Senator Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard

Senator Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard is a highly regarded social worker, educator, researcher, community activist, advocate for social change, and has been committed to building a more equitable future for her entire career. As the first African Nova Scotian to hold a tenure track position at Dalhousie University and to become a full professor, Senator Bernard’s life experience has fueled her to address issues that affect marginalized communities. Having received many honours and accolades throughout her career for her work — she has received distinctions like the Order of Canada and the Order of Nova Scotia — Senator Bernard has worked tirelessly to center the needs of Black people, Indigenous people, marginalized people, and LGBTQ2+ people. As the incoming Liaison of the Progressive Senate Group, a collective on Parliament Hill that promotes progressive, intersectional values on proposed legislation by the government, Senator Bernard is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of others in different communities in Nova Scotia and Canada as a whole — and that is why she is our 2023 Top 25 Women of Influence+ Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient. Get to know more about Senator Thomas Bernard here.