Bendina began her career as a teacher in 1969, serving as a teacher and administrator in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia. From 2001 until her retirement in 2010 Bendina was the Superintendent of Schools, School District No.6 (Rocky Mountain). She continued to provide educational leadership as a consultant to the British Columbia Ministry of Education and was re-engaged as Superintendent of Schools with SD5 (Southeast Kootenay) on a one year contract effective August 2012. Bendina is recognized both nationally and internationally for her work in inclusive education which has included presentations at international conferences hosted in Canada as well as in Spain, Germany, Canada and Washington, DC.
Community involvement has been a commitment of Bendina’s for over 40 years. She is a Life Member of AiMHi (Prince George Association for Community Living), a Life Member of the Regina, Wheat City Kinette Club, received the City of Prince George Volunteer Recognition Award, received a Teacher Recognition Award from School District No.57 (Prince George), has been a Director and Vice-President on the Board of the BC Association for Community Living, has volunteered on the organizing committees of the BC Summer and Winter Games, has been a Director and Chair of the Panorama Foundation and has volunteered in a variety of other community capacities. In 2012 Bendina was awarded the Diamond Jubilee Medal for her volunteer leadership with Community Living.
Currently, Bendina is serving as the immediate Past President of the Canadian Association for Community Living, having served four years as President. Through her work as a member of the CACL Board and as National Past President Bendina serves as Chair, Inclusive Education Canada and she works with Federal politicians and other community leaders to focus on building a better life for all Canadians. On March 11, 2010 Bendina was invited to the United Nations for the ceremony recognizing the Canadian Ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. As such, she witnessed the signing ceremony involving then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Bendina is blessed to have two daughters, sons-in-law and 3 grandsons who bring her great joy.
