Early life

Growing up on a dairy farm in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Sergeant (retired) Joan Buchanan learned the importance of hard work. “If you don’t get up and do your work, the cows don’t get fed.”

Buchanan emigrated to Toronto at the age of 17. Sixteen years later, she joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), where the work ethic she says she gained on the farm has served her well.

Starting her career

She completed her basic training in 1987 and spent the next three decades on multiple postings across the country and deployments to Bosnia and Tampa, Florida.

“I wanted to see the world,” she said. “Starting from a farm in the country, in Jamaica, to be in the CAF. And to be posted in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. It's a great accomplishment to me.”

Buchanan’s military career was rewarding but challenging. She says, as a woman of colour, she felt she had to constantly prove her worth. She often felt excluded, alone and ignored in a predominantly white male environment.

“The racial tension was subtle but the non-verbal language spoke volumes,” she said, adding she was told she couldn’t wear her hair in braids—it had to be in a bun which didn’t work for her hair. The “skin-toned” beige stockings didn’t work for her either. “Those were for a white person, I cannot wear beige,” she said.

Buchanan kept detailed journals during her service. She reflects on some of the things that happened now and wishes she had had the confidence to be more assertive.

Claiming her space at the table

“I guess it was (my) cultural background. You’re not brought up to be assertive. I grew up in an era where women were supposed to be quiet,” she explained.

Mid-way through her career, she started realizing that, even though she had years of experience and had worked very hard, she had not been promoted in 14 years. She felt her race and gender was behind that so she asked her supervisors why. Then she filed a grievance.

A year later, she was promoted to Master Corporal. Three years later she was a Sergeant. This experience was empowering for her, so she didn’t stop there.

In 1997, she joined the Visible Minority Advisory Group with the Department of National Defence. The group identifies systematic issues and recommends ways to address them. As the co-chair, Buchanan fought for inclusiveness and addressed discrimination within the forces. “The idea was to try to change the archaic mindset with concrete examples,” she said.

“We have been given a voice and are shining a bright light on the issues that affect people of colour.”

Blazing a trail

From 2004-2005, Buchanan became the first black woman to ever hold the position of President of the Mess Committee. In 2009, she was presented with the Human Resource Management Award in recognition of her work in leading change within the CAF and her volunteer work in employment equity.

She retired from the forces in 2014, transitioning from to the public service as a chief clerk with the Department of National Defence in Ottawa where she was first posted. “At first when you take your uniform off, you’re still Sergeant Buchanan,” she said.

“You’re serving your country and it’s a way to feel good about yourself.”

“It’s important to recognize Veterans for their accomplishments because they have earned their space, and they need to claim that space. As women, we should be there to say: this is mine and I’ve earned my seat at the table”

Looking back

Things have changed for the better in the CAF, she says. People are better educated, there are more supports to help women and people of colour, and more accountability for those who don’t support them.

“People know that you can’t just do things and get away with it like before,” she said. For all of those reasons, she encourages young women to join the military. “I’m an advocate for young black women to join the CAF,” she said.

These days, Buchanan, who was a single mom to her son during her service, enjoys volunteering with her church and spending time with her much-loved granddaughters, Olivia and Kennedy.

She hopes they won’t have to face the same kinds of discrimination she faced. She is teaching them to “own their space”.

“I've earned my space at the table and I'm sitting there because I deserve to be there.”

Video: Joan Buchanan

With courage, integrity and loyalty, Joan Buchanan is leaving her mark. She is one of our Canadian Veterans. Discover more stories.