When Nova Scotia Senator Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard was asked to make a keynote address at the College of Continuing Education鈥檚 national conference last spring she said yes to the opportunity, but no to the speaker鈥檚 fee. She had a much better idea.
She suggested her fee to go to AV俱乐部鈥檚 Ngena Bernard Association of Black Social Workers Transition Year Program Bursary.
Established in the name of her niece, who passed away in 2015, the annual award managed by the Association of Black Social Workers supports single mothers who graduate from the College of Continuing Education鈥檚 Transition Year Program and go on to pursue social work at AV俱乐部.
Andy Cochrane, Dean of the College, was inspired by the idea. So, when the conference鈥檚 other keynote speakers 鈥� Dr. Arthur Levine, President of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, and AV俱乐部 Professor Dr. Mike Smit 鈥� declined their fees as well, he decided to contribute them along with Dr. Thomas Bernard鈥檚 donation.
Never giving up
The College also made a small gift in lieu of speaking fees for each of the 42 continuing education professionals who delivered seminars and workshops at the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education annual conference. The total donation came to $5,000.
鈥淭he legacy of this bursary is a legacy of second chances, of not giving up,鈥� said Dr. Bernard, a AV俱乐部 Professor Emeritus and Canadian Senator. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a legacy of trying to reimagine your life through a pathway to higher education. Those are the things Ngena was in the midst of doing when she died so suddenly and unexpectedly.鈥�
Bernard was joined at this week鈥檚 celebratory event by Dr. Judy MacDonald, director of AV俱乐部鈥檚 School of Social Work, members of the Association of Black Social Workers, and staff from the College of Continuing Education.
Amber Bernard (Andrew Riley photo)
Also, in attendance were Ngena Bernard鈥檚 friends and family, including her sister, Amber Bernard, who entered into the Transition Year Program this year with a plan to pursue social work at Dal next year.
鈥淚鈥檓 following in her footsteps and it鈥檚 because of her that I took this step,鈥� said Amber. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to working in the community with mothers and children and to support people in bereavement, similar to what I went through with Ngena.鈥�
The impact of the bursary is significant says, Dr. Bernard, noting that one of last year鈥檚 recipients, Crystal John, is now the president of the Association of Black Social Workers.
鈥淭he bursary really tries to honour not just Ngena鈥檚 memory, but the inspiration of what she was doing. It鈥檚 a way of constantly giving back. The hope is when we award the bursary the recipient also accepts the legacy that goes with it. It鈥檚 a legacy gift.鈥�