Jennifer Bernard receives U of T honorary degree for leadership in philanthropy, advancing equitable health care

Jennifer Bernard has spent her career connecting people to purpose – transforming generosity into tangible impact for patients, families and communities across Canada.

Today, in recognition of her outstanding service to the public good, through her lifelong advocacy for equity and inclusion, and for her leadership in harnessing philanthropy to improve access to health care, education and opportunity for underrepresented groups, Bernard receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Toronto.

Bernard, a U of T graduate, is president and CEO of the SickKids Foundation, one of the largest and most successful charitable organizations in North America. In that role, she oversees more than $1.6 billion in assets and a donor community in excess of 1.3 million people, helping to drive research and care at one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals.

Raised in a family that immigrated to Canada from the West Indies in the 1960s, Bernard initially aspired to become a lawyer. But early in her career, after working as a fundraiser for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, one of the largest cultural festivals in North America, she discovered a different calling. “I got such a high from doing something that enabled,” she recalled during a 2018 interview with Ron Fanfair, a digital magazine documenting Black Canadian life. “I knew that was something that appealed to me and I should work in that field.”

That realization launched a career spanning more than 25 years in leadership roles across some of Canada’s most prominent cultural and health institutions, including the Ontario Science Centre, and the McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation. At each stop, Bernard built programs, led campaigns and expanded philanthropic reach, helping organizations achieve ambitious goals while strengthening their connections to the communities they serve.

Bernard also made her presence felt at the Women’s College Hospital Foundation, where she served as president and CEO from 2018 to 2023. She doubled both overall revenue and the monthly donor base, while launching initiatives aimed at addressing systemic inequities in health care. These included the Women’s Health Collective Canada, a national fundraising partnership focused on advancing women’s health research and raising awareness about the specific health needs of women, and the Emily Stowe Society, which supports young researchers from underrepresented communities.

Her work at Women’s College also reflected a consistent focus on inclusion. Bernard has spoken about disparities in care, noting in Ron Fanfair that “Black and Indigenous people are almost completely invisible” in parts of the health system – a gap she has worked to address through targeted programs and advocacy.

In April 2023, Bernard took on her current role at SickKids Foundation – a position she has described as an opportunity to shape the future of children’s health care. The organization raises hundreds of millions annually and plays a critical role in funding research and equipment.

Her approach to fundraising reflects a belief that philanthropy, at its best, is an expression of shared values and collective action. “Donating provides an opportunity for someone to tell people who they are and what they care about,” she has said. “I love aligning that with the right opportunity for a person.”

For Bernard, the mission is deeply personal. Nearly two decades ago, SickKids treated her son. “I wanted somebody to give me hope,” she said at the hospital’s 150th-anniversary celebration. “And they did.”

Throughout her career, Bernard has been a strong advocate for expanding access to philanthropy itself – ensuring that diverse communities are not only recipients of support but active participants in giving. “We just can’t say we want the visible minority and immigrant community to come to us if we don’t reflect that,” she told Ron Fanfair in 2018, emphasizing the need for organizations to meet people where they are and build genuine relationships.

Her leadership has also broken new ground. As the first Black CEO of the SickKids Foundation, Bernard has spoken about both the progress and the pressures that come with being “the first.” While such milestones matter, she has emphasized the importance of lasting change, noting that progress must extend beyond individual appointments.

Widely recognized for her work, Bernard has received numerous honours, including the Inclusion Vanguard Award, Toastmasters International’s Communication and Leadership Award and the Harry Jerome Award for leadership in health. She has been named one of the 25 Most Influential Women in Canada and one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the country, and in 2025 was included among Toronto Life’s 50 Most Influential Canadians.