- Born
- August 1, 1953 — East Preston, Nova Scotia
- Education
- Full professor at Dalhousie University; awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from Carleton University in 2021.
- Career
- Social worker and educator; full professor at Dalhousie University; chair of the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women.
- Political Experience
- Appointed to the Senate of Canada on October 27, 2016.
- Notable
- First Black Canadian to have an academic tenure position and become a full professor at Dalhousie University. Founding member of the Association of Black Social Workers. First African Nova Scotian woman to serve in the Senate Chamber. Appointed to the Order of Canada in 2005 and awarded the Order of Nova Scotia in 2014.
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before her appointment to the Senate, Wanda Thomas Bernard had a long career as a social worker and academic. She was a professor and, for a time, the director of the Dalhousie University School of Social Work. She was also the first person to hold the position of Special Advisor on Diversity and Inclusiveness at Dalhousie University. Her professional work has focused on issues of racism, social justice, and community activism.
Key Relationships & Connections
Senator Bernard is a founding member of the Association of Black Social Workers, an organization that advocates for the needs of Black communities in Nova Scotia. She was appointed to the Senate in 2016 on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In the Senate, she has been a member of the Progressive Senate Group and has served in its leadership.