Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard
2026 Glenn Drover National Award for Outstanding Service
Ottawa, June 9, 2026 -- The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is proud to announce that 2026 Glenn Drover National Award for Outstanding Service has been awarded to the Honourable Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard.
In presenting the award, CASW President Barb Whitenect spoke to Senator Thomas Bernard's decades of service to the profession, tracing her path from her early work as a social worker and community activist in East Preston, Nova Scotia, to her current role as Senator for Nova Scotia, and the difference she has made in communities across the province and the country.
A founding member and former president of the Association of Black Social Workers, Dr. Thomas Bernard helped advance services and supports for Black families and children, served as an expert witness in human rights cases, and worked to bring greater diversity to political and civic life in Nova Scotia.
In 2016, she became the first African Nova Scotian woman appointed to the Senate of Canada. There, she continues to champion the rights of African Canadians and people living with disabilities, with a focus on human rights, employment equity, mental health, reparations for anti-Black racism, and the recognition of Emancipation Day.
The 2026 Glenn Drover National Award for Outstanding Service was presented during the Celebrate 100 Years of Social Work in Canada gathering on June 3, 2026 in Ottawa, Ontario. The award presentation took place during CASW's centennial year, marked under the theme Reflecting on Our Past, Reimagining Our Future.
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