Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard, Director and Associate Professor, Dalhousie University
Dr. Thomas Bernard has had a long and distinguished career in the field of social work and has been successful not only in her employment related practice, but also in her dedicated volunteer work in her church and in the community. Dr. Thomas-Bernard is also a deeply committed family oriented person. In addition, she nurtures strong extended family relationships and is a community mother to many whom she has mentored over the years
Dr. Thomas Bernard is highly regarded for addressing racial and cultural diversity in social work education and in the community. She is a thoughtful leader who has generously shared her expertise in family and social development with local, provincial and national organizations, notably as a founding member of the Association of Black Social Workers.
Born in East Preston, Nova Scotia, she was one of the first three young people from her community to attend university and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in 1975. Going on to graduate studies that same year, she received a Masters of Social Work from the Maritime School of Social work at Dalhousie University in 1977, beginning a 30 year career in social work. She received her PhD. in 1996 from Sheffield University, England. Dr. Thomas Bernard has worked in mental health at the Nova Scotia Hospital, in rural community practice with the Family Services Association, and since 1990, has been a professor at the Dalhousie School of Social Work, where she has held the position of Director since 2001.
Her research with Black men and the violence of racism, particularly in the criminal justice system, has had significant impact on not only academic work but also agency and community-based practice. She has made major academic and professional contributions to the field of Black masculinity, to the investigation of Black women's health and well being, and to an Africentric understanding of the strengths of Black families, including Black men's experience of mothering.
Dr. Thomas Bernard has provided leadership in developing culturally relevant services and culturally specific programs in the health professions; she has organized numerous conferences and workshops meeting the requests of various academic, practitioner and community groups for action research, especially anti-racist, Africentric perspectives on community issues such as violence, gender, and health. She has been instrumental in the development of community-based research teams in her field and has documented the challenges of participatory y in an academic context. She has participated in the innovative, multi-media dissemination of research findings focussing on media representations of African Canadians and domestic violence in the Black Community.
Dr. Thomas Bernard has received numerous awards, certificates and recognition over the years for her trendsetting work. Some of her awards include the Ron Stafford Memorial Award from the Nova Scotia Association of Social Work for effective community leadership and development work. She has also received the Canada 125 medal for outstanding contributions to the country. In 2005 Dr. Thomas-Bernard received the W.P. Oliver Wall of Fame Award and most recently was awarded the Order of Canada Award by Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson. In addition Dr. Thomas-Bernard has published over 25 publications and conducted over 125 presentations.
Dr. Carolyn Gertrude Thomas
2032 Highway 7
East Preston Nova Scotia
B2Z 1G1
Canada
Téléphone : (902)462-2011
umoja@accesswave.ca
THOMAS, Carolyn Gertrude, D.D., B.A., CCA; tour operator, consultant; b. East Preston, N.S. 2 July 1943; d. Frederick Alexander and Charlotte Wilhelmina (Clayton) Riley; m. Matthew II. Matthew I and Marjorie Thomas 27 April 1962; children: Sherry, Matthew, Tamara, Trynda
Education:
Summer College in Human Rights, University of Ottawa 1986
Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. B.A. 1994
Boston University School of Social Work, Contract Compliance Administration. Certification (CCA)
Graduate of Atlantic Community Economic Development Institute, 2000
Employment
President and Senior Consultant, CGRT'S Consulting 1994−Present
President & Sr. Tour Guide And Administrator, Black Heritage Tours Inc. 1996−Present
Management, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission 1967−94
Administration, Canada Post Corp. 1965−67
School Teacher, Halifax Regional Municipality 1962−65
Some Major Accomplishments:
Chair, Nova Scotia Race Relations & Employment Equity Task Force
Governor - Canadian Centre for Police Race Relations
Governor - Canadian Race Relations Foundation
Chairperson - Nova Scotia Advisory Group on Race Relations
Member of the National Delegation to South Africa to observe 'dismantling of apartheid' Oxfam & Canadian. Government. 1992
Trustee, Acadia Divinity College, Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
Governor., Atlantic Baptist University, Moncton, New Brunswick, 1998−2001
Moderator/Pres., African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia, 1998, 1999,2000,2001. (2 terms)
Past Regional Vice-President, Nova Scotia Red Cross Division;
Board of Director, Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children (Orphanage)
Host/Producer UMOJA weekly TV show 1995−99
Board Member, Council on African Canadian Education 1996−2000
Founding Board Member, Black Learner's Advisory Committee, 1996
Charter & Present Executive Member, Preston Area Board. of Trade
Coordinator., Canadian. Delegation to Slave Descendants Memorial, Mount Vernon, U.S.A.
Editor Reflections 1996 (Book)
Weekly columnist The Patriot Newspaper Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 1992, '93
Featured in Chatelaine magazine 1989
Featured in many educational videos on law & general educ.
Featured in New York Times re. Reparation 2001
Memberships:
Vice-President, Mary Preston Historical Society, Nova Scotia.
Program Committee Member, African United Baptist Association 'Year 2000' Millennium 1998−2000
Motivational Speaker, Guest Lecturer., Instructor & Facilitator for numerous educational institutions, as well as in the Public and Private Sector
Vice-President, Children's Aid Society of Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1998−99
Chair, Historical Committee, African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia. 1998−2002;
Member, East Preston United Baptist Church
Choir Director, Revival Choir, & Minister of Music, East Preston United Baptist Church, N.S.,
Past President, East Preston Ladies Auxiliary
Founding Executive Member & Past President, East Preston Recreation Association/Centre (1967)
Awards & Honours include:
Certificate of Honour, Council of Cdn. Unity 1980
Global Citizenship Award, United Nations Canadian. Committee, 1995
Governor General’s Award for the Person's Case, 1995
Inductee, Dr. William P. Oliver Wall of Honour, Black Cultural Centre, Nova Scotia, 1996
Testimonial Resolution from Detroit City Council (recognition for many notable accomplishments and humanitarian work in Canada, USA & abroad) June 26, 1996
Travel Industry Association of Nova Scotia Travel Tour Award 2000
Recipient of Honourary Doctorate of Divinity Degree, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, (D.D). 2005