Howard Victor Bernard

It is with profound sadness that the family of Howard Victor Bernard announce his passing on September 7, 2026 after a brief battle with cancer.

Howard was born on August 10, 1954 in St.Stephen New Brunswick. He was the firstborn child of Jennie S. (nee Lindsay) and David H. Bernard.

Howard was the oldest of the four Bernard children. After his birth the young family moved to Quebec due to military postings to Quebec City and Montreal. Howard spent his early years in Quebec and had fond memories growing up there. In these early formative years Howard loved the Montreal Canadians hockey team and it fueled his lifetime passion for the Habs. The Bernard family’s final posting was to Ottawa Ontario where Howard lived the majority of his life.

Howard loved the outdoors & nature whether it was camping, hiking, cycling, kayaking, landscaping, gardening, going for walks, skiing, working out and staying fit. In his mid to late 60’s he enjoyed volunteering with sight impaired & blind people teaching them and guiding them downhill skiing on weekends in the winter.

Howard loved technology, constantly devouring knowledge & had a passion for learning, loved art, he enjoyed deep conversations, was a self-taught sketch artist, and photographer. He was always trying to make others laugh at his jokes.

One of his favorite careers was teaching Information Technology at Algonquin College, he was a skilled landscaper and has worked in the Federal Government doing administration & most recently working in IT for Public Service Procurement Canada.

He loved working with tools always offering to repair things, hang pictures, mirrors, installing doors, shelves, TV wall brackets and even built a reading window nook for the people he loved & cared about.

As an avid music lover Howard enjoyed attending music venues, concerts and festivals. Regularly volunteering at the Ottawa Bluesfest.

Howard was predeased by his parents David & Jennie, stepmother Irene Durocher & stepfather; Wayne J. Westhaver and brother Erwin David Bernard.

Howard will be dearly missed by his friends & family. He is survived by his brother, Ron W. Bernard (Christine), sister Wanda Bernard-Sauve (Dave Cousins), his nieces Loni, Tara, Sarah, great nieces Alyssa, Isabelle, Cassandra, Addison, great nephews Austin and Jaxson.

A very heartfelt thank you to Phil Belisle and Mark Watson please know he loved you both like family, he was grateful for your friendship, love and support. He thoroughly enjoyed sharing his passion for BMW’s, playing pool, watching and attending hockey games.

A big thank-you to the doctors, nurses & staff at Ottawa General Cancer Centre and the Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centre at the Queensway Carleton Hospital. We received amazing care & support, we were very impressed & appreciative seeing how both Cancer Centers were run like well-oiled machines and stayed on top of things.