GRAND MARSHALS
Bernadette Canning
2024 Grand Marshal
Bernadette Canning is a second and third generation Irish American with her ancestors entering the United States through Ellis Island. James J Canning, Jr. was Bernadette’s father and his parents emigrated from Gorvagh, Mohill, Leitrim in 1903 and 1904 (Canning-Walpole.) Bernadette’s mother, Ann McGovern Canning, grandparents came from Black Lion, Cavan (McGovern-Maguire) and Gooseberry Hill, Newmarket, County Cork (Sullivan-Shine) emigrating prior to 1900. Bernadette was born and raised in the New Haven area and is the 4 th of 5 children; her siblings are Imelda, James, Elizabeth, and Monica.
As a child Bernadette’s family lived in St. Mary’s Church parish and her 1 st 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 their St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Prior to joining the parade committee, Bernadette and her husband, John Tolbert, participated in the parade carrying the county flags of Ireland with the NHGF&HC.
It was Bernadette’s husband John who initially joined the parade committee. He recruited Bernadette’s sister, Monica Canning-Ball, and eventually Bernadette followed. They marshaled at the 2012 parade, loved the excitement and experience and the commitment grew from there. Since joining the committee, Bernadette and John have attended as many meetings and fundraising events as possible, usually volunteering in some capacity, many times chairing events and frequently Bernadette baked dessert or Irish Bread for the event. In her 2 nd parade season, Bernadette 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, Bernadette brought her business acumen to the position and pushed to integrate greater committee use of technology, exploring, and taking advantage of non-profit grants and adopted an electronic payment and ticketing platform which enhanced the organization’s financial internal controls. In the time Bernadette has been an Officer, her husband John Tolbert 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. Monica’s husband, Bob Ball, has chaired the Parade Awards. Bernadette’s sister and brother-in-law, Imelda and Fred Hartman, may not be official parade committee members, but have supported Bernadette in many ways including Fred taking photos, Imelda making a handmade quilt that Bernadette 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.
Bernadette is employed by a pediatric practice, Children’s Medical Group, in Hamden, CT as a Practice Manager. Bernadette and her husband, John Tolbert live in Branford with their chocolate labrador, Millie. When not busy at work or volunteering for the Parade, she is usually cooking, baking, or gardening. Bernadette 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, John Tolbert, who pushed her to volunteer, is behind and beside her every step of the way and has made this experience possible.
YEAR |
GRAND MARSHAL |
2023 | Joanne Conlan |
2020-2022 | Seamus Bohan |
2019 | Courtney Lundgren Connors |
2018 | Patrick J. Smith |
2017 | Clifford W. Lynch, Jr. |
2016 | Colleen A.M.B. Hines |
2015 | Timothy F. Gallogly |
2014 | Kelly Canning Ruickoldt |
2013 | Joseph M. Lynch |
2012 | Kevin A. Smith |
2011 | Walter J. Nester, Jr. |
2010 | James J. McGovern |
2009 | Brian G. Enright |
2008 | Bernadette Smyth LaFrance |
2007 | Mary Lyng Malenda |
2006 | John E. Cannon |
2005 | Coleman W. Walsh, Jr. |
2004 | Eileen Sullivan Donadio |
2003 | Dorinda Keenan Borer |
2002 | Kevin J. Smith |
2001 | John J. Doyle |
2000 | Thomas E. Gallagher |
YEAR |
GRAND MARSHAL |
1999 | Michael McCann |
1998 | Mary Gallagher Carter |
1997 | Edward O’Neill |
1996 | Katie O’Keefe Gerhard |
1995 | William F. McCabe |
1994 | William T. O’Brien |
1993 | William M. Hackett |
1992 | Laurence McGivney |
1991 | Michael Bohan |
1990 | Thomas F. Slater |
1989 | Kathleen A. Reilly |
1988 | Cmdr. John R. O’Connor |
1987 | Robert C. Shanley |
1986 | Patrick J. Hanlon |
1985 | James H. Sullivan |
1984 | Finbarr Moynihan |
1983 | Capt. Walter J. Walsh |
1982 | Michael V. Lynch |
1981 | James C. Bohan |
1980 | Hon. Charles D. Gill |
1979 | Robert J. Eagan |
YEAR |
GRAND MARSHAL |
1978 | James J. Dinnan |
1977 | Stephen Madigan |
1976 | John C. O’Donovan |
1975 | Edward P. McMahon |
1974 | Raymond J. Eagan |
1973 | Wiliam J. Heffernan |
1972 | Joseph T. Carr |
1971 | William T. O’Connell |
1970 | Col. James T. Fleming |
1969 | Edward A. Taylor |
1968 | Ray Ward, Jr. |
1967 | Chief Francis J. Sweeney |
1966 | James C. Bowe |
1965 | Howard J. Sullivan |
1964 | Chief Francis V. McManus |
1963 | Col. Joseph H. Fleming |
1962 | |
1961 | John M. Golden |
1960 | Chief Thomas J. Collins |
1959 | Majr Gen. James M. Quinn |
1958 | Hon. James S. Shanley |
1957 | Patrick J. Goode |
1956 | William J. Clancy |
Hon. | Mayor Richard C. Lee |
Hon. | William F. Gallogly |
Hon | William F. Gallogly Jr. |
DUTIES OF THE GRAND MARSHAL
A) Attend all meetings of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and as many standing committee meetings as possible;
B) Lead the St. Patrick’s Day Parade;
C) Review and sign the Parade orders;
D) Assist the Chairperson on all matters pertaining to the Parade;
E) Chair the General Committee meetings in the absence of the Chairperson;
F) Meet with the present officers, along with the Executive Committee Chairperson, prior to the first General Committee meeting to explain the year’s plan;
G) Be responsible for collecting minutes of each meeting, any correspondence, and all public relations material pertaining to the Parade. All this shall be kept in a binder during the year, and at the first executive meeting attended it shall be turned over to the Executive members;
H) Be directly involved in all aspects of fundraising to support the parade.
© 2024 Associated Irish Societies, Inc.