Robert Dale Matt Peterson (born April 14, 1944) is a professional Canadian
photographer and publisher of ''Paralympics: Where Heroes Come'' (1988), the first book written about the history of the
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games or Paralympics, also known as the ''Games of the Paralympiad'', is a periodic series of international multisport events involving athletes with a range of physical disabilities, including impaired muscle power and impaire ...
.
Early life and education
Peterson was born in
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He attended the
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) is a applied sciences institute in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. NAIT provides careers programs in applied research, technical training, applied education, and learning designed to meet the deman ...
, and graduated in 1965 from that institution's first class of Photography.
Career
Peterson worked for the
Edmonton Journal
The ''Edmonton Journal'' is a daily newspaper in Edmonton, Alberta. It is part of the Postmedia Network.
History
The ''Journal'' was founded in 1903 by three local businessmen — John Macpherson, Arthur Moore and J.W. Cunningham — as ...
,
CFRN-TV, and as a freelance photographer. He was the Official Photographer for the
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at the Brick Field at Commo ...
football team from 1975 to 1983, and for the
Edmonton Drillers soccer team from 1981 to 1982.
Peterson photographed
Wayne Gretzky in his first two seasons with the
Edmonton Oilers hockey team, first with the
World Hockey Association, and then with the
National Hockey League. These include shots of Gretzky and
Gordie Howe in the 1979 WHA All-Star series, the only time these two ever played together.
He served as Coordinator of Photography for
Universiade '83 in Edmonton. He served as Official Photographer for the Canadian Paralympic Committee at the 1988 Seoul
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games or Paralympics, also known as the ''Games of the Paralympiad'', is a periodic series of international multisport events involving athletes with a range of physical disabilities, including impaired muscle power and impaire ...
, and for the
International Paralympic Committee
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC; german: Internationales Paralympisches Komitee) is an international non-profit organisation and the global governing body for the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and fun ...
at the Paralympic Games in Tignes-Albertville in 1992, Atlanta in 1996, and Nagano in 1998.
As a result of his experience with
disabled sports at the Paralympics, he published the book ''Paralympics: Where Heroes Come.'' The book has been distributed to 69 countries, and with the help of the Franklin Foundation and the Soldier On! program was given to injured Canadian soldiers returning from Afghanistan.
In 2003, Peterson's images were featured in an exhibit titled ''The Rookie'' at the
Royal Alberta Museum.
In 2019, Peterson donated 9600 images to the
Hockey Hall of Fame
, logo = Hockey Hall of Fame Logo.svg
, logo_upright = 0.5
, image = Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto.jpg
, caption = The Hall's present location on Yonge Street since 1992
, map_type =
, former_name =
, established = 1943
, location = 30 Y ...
.
[Edmonton photographer donates 'treasure trove' to HHO]
/ref>
Publications
Publications by Peterson
*''Paralympics: Where Heroes Come.'' Edmonton, Alberta: One Shot, 1998. Peterson, Cynthia and Robert D Steadward.
Publications in which Bob Peterson's photographs have appeared
*Cowley, Michael. ''Sex and the Single Prime Minister.'' Toronto: Greywood, 1968.
*Jones, Terry. ''Decade of Excellence.'' Edmonton, Alberta: Executive Sport Publications, 1980.
*Jones, Terry. ''The Great Gretzky.'' Don Mills, Ont.: General, 1980.
*Jones, Terry. ''The Great Gretzky Yearbook.'' Don Mills, Ont.: General, 1981.
*Jones, Terry. ''The Great Gretzky Yearbook II: The Greatest Single Season in Hockey History.'' Don Mills, Ont.: General, 1982.
*Horton, Marc. ''Voice of a City: The Edmonton Journal's First Century, 1903 to 2003.'' Edmonton, Alberta: Edmonton Journal, 2003.
*Kepley, Dan and Jim Taylor. ''The Edmonton Eskimos: Inside the Dynasty.'' Toronto: Methuen, 1983.
*Marsh, James. "Wayne Gretzky." ''The Canadian Encyclopedia.'' Edmonton, Alberta: Hurtig, 1985.
*Peterson, Cynthia and Robert D. Steadward. ''Paralympics: Where Heroes Come.'' Edmonton, Alberta: One Shot, 1998.
*''Soviet Life'' magazine. November, 1984.
*Taylor, Jim. ''Wayne Gretzky: the Authorized, Pictorial History.'' Vancouver: Opus Productions, 1994.
*Taylor Jim and Walter Gretzky. ''Gretzky: from the backyard rink to the Stanley Cup.'' Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1984.
References
External links
*
History of the Paralympic Games - Canada 2010
Article describes the book ''Paralympics: Where Heroes Come.''
Edmonton photographer's treasure trove of sports photos
Edmonton photographer ready to sell vintage Gretzky images
Edmonton photographer donates 'treasure trove' to HHOF
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peterson, Bob
1944 births
Artists from Edmonton
Canadian photographers
Canadian photojournalists
Living people
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology alumni