Bernard was educated in dentistry at Philadelphia, after which he practiced as a dentist in the southern United States.

This effort was unsuccessful largely due to the medical establishment's negative view of dentistry at that time.

He returned to city politics in 1866 and again served as a councillor until the death of Mayor Francis Cassidy in June 1873.

City Council then appointed Bernard as interim Mayor to serve out the remainder of Cassidy's term.

[3] The circumstances of Bernard's birth have not been confirmed, but his obituaries suggest he was born in Quebec's Eastern Townships to United Empire Loyalist parents.