East Preston abuzz over Senate appointment of Wanda Thomas Bernard

The tiny community of East Preston is bursting with pride after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Wanda Thomas Bernard to the Senate Thursday.

"I'm excited about it and I think it was long overdue," said Carolyn Thomas, the president of the Preston Area Board of Trade. "I believe she will make a valuable contribution to the Senate."

Former co-workers of Bernard were also pleased to hear the news.

'Exciting time for all of us'

"It's an exciting time for all of us in this community and it's an exciting time for black women," said Althea Tolliver, who was a founding member of the Black Association of Social Workers, along with Bernard. "We hope it will raise our profile because as she rises then hopefully we'll rise also."

East Preston is a predominantly African Nova Scotian community. Many of the people who live there are descendants of Black Loyalists who were relocated following the American Revolutionary War.

Bernard is an elder at the East Preston United Baptist Church, built in 1842.

Young women in the community were excited to hear one of their own being called to the Senate.

'We can become something'

"We've never had anybody from the community thishigh up before and it makes us look really good," said Nikia Thompson. "It shows we can be professional, we can become something. Most people assume because we're black we can't, so it makes us look fantastic."

Bernard is the current chair of the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

She said she would like to work on a human rights committee but she's not yet sure where she will be placed.

"I would think with my background, that is one that my senator colleagues would be interested in hearing my views on," Bernard said.

The first black woman called to the Senate was Anne Cools. She was appointed by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1984.

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