Originally from Lusaka, Zambia, Bernard moved to Ottawa in 2004 to pursue university studies. While studying Criminology at the University of Ottawa, he got his first restaurant job as a kitchen hand. He quickly made the move to server and upon completion of university took on the role of Assistant General Manager with East India Company Restaurants. In 2014 he completed the Sommelier Program at Algonquin College and has been pursing the level of Master Sommelier with The Court of Master Sommeliers Americas (CMS) ever since. He currently holds the title of Certified Sommelier with the CMS. Bernard has been part of the Atelier Restaurant team since November 2017, then took over as General Manager from his friend and mentor Steve Robinson in July 2019.