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02/29/2024 10:31 AMPress Release from Greater New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee
Branford resident Bernadette Canning is the grand marshal of the 2024 Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Canning is a second- and third-generation Irish American with her ancestors having entered the United States through Ellis Island.
James J. Canning, Jr., was Canning’s father, and his parents emigrated from Gorvagh, Mohill, Leitrim (Canning-Walpole) in 1903 and 1904. The grandparents of Canning’s mother, Ann McGovern Canning, came from Black Lion, Cavan (McGovern-Maguire) and Gooseberry Hill, Newmarket, County Cork (Sullivan-Shine), emigrating prior to 1900. Canning was born and raised in the New Haven area and is the fourth of five children. Her siblings are Imelda, James, Elizabeth, and Monica.
As a child, Canning’s family lived in the St. Mary’s Church parish, and her first parade participation was marching with St. Mary’s Grammar School. Growing up in the New Haven area, her family regularly attended the parade as part of its St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Prior to joining the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, she and her husband, John Tolbert, participated in the parade, carrying the county flags of Ireland with the NHGF&HC.
It was Canning’s husband John who initially joined the Parade Committee. He recruited Bernadette’s sister, Monica Canning-Ball, and, eventually, Canning followed. The couple marshaled at the 2012 parade, loved the excitement and experience, and the commitment grew from there. Since joining the committee, husband and wife have attended as many meetings and fundraising events as possible, usually volunteering in some capacity, many times chairing events and Canning frequently baked dessert or Irish bread for the event.
In her second parade season, Canning assumed the corporate chairman position, working on fundraising for the parade, and continued until being selected as chief of staff in 2017. As an officer and as chairman, she brought her business acumen to the position and pushed to integrate greater committee use of technology, exploring, and taking advantage of non-profit grants. She also adopted an electronic payment and ticketing platform that enhanced the organization’s financial internal controls.
In the time Canning has been an officer, her husband has served as president of the Knights of St. Patrick, is the parade custodian, and is the event chair/race director of an annual 5K and other fundraising events. Her sister, Monica Canning-Ball, is president of the West Haven Irish American Club and served as parade coordinator. Canning-Ball’s husband, Bob Ball, has chaired the parade awards. Canning’s sister, Imelda Hartman, and brother-in-law, Fred Hartman, may not be official Parade Committee members, but have supported her in many ways, including Fred taking photos, Imelda making a handmade quilt that Canning raffled in appreciation of the Parade Committee members, and helping in the church basement before Mass on parade day. It is truly a family commitment.
Canning is employed by a pediatric practice in Hamden, Children’s Medical Group, as a practice manager. She lives in Branford with her husband and their chocolate labrador Millie. When not busy at work or volunteering for the parade, she is usually cooking, baking, or gardening.
Canning is grateful of her experience as a Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee member and honored to be this year’s grand marshal. She is appreciative of all who offer their time and talent and who generously donate to keep the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade an ongoing, free-to-the-public, family friendly event celebrating Irish American heritage. Most of all, she is appreciative of her husband, who pushed her to volunteer, is behind and beside her every step of the way, and has made this experience possible.
Zip06/The Sound featured Canning as Person of the Week in 2023. The Greater New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade will held on Sunday, March 10. For more information, visit stpatricksdayparade.org.