Full Name
John Bernard
Job Title
President
Company
Donna Cona
Speaker Bio
2021 Aboriginal Business Lifetime Achievement Award
Discovering his love of computer technology early on, Mr. Bernard became one of the first Indigenous people in Canada to obtain a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineering certificate.
He served as vice president and senior partner of Systems Interface, a multimillion-dollar informatics services company, where he was responsible for moving the company into the IT infrastructure business and increasing revenue by 50%. The company later partnered with Sierra Systems Consultants Inc.
Mr. Bernard's most significant achievement was the establishment of his company Donna Cona.
Founded in 1996, the Indigenous informatics firm continues to provide successful opportunities for Indigenous people in the high-tech industry. Mr. Bernard and his technical team were responsible for developing the technical architecture for the newly formed government of Nunavut. The project resulted in the first satellite-based infrastructure in the country and one of the few in the world.
In 2007, he realized his vision of returning to his home community, Madawaska Maliseet First Nation in New Brunswick, and started multiple ventures including Madawaska Entertainment Center and Grey Rock Casino and the Grey Rock Motorsports. His companies employ the largest number of band members in the region.
A champion of economic reconciliation across Canada, Mr. Bernard founded the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business Association, which was key to educating the federal government, the largest purchaser of goods and services in the country, of the need to procure directly from Indigenous businesses.
A fierce proponent of Indigenous education, he started the John Bernard scholarship in 1999 at Trent University open to Indigenous students studying technology and continues to provide assistance and guidance to this day.
Discovering his love of computer technology early on, Mr. Bernard became one of the first Indigenous people in Canada to obtain a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineering certificate.
He served as vice president and senior partner of Systems Interface, a multimillion-dollar informatics services company, where he was responsible for moving the company into the IT infrastructure business and increasing revenue by 50%. The company later partnered with Sierra Systems Consultants Inc.
Mr. Bernard's most significant achievement was the establishment of his company Donna Cona.
Founded in 1996, the Indigenous informatics firm continues to provide successful opportunities for Indigenous people in the high-tech industry. Mr. Bernard and his technical team were responsible for developing the technical architecture for the newly formed government of Nunavut. The project resulted in the first satellite-based infrastructure in the country and one of the few in the world.
In 2007, he realized his vision of returning to his home community, Madawaska Maliseet First Nation in New Brunswick, and started multiple ventures including Madawaska Entertainment Center and Grey Rock Casino and the Grey Rock Motorsports. His companies employ the largest number of band members in the region.
A champion of economic reconciliation across Canada, Mr. Bernard founded the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business Association, which was key to educating the federal government, the largest purchaser of goods and services in the country, of the need to procure directly from Indigenous businesses.
A fierce proponent of Indigenous education, he started the John Bernard scholarship in 1999 at Trent University open to Indigenous students studying technology and continues to provide assistance and guidance to this day.
Speaking At
