate for Canada’s centennial as well.”

Her projects begin with a clear eight-inch glass plate. She works from the backside in reverse. She applies the images in a certain way and then a crackling glass effect.

“The crackling glass effect took me five years to master before I even thought that this could be a business,” she said. “It is very time specific and there’s many different things that can go wrong.”

Saunders said mistakes happen so she often will make three plates for every one ordered to ensure one will turn out. She then frames the plate in an open face shadow box lined with ultra suede.

“The presentation of it is very rich looking,” she explained. “It’s just an elegant and beautiful thing to have on display.”

Also included is a certificate of authenticity, in most cases bilingual, signed by Saunders and dated with the year the keepsake was created.

On the front of the frame are two personalized engraved plaques.

“A person can have their rank and their name, perhaps the years they served, or something more specific about why the presentation is occurring,” Saunders said.

Mike Rude, a military retiree, has purchased several glass treasures throughout the years from Saunders.

“It’s just very special to have that to be able to thank people for their service or for their service to humanity,” Rude said. “It’s a great way to thank people that deserve more than just a thank you.”

He has ordered them for individuals in the military, for food banks, and even NHL stars.

“I got to know Theo Fleury, or enough to say thank you for all the stuff he was doing, and she managed to get the rights to do a Calgary Flames glass treasure,” Rude said.

Fleury is well known for his achievements as a hockey player, but off the ice he speaks publicly about childhood sexual abuse, addiction, trauma and recovery.

As part of Saunders’ commitment to the individuals she creates the keepsakes for, a portion of each sale of a plate is donated to various causes, including the Support Our Troops Fund and the RCMP Foundation.

“With the Legion, it will be for the Royal Canadian Legion that I’ll contribute a portion of my sales to,” she said. “I’m always giving back and am honoured to so because I’m very honoured to be part of this.”

For more information or to order a glass treasure visit Personalized gifts – military, police, fire, EMT, safety & corporate – Glass Treasures By Bonnie Saunders.