The Honourable
Wanda Thomas Bernard
CM ONS
Senator for Nova Scotia
Assumed office
November 10, 2016
Nominated byJustin Trudeau
Appointed byDavid Johnston
Personal details
Born (1953-08-01) August 1, 1953
Halifax, Nova Scotia[1]
Political partyProgressive Senate Group
OccupationAcademic
ProfessionSocial worker and educator

Wanda Thomas Bernard CM ONS (born August 1, 1953) is a Canadian senator.

Career

She was formerly a social worker and educator from East Preston, Nova Scotia. Bernard is the first Black Canadian to have an academic tenure position and become a full professor at Dalhousie University,[2] where her research focuses on anti-oppression and diversity.[3] Bernard was one of the founding members of the Association of Black Social Workers.[2]

As a Senator

On October 27, 2016, Bernard was named to the Senate of Canada by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to sit as an independent.[2] At the time of her appointment, she was the chair of the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women.[2] She is the first African Nova Scotian woman to serve in the Senate Chamber.[3]

Bernard supports official recognition of Emancipation Day in Canada, and proposed a 2018 private member's bill to that effect.[4]

Bernard joined the Progressive Senate Group on July 8, 2020.[5]

Accolades and nominations

In 2005, she was appointed to the Order of Canada for her work addressing racism and diversity in the field of social work,[6] and in 2014, she was awarded the Order of Nova Scotia.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard | Black in Canada
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bryden, Joan (October 27, 2016). "Justin Trudeau set to name nine new senate appointments". Global News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Wanda Thomas Bernard appointed to the Senate of Canada". Dalhousie News. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
  4. ↑ Smith, Emma (August 1, 2020). "N.S. senator calls for Canada to officially recognize Emancipation Day". CBC News. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  5. ↑ "The Progressives Welcome New Member". The Progressives. 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  6. ↑ The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General. "Order of Canada: Wanda Thomas Bernard, The Governor General of Canada". Retrieved 2017-02-25.
  7. ↑ "Walter Borden, Wanda Thomas Bernard among five people named to Order of Nova Scotia". The Chronicle Herald. 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2017-02-25.


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