Maj Joachim Nnanna
Stag Special

When I worked with soldiers at 1RCHA, I often wondered how I found myself ministering to the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in this setting.
I was born and raised in Nigeria — on the continent of Africa — but now proudly serve as a chaplain in the CAF. Nothing, aside from experience ever prepared me for this work within a multi-faith environment with men and women from such wide ranging diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Never did I dream there was a place with such a heterogeneous outlook that would embrace me as I am.
I came from a country where everyone was more similar than different. We were a majority, Nigerian; a peoples with same skin colour, similar practices and universal cultural norms. Different was mostly unfamiliar to me.
When I came to Canada 17 years ago, it was a major shift from what I knew. I was not just another black guy. In the little community I found myself, I felt like the only black guy. And of course, I faced all the challenges that immigrants face.
As an African and minority in cultural terms, my experiences and encounters were not always positive and pleasant; especially when my skin colour is different from the general populace.
“Different” was not always met with the typical Canadian friendliness. To fit in, I had to work very hard to dilute my accent, to ignore the occasional stares from people and to refrain from being upset when I was treated differently, which did happen.
Although I was a civilian priest who ministered to people, I didn’t so much feel like I belonged to Canada in those early days, and even months and years. However, fast forward to the very day I became a Canadian citizen.
Seven years after setting foot in Canada, it was the day my life transformed. After I took the oath under the red and white flag and was granted citizenship, I walked with faith inspired certainty downstairs to the DND recruiting office in Oshawa, Ont., where I asked to be signed up. I picked up the recruitment package without any hesitation.
While we don’t like to think so, racial discrimination and prejudice is real in Canada and it still looms in places where it shouldn’t be. While I felt and experienced it myself, much of the discrimination I experienced in this county dissipated when I joined the military.
Putting on the uniform changed the paradigm I lived. My epaulets, beret and boots boosted my sense of belonging, but more importantly, it altered who I was to others. I was no longer an immigrant, I was no longer just a black African; I was an officer in the CAF who was respected for what I could offer in my vocation.
As a chaplain, who could be sent to any element, I quickly became a morale booster, a hope merchant and a colleague to journey with others.
What seemed to weave it all together was that I was a serving member, holding the Queen’s Commission with the greatest of honour and servitude.
While racism still exists, the awareness around discrimination is heightening each day. We often take for granted the diversity we celebrate as Canadians and particularly in the CAF and how diversity enriches us individually and collectively.
We live and breathe our cultural mosaic identity daily because so many of us know nothing else. We often think that our Canadian value of inclusiveness is the norm in other parts of the world, but when it comes to diversity and celebrating our differences, while we are not yet perfect, Canada has come a long way and stands out as a country to emulate. 
When I deployed on Op PROJECTION with the Navy in 2017, I had the privilege of encountering and working with sailors from other countries. During various friendly navies and diplomatic visits, the constant question I kept getting was, “How come they allowed you in their Navy?” To which I would always respond, “Whose Navy?”
I would proudly explain that I am Canadian like any other sailor you see on that ship and they see me as such. I often pondered the reason for this question and this curiosity from others, and I came to realize that Canada is one of the few countries in the world where with dedication and hard work, an immigrant can rise to any height.
In my interaction with sailors from other countries, I didn’t encounter anybody who was “different” or stood out from the homogeneous ethnicity and thus it was evident to me that this honouring of diversity is one of the beauties of Canada.
One other remarkable thing I noticed during Op PROJECTION in 2017 is that in every country we visited, be it the Philippines, South Korea, China, Japan or Malaysia there was always a Canadian sailor whose was originally from the area and was ready to serve as a translator and a sort of unofficial cultural advisor.
This amazed sailors from other nations and is a testament to the rich human resources we have in Canada. As an African, I am able to share the values I bring with me to Canada and to the CAF.
Among these values are a strong sense of community, optimism about life, unwavering reverence for the sacred, respect for elders and duly constituted authority, unwavering loyalty to one’s tribe, which in my case now happens to be Canada, laughter and joy as an antidote to all life’s problems and a sense of pride in ones roots.
These values colour my every interaction with soldiers and shapes the way I deal with others. As far as I am concerned, we live in the best country in the world and I am privileged to be an officer in the CAF.
As we celebrate black history month and highlight the achievements by black people in our history as a country and our military, we celebrate also our collective resolve to continue to make this country a place for realization of dreams.
As a chaplain in the CAF, I have the privilege of providing ministry of presence to members, advocate on matters of morale and welfare, advise the chain of command on moral and ethical matters, offer religious area assessment during deployment and provide training on spiritual resilience.
I deploy with military members to share in their lives while facing the same hardships they endure. I also get to perform my priestly sacramental duties at the CAF chapels where I am posted and whether I am ministering to male or female, young or old, religious or non-religious, of whatever ethnic background or sexual orientation, I know that I am ministering to a Canadian who should be treated with the dignity and respect.
While working with 1RCHA, I also deployed on Ex FROZEN GUNNER. As the name sounds, this was a winter warfare exercise which trains soldiers to fight in austere winter condition.
While in the field, my task was to be a visible reminder of the presence of the Divine. My ability to share in soldier suffering makes me legitimate and trustworthy when it comes to counselling soldiers and journeying with them. During Black History month, I focus on reminding soldiers of the richness of the diversity we enjoy in this country and reminding them not to take that fact for granted.
My focus is on telling my story as one who has received more than I can ever imagine in life from this country and in the CAF.
I will remind soldiers the values we enjoy in this country did not come without sacrifice and our diversity is our strength. 
I clearly remember a conversation I had with a sailor who was lamenting about having to scrub down the ship’s decks as we were approaching home after our lengthy deployment.
As I was basking in the euphoria of coming back to Canada, home sweet home, I was whistling and having fun with washing down the ship, this young sailor asked me why I seem to be enjoying so much doing this kind of work.
I turned to him and said, “Twenty-five years ago I didn’t have a bicycle to wash, but today, I am washing Her Majesty’s Canadian ship. Things are definitely looking up.”
It is perspectives like this one that demonstrate a true shift in paradigm and celebration of what our opportunities through diversity bring to the table.​
My story is only one. But it is a testament to who we are and who we need to continue to be as a nation and as a national defence organization, Now that I am no longer in Manitoba serving with 1RCHA, I take solace in the fact I was training while among the Gunners to be ready for deployment anywhere I might be needed as a way of giving back to Canada.
“We stand on guard for thee!”
Maj Joachim Nnanna was former Regimental chaplain with 1RCHA, now CFB Trenton’s Wing chaplain

Then Capt Joachim Nnanna did an Easter service for an attentive audience when his church re-opened following the COVID-19 pandemic. Photos Jules Xavier/Shilo Stag