In 1958, he founded J. W. Bird and Company Limited, suppliers to the construction industry. In 1975, he acquired William Stairs Son & Morrow Ltd. of Halifax, Nova Scotia, becoming Bird Stairs Limited. The business was sold to employees and today he operates Bird Holdings Ltd. And is majority shareholder of Sunpoke Energy Systems Ltd.
A sport fisherman and conservationist, Bird is Chairman Emeritus of the Miramichi Salmon Association and has been a Director of both the Atlantic Salmon Federation of Canada and Atlantic Salmon Federation of the United States.
Doreen Fraser was nominated as a Confederation of Regions candidate, but was listed as an Independent because that party did not run enough candidates to be officially recognized.