Chambly, Quebec
He was born in Chambly, Quebec and came to Winnipeg in 1878 as a representative for a dry goods firm. From 1892 to 1901, he was a director for The Great-West Life Assurance Company. After being elected in 1899, Bertrand resigned his seat in the Manitoba assembly on September 6, 1900 to run unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate in the federal riding of Provencher.