Bernadette C. Nugent O’Gilvie

Bernadette Nugent, was the third of six children. Her formative years began at Somerset Infant School, before continuing at Lystra Primary School, Trinityville, St Thomas Jamaica.

Trinityville Primary School, perched on a hill, became the backdrop for Bernadette’s most valuable life lessons. She graduated at the tender age of fifteen, and by seventeen, she was certified as a Pre-trained teacher by the Ministry of Education.

Bernadette’s teaching journey began at Seaforth Primary School, but she soon returned to her alma mater as a teacher. She later attended St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College, and upon graduating, was hired by Seaforth High School. She fondly recalls her years at Seaforth High as the best of her life.

After marrying, she became know as Bernadette Nugent O’Gilvie.
Bernadette migrated to Canada, where her thirst for knowledge remained undiminished. She attended York University and Weston Collegiate Institute concurrently, successfully completing two full-time programmes. Bernadette worked in various factories, but her standout role was with a pharmaceutical company.
Her career took a meaningful turn when she was contracted by Correctional Services of Canada, serving as a counsellor in all federal prisons in Ontario and at the Metro Toronto East Detention Centre, describing her job as deeply fulfilling. This led Bernadette back to teaching, where she joined the Toronto District School Board, continuing until the onset of COVID-19.
The uncertainty brought by the pandemic, coupled with the challenges of living on the 17th floor of an apartment block, prompted Bernadette to send her belongings home to Jamaica, retire, and return to her roots.