Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to the importance of Black representation and reparations.

I acknowledge that we stand on the traditional, unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin people, and I honour the 400-year history and labour of people of African descent on these lands.

I learned early in life that I had to work two to three times as hard just to be seen and to have my work appreciated. That work ethic has shaped my life for decades. Being sick over the past few months slowed me down in ways I did not expect, and it forced me to think differently about my life and my life’s purpose. I am profoundly grateful to be back here in the Senate, my dear colleagues.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Senator Bernard: I am supported by my family, friends, colleagues and especially Team Preston. My daughter Candace Roker; my grandsons, Damon and Gavin Roker; and my sister Candace Thomas are here with me in Ottawa this week, ensuring that I pace myself. Their love and steady presence have made this journey much easier.

Colleagues, in September 2023, Dalhousie University’s School of Social Work welcomed its first Africentric Bachelor of Social Work Cohort, an act of reparations in recognition of past harms and the long-standing lack of Black representation in health and social services. This group of 36 African-Nova Scotian students represents a landmark shift in Canadian education. They work full-time, care for families and bridge academic theory with community practice.

The true measure of this program is found in the voices of the students themselves, two of whom will be working with me in my Senate role.

One student, Monica Njoku, told me:

While others might be looking for ways to incorporate Africentrism into their learning and practice, for us, it is the baseline of our practice.

Her words remind us that representation is not an add-on; it is a world view that shapes how we serve.

Another student, Tineka Simmons, shared that this cohort allowed her:

. . . for the first time, to see my community, culture, and lived experience reflected in the way social work is taught. It helped me understand the kind of social worker I want to become — one who leads with community, history, healing, and love.

Colleagues, this cohort will graduate in October, ready to make extraordinary contributions because Dalhousie had the courage to create this opportunity in the name of representation and reparations.

Honourable colleagues, Dalhousie University as an institution is proving that when we centre Black voices, everyone benefits. They are also demonstrating that reparations are not only about correcting the past, but they are about shaping a future where Black communities thrive.

Asante. Thank you.