Meet Joanne Bernard, Chair of the Halifax Chamber Board of Directors for 2025-2026
PHOTOS BY BASHA KONCEPTS MEDIA
Joanne Bernard has been blazing trails and building bridges for decades in Nova Scotia. From establishing the Marguerite Centre (the only residential facility for women recovering from addictions in Nova Scotia) to leading in the province’s adoption of the Accessibility Act, Bernard knows how to drive impactful change for Nova Scotians.
It is fitting that Bernard joins the Halifax Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as Chair for 2025-2026—a meaningful year for the board.
For the first time in the board’s history, three women occupy the top three leadership roles, with Bernard as Chair, Ann Divine as Outgoing Chair, and Donna Harding as Vice Chair. These women represent a diversity of experience but together exemplify a sense of unity. “When it became clear that she was going to be the Chair, Joanne wanted all three of us to be on the front cover of the magazine,” says Divine. “That’s Joanne. She brings everyone together.”
Bernard is also proud to be making history as the first openly gay Chair of the Halifax Chamber Board of Directors.
This year is also significant as Patrick Sullivan, current President and CEO of the Chamber, recently announced that he will be retiring at the end of 2025. “Patrick has been a true champion of the Halifax Chamber and has led the organization to greater effectiveness and financial stability over the past decade,” says Bernard. “His retirement announcement has spurred the opportunity to not only fill Patrick’s shoes but for someone to bring their own pair and put their leadership mark on the oldest English-speaking Chamber of Commerce in North America.”
It is up to the Board of Directors to manage the recruitment of the Chamber’s next President and CEO. “I know that with Joanne at the helm, the board’s search will be rigorous, thoughtful, and well executed,” says Sullivan. “Her experience in public service and the not-for-profit sector is remarkable. She is a true champion for the Chamber, and she will advocate tirelessly for our members.”
Harding agrees that Bernard is the ideal person to lead the board during this time of transition. “Having Joanne, who is an experienced Chief Executive Officer, will be integral to assisting us in finding the perfect recipient while assisting the new President and CEO as they move into their new role,” she says.
Divine adds that, on a personal level, Bernard instills trust and confidence. “Joanne has an air of respectability that you cannot help but like,” says Divine. “She pays keen attention to what’s been said and would go to bat for you. Her knowledge and the authority with which she speaks make a difference—you have to sit up and listen.”
Local roots and legacy
Born and raised in Halifax, Bernard enjoyed happy and active early years. “My childhood was simply the best with a slew of friends in my teen years who are still in my life now,” she says. “Cheerleading, student government, Youth Club dances, and trips to P.E.I. and Cape Breton were my norm. Both of my grandfathers were Acadian, and I had roots in both places.”
Later, Bernard suffered the loss of both of her parents. “The love and support of my parents framed my entire life until I lost my Dad to lung cancer at 59 and my mother in a car accident at 56,” she says. “As an only child raising a young son, those two devastating events shaped the rest of my life as I did my absolute best to make a proud legacy for them.”
Bernard’s mother grew up at St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Halifax. “She walked out at 15 with her 13-year-old sister and never looked back,” says Bernard. “I get my tenacity, determination, and resiliency from her.”
Her father’s upbringing also made an impact on Bernard. “My father grew up extremely poor in a family of eight, deep in the Southend Halifax in an area called Greenbank down by the container pier,” she says. “I got my sense of humour, compassion, kindness, and strength from him.”
A proven leader
In 1996, Bernard graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a degree in Political Science and Government. “My time at the Mount framed where I saw myself in the world,” she says. “It awakened my critical thinking.”
Bernard went on to become a local leader in areas related to accessibility, domestic violence, and addictions.
In 1999, she was hired to write a business proposal and secure funding to create a nonprofit that would provide long-term residential and holistic treatment to women recovering from addictions and abuse. “After three years working with all three levels of government—and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears—the Marguerite Centre opened,” says Bernard. “It was the first of its kind in Nova Scotia for women and it will always hold a special place in my heart. It is not easy building a nonprofit from an idea into a fully operational organization, but we did it.”
Bernard went on to become Executive Director of Alice Housing in 2005. “There, I was able to expand programs, affect government policy, and really dig deep into community work,” she says. “I wrote the program ‘Healing the Bruises’ to help child witnesses of domestic abuse, so that kids could learn that violence in the home didn’t have to frame their future or define their legacy. Lori Morgan, who delivered the therapeutic counselling to our kids, wrote a children’s book called Healing the Bruises and it was a gamechanger for schools and those looking to support kids during the worst time of their lives.”
Bernard’s work at Alice Housing garnered national Donner Awards, and she was later awarded with the Peter F. Drucker Award for Non-Profit Management in Canada.
Working in child welfare set Bernard on the path to politics. “Changing the Children Services Act to better reflect the needs of children became my goal,” says Bernard. “In 2013, the political, professional, and personal stars aligned, and—with the blessing of my wife Annette and son—I was elected in Dartmouth North. I was subsequently named to Executive Council, where I focused on accessibility, sexual violence prevention strategy, child welfare, and other social issues important to Nova Scotians.”
In 2017, Bernard changed career tracks. “After my loss in the election—yes, I was devastated because I felt I wasn’t done yet—Easter Seals Nova Scotia asked me to apply for the CEO position,” she says. “I have been with them ever since, growing programs, re-inventing our footprint, and shouting about accessibility from the rooftops. I have the enviable position of being the Minister who brought in the provinces’ Accessibility legislation and then working in community to see that it is implemented in all areas of life in our province.”
A strong voice in a critical year
With political challenges and uncertainty on the horizon, Bernard stands out as the ideal to lead the Chamber community. “Her leadership at this time is critical,” says Divine. “She has the capacity, intuition, and knowledge to guide us through uncertainty. Joanne will keep us centered and on task, reassuring our members and advocating for them during tough times.”
Divine highlights Bernard’s tenacity in her efforts to support the Chamber community. “I believe she wouldn’t hesitate to make tough decisions when necessary—that’s the kind of leader she is,” says Divine. “She’s conscientious, passionate, dedicated, and committed. She will go the extra mile for us.”
Harding agrees. “The coming year will bring many challenges in affordability, infrastructure, and labour for our municipality,” she says. “To tackle these issues, the Halifax Chamber must strengthen the voice of businesses in front of all levels of government. Who better to be at the helm than a woman whose skills and instincts will be assets in guiding the Chamber?”
Bernard acknowledges the challenges Halifax is facing but emphasizes our resilience. “I love this city,” she says. “Born and raised here, I remember better times and far worse times, but this city is resilient. Whether you were born here, come from another province, or start a new life here as a newcomer, this city offers opportunity to make your own path.”
Collaboration is key, for Bernard. “It is so important for governments at all levels, regardless of political stripe, to work together when needed and get out of each other’s way when warranted,” she says. “Stop building silos and start building bridges. Housing is a perfect example of how all three levels are working together for short- and long-term solutions which require urgency, creative ideas, and above all, empathy.”
Bernard aims to foster a sense of stability in the local business community. “This time next year, I want to see a business community not constantly challenged by external factors—like Trump Tariffs—beyond their control, which do nothing but create chaos and uncertainty,” she says. “I want to see meaningful government and consumer support for those businesses caught in the crosshairs of those external factors.”
She also wants to see changes in taxes for Nova Scotian business owners. “The recent lowering of the small business tax rate and raising the income threshold was a positive step made by the Houston government,” she says. “Like our Maritime cousins, however, we still carry a high corporate tax rate, which needs to be addressed by the new federal government.”
Bernard faces the year with confidence and optimism. “I am looking forward to my time as Chair this year,” says Bernard. “Our Board of Directors is highly skilled, committed, and diverse. The Chamber staff is second to none and their dedication and expertise is seen every day in their work.”
Sullivan is confident that Bernard will meet the challenges ahead. “Joanne is a champion for inclusive economic growth and a tireless advocate for equity and opportunity,” he says. “Her leadership is collaborative, strategic, and guided by a strong social conscience—the kind of leadership that will serve our members well as we face the opportunities and challenges ahead.”
A Chamber champion
Harding emphasizes what Bernard brings to the role of Chair, including her intellect, professionalism, empathy, and proven leadership. “With her track record in the not-for-profit sector and exceptional skills in government relations, strategic planning, and program and financial development, she is a wealth of knowledge and a great mentor,” says Harding. “I love working with her and learning from her—she epitomizes the leadership that we all strive to bring to our companies, to our communities, and to the collective Chamber membership.”
Throughout her career, Bernard has championed the work of the Halifax Chamber. “In every position I have held in community, I always made sure that my nonprofit organization was a member of the Chamber,” she says. “I appreciated the Chamber’s professional development and networking opportunities, as well as their support of the voluntary sector, which is such an important economic and social driver to the Municipality and the province.”
Both before and after her work in government, Bernard recognized the power behind the Chamber’s voice. “Over the years, I have seen the excellent and effective advocacy efforts by the Halifax Chamber on everything from the business tax burden to labour shortages, and I know their budget submissions to both the province and municipality have impacts on public policy,” she says. “Governments understand the role the Halifax Chamber has in the business community.”
Advocating for Chamber members is front and centre for Bernard. “The Chamber offers sound advice on public policy and issues of the day on behalf of our almost 2,000 members who represent over 94,000 workers,” she says. “That in itself is a tremendous advocacy machine and many governments over the long history of the Halifax Chamber have benefitted from listening and, more importantly, taking action.”
This was especially the case for Bernard during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Like many folks in 2020, the Halifax Chamber became my go-to for information about COVID and government supports,” she says. “The Nova Scotia Business Labour Economic Coalition became a lifeline during a difficult time. Those months of interactions piqued my interest in what the Halifax Chamber’s role was in our community, so when I was asked to put in an application to join the board, I didn’t hesitate.”
Bernard admits that since she comes from the nonprofit community, her perspective and experiences will be different from past Chairs—and that’s okay. “I am responsible for an annual budget of $5 million in my own organization and am part of a sector that provides vital socio-economic contributions—2.5% GDP—to the economy of Nova Scotia,” she says.
The nonprofit sector and business community are not mutually exclusive for Bernard—in fact, the opposite is true. “When the business community is doing well, that spills over into the nonprofit sector through philanthropy and meaningful partnerships,” she says. “When the nonprofit sector is thriving, employees are having their personal or familial needs met through our services, and that results in a happier and healthier workforce showing up.”
Bernard’s goal as Chair is to join our business community in thinking creatively and seizing new opportunities. “One of the worst things anybody can say to me is ‘but we have always done it that way,’” says Bernard. “In this climate of economic uncertainty, the current challenge ahead of us collectively is to think more than ever outside of the box and chart new ways forward.”
