Meet the First Buddhist Chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces

^{Chaplain Capt. Joanne Yuasa Emm 2T1 in the chapel of the multifaith Spiritual Fitness Centre at CFB Kingston.}

Story and photos by Joe Howell 
 
Chaplains in the Canadian Armed Forces wear patches on their uniforms above their name tags to identify their faith—most often a Latin cross, a crescent moon or tablets with a Star of David. As the first Buddhist chaplain in the CAF, Capt. Joanne Yuasa is also the inaugural service member to wear a dharma wheel emblazoned on her uniform. 
 
Yuasa, an Emmanuel College graduate and ordained Shin Buddhist minister, did not set out to become a trailblazer. Rather, the path that led her to become an officer in the Canadian military was as serendipitous as the one that led her to Buddhism as a young adult struggling with anxiety and depression. 
 
Born in Japan and raised in Vancouver, Yuasa discovered Buddhism after her therapist suggested she visit a nearby temple to connect with the Japanese Canadians who gather there. Although she was initially reluctant to attend, the teachings she learned there had a profound impact on her well-being. 

“That is when I really connected spiritual health and mental health,” said Yuasa. “If you don’t feel there‘s meaning in life, you’re not going to do things that sustain that life, right? I’m so passionate about what I do now because I know it works.” 
 
When Yuasa started in the Buddhist stream of Emmanuel’s Master of Pastoral Studies degree program (now called Master of Psychospiritual Studies) in 2018, she didn’t know this career path was an option. During Yuasa’s first semester at Emmanuel, she was talking with a professor about how to best spread the Buddhist teachings that had made such a difference in her own life. The professor asked Yuasa if she’d ever considered military chaplaincy.

“I said, ‘I’ve never thought about it because Buddhist chaplaincy’s not a thing.’ My prof said, ‘You could probably make it a thing—you are ordained and you’re taking this master’s degree.’” 
 
Upon investigation, the role seemed like a perfect fit for Yuasa. She wanted to help people by incorporating Buddhism with psychotherapy and mental health, and because Shin Buddhism is non-monastic, she was encouraged to be out in the world. 
 
“We live among non-ordained people because we believe that is the best way to make the Buddha’s teachings accessible to the everyday person,” Yuasa said.
 
She learned military chaplains, considered non-combatants under the Geneva Convention, are prohibited from bearing arms and have no command authority. And while there weren’t any Buddhist chaplains in the CAF, there didn’t seem to be a rule against them.
 
“As a member of the military, CAF chaplains are responsible for fostering the spiritual, religious and pastoral care of Canadian Armed Forces members and their families, regardless of religious affiliation, practice and/or belief,” reads the official job description.
 
Intrigued, Yuasa began the lengthy application process in January of her first year at Emmanuel. “By second year, I was in the military,” she said. “I was accepted into the CAF’s Subsidized Education for Entry Level Masters program, so my tuition was being paid for, my books were being paid for and I was getting a lieutenant’s salary.”

 
She completed her MPS while obtaining a Certificate in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy and a Certificate in Theology and Interreligious Engagement, and after graduating in 2021 did additional training, including Basic Military Officer Qualification.
 
Capt. Yuasa is now based at CFB Kingston and enjoys her work providing spiritual guidance to the people stationed there. And as for being the first Buddhist chaplain? “That’s not what I’m doing it for—it’s really just a bonus thing. All my gratitude goes toward finding this job that combines so many things I’m passionate about, and that’s enough! But on top of that, to be able to be identified as a Buddhist is amazing.” 
 
She encourages other people to consider both chaplaincy and studying at Emmanuel. “The most important thing I was able to do at Emmanuel is combine the doctrine of my tradition with psychotherapy and my skills as a minister. To merge all of that together and be able to articulate it was a big help both in my professional life and personally.”

Interested in learning more about the Master of Psychospiritual Studies program at Emmanuel College? Please write admissions counsellor Andrew Aitchison at emmanuel.admissions@utoronto.ca for more information.