Wanda Thomas Bernard
Wanda Thomas Bernard | |
|---|---|
| Senator for Nova Scotia | |
| Assumed office November 10, 2016 | |
| Nominated by | Justin Trudeau |
| Appointed by | David Johnston |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 1, 1953 Halifax, Nova Scotia[1] |
| Political party | Progressive Senate Group |
| Occupation | Academic |
| Profession | Social worker and educator |
Wanda Thomas Bernard CM ONS (born August 1, 1953) is a Canadian senator.
Career[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
- ^ Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard | Black in Canada
- ^ a b c d Bryden, Joan (October 27, 2016). "Justin Trudeau set to name nine new senate appointments". Global News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
- ^ a b "Wanda Thomas Bernard appointed to the Senate of Canada". Dalhousie News. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
- ^ Smith, Emma (August 1, 2020). "N.S. senator calls for Canada to officially recognize Emancipation Day". CBC News. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ "The Progressives Welcome New Member". The Progressives. 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
- ^ The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General. "Order of Canada: Wanda Thomas Bernard, The Governor General of Canada". Retrieved 2017-02-25.
- ^ "Walter Borden, Wanda Thomas Bernard among five people named to Order of Nova Scotia". The Chronicle Herald. 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
External links[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
  | This article about a Nova Scotia politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1953 births
- Living people
- Canadian senators from Nova Scotia
- Canadian social work academics
- Academic staff of the Dalhousie University
- Black Canadian politicians
- Black Canadian women
- Black Nova Scotians
- Independent Senators Group
- Progressive Senate Group
- Women members of the Senate of Canada
- 21st-century Canadian politicians
- 21st-century Canadian women politicians
- Members of the Order of Canada
- Members of the Order of Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia politician stubs