The Honourable Wanda Thomas Bernard, PhD, C.M., O.N.S Senator - Nova Scotia (East Preston)
Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard is the first African Nova Scotian woman to be appointed to the Senate of Canada, representing the province of Nova Scotia and her hometown of East Preston. Senator Bernard champions issues impacting African Canadians and people living with disabilities. She is particularly invested in human rights, employment equity, and mental health. Through her involvement in community projects, her social work career, her time with Dalhousie School of Social Work, and now her work in the Senate, Senator Bernard has maintained a deep dedication to social justice and racial justice. Senator Bernard advocates for reparations for the historical and continued anti-Black racism impacting the lives of African Canadians.
Temilola Gbadamosi
Temilola Gbadamosi is a passionate and dedicated social worker, advocate, and community leader based in Calgary, Canada. Born and raised in Nigeria and has always been driven by a deep commitment to social justice and community empowerment.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from Dalhousie University and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from University of Calgary, where she specialized in Clinical Social Work in Mental Health and Addiction.
Temi has over 5 years of experience working with Seniors, Children, individuals and couples. She began her career working at Bethany Care Society, worked with women at YW Calgary, a domestic violence counselling continuum of service, Calgary board of Education with Children, and Presently works at Alberta Health Services. Her academic journey has equipped her with the knowledge and skills needed to address complex social issues and create positive change in individuals and communities.
Temi is on a mission to empower women facing Gender-based Violence and Mental Health.
With unwavering commitment, she works tirelessly to bring positive change to the lives of those in need, demonstrating that through her compassion and advocacy. Temi is a trusted advocate for mental wellness, offering a safe and supportive space for individuals to embark on their journey towards healing and self-discovery
Sophie Jassat BSW, MSW
Sophie Jassat lives her life through a Social Work Lens whether it is in her private life as a mother, grandmother, friend or doggy mamma or her professional life as a Parent Advocate, Library Experience Guide or Volunteer. With over 16 years of professional experience and a lifetime of personal experience, Sophie believes that being your authentic self and speaking joy into the lives of family, friends, work associates and the people we are called to support we can begin an impactful healing journey for everyone we meet. Sophie has worked in different areas of social work, from homelessness, mental health and addiction to youth and family work. With a passion for single women led household Sophie has worked with McMan Calgary’s (PCAP) Parent Child Assistance Program fulltime for 4 years in a frontline capacity, supporting mothers who have shared using substances or alcohol during pregnancy, helping them to work on goals to enhance their capacity to parent their children and enrich their quality of life. Sophie brings that passion and knowledge into the parttime position she holds at the library and the volunteer work she is doing with Our Solid Roots Association [OSRA]. Sophie describes herself as a generalist Social Worker whose career journey has allowed her to gain skills in all areas of social work. In her volunteer role Sophie is working closely with OSRA to enhance and empower Black and Indigenous women whose rich culture and shared similarities of tradition and oppression are often disregarded in a patriarchal society.
Carol LaFayette-Boyd
Carol was born on a farm west of Saskatoon in 1942. She lived in small towns until 1956 when she and her family moved to Regina. Carol and her siblings were the only Black children wherever they lived until 1959 when people of African ancestry began moving to Regina, Carol has been active with the following - Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum (SACHM), Bob Adams Foundation (BAF) and the For The Love Of Matthew (FTLOM). She attends Gateway Christian Fellowship church. She has lived and worked in the United States and Canada. Carol trained as a psychiatric nurse (Registered Psychiatric Nurse) and was a registered social worker. Carol retired in 2005 after 33 years with the Saskatchewan Government in Social Services and Corrections and Public Safety. She worked in all areas of social services including Human Resources and Training and provided child protection training for several years, She is a Masters track and field athlete having taken up competition at age 50.
Jemell Moriah
Jemell Moriah is a Guyanese Canadian who resides in Nova Scotia. She was formerly employed by the government of Nova Scotia and worked in the Child Welfare system where she developed a passion for working with families from a Prevention and Early Intervention approach because of her initial work as a Family Support Worker. She graduated with a Bachelor of Human Ecology from Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax and completed the Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees from Dalhousie University in Halifax. She is retired and is a member of the Nova Scotia Association of Black Social Workers.