OTTAWA WOMAN ENJOYED EXTRAORDINARY CAREER
Joyce Bryant served under eight governors general over 40 years
Joyce Bryant has always believed that, throughout her life, small and seemingly insignificant occurrences have led to enormous changes.
That belief might offer an explanation for her extraordinary life and career. Or it could be because of the intelligence, wit and charm of this woman who, at 93 years of age, can still recount, as if they happened yesterday, some of the historic events that shaped her life and led to her 40-year career working under eight governors general.
As a teenager growing up in Winnipeg, Bryant loved to write and her poems were often published in the Winnipeg Free Press and later in the Ottawa Evening Citizen. The Depression and death of her father at a young age drew her and her mother to England where they began a new life in a country which Bryant came to love.
However, the days and months leading to the declaration of war in 1939 were a time of anxiety. At 17, Bryant took on local air raid warden duties, eventually enlisting with the Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division.
Several years later on V-E Day, Bryant vividly recalls the crowds in Trafalgar Square and in front of Buckingham Palace and seeing St. Paul’s Cathedral lit up after so many dreary years of blackout.
“I had lived through a lengthy war and seen much of the horror first-hand,” said Bryant. “I had wept at the loss of life and extensive destruction and I had worked every day for victory. I had survived air raids and lived through blackouts and strict rationing. I had given thanks, many, many times for emerging from the conflict unscathed and not having lost any family members.”
As Canadian personnel began to be repatriated, Bryant decided to return to Canada. Shortly after coming to Ottawa, Bryant and her mother purchased a home in New Edinburgh, just a stone’s throw away from Rideau Hall, for $7,000. Little did she know she would spend the next 50 years of her life in this home and 40 years working at Government House.
“I began my career at Rideau Hall working for General Letson, the secretary to Lord Alexander, a war hero who had been Governor General since 1946,” said Bryant.
“Vincent Massey’s appointment as the first Canadian Governor General followed in 1952 and so began my career as his personal secretary. Mr. Massey took great care in preparing his speeches.
“As I took dictation from Mr. Massey, or just listened to him think out loud as he clarified his thoughts, I learned about history, literature, the social mores of different eras and prominent personalities alive and dead — all accompanied by vivid mental pictures.”
During those early years at Rideau Hall, Bryant travelled extensively, primarily aboard viceregal trains that were used to take members of the Royal Family or governors general across the country.
“Travelling with the Governor General took me all over Canada. I logged about 150,000 miles by train with Mr. Massey in seven years.”
For the most part, Bryant says her work wasn’t glamorous but the job did have its perks. She constantly reminded herself she was just a “cog in a big wheel which worked well.”
“Every member of the team had a role and my work was rewarding, not only because of the governors general but because of the kind and competent colleagues I worked with,” she said.
“Everybody pitched in and there was little of ‘that’s not my job.’ If something needed doing, you just did it.”
Following seven years of working for Massey at his home in Port Hope, Ont., Bryant returned to Ottawa, hoping there might be a place for her at Rideau Hall working with the group that was developing the protocol and procedures for the new honours system and the Order of Canada.
In April, Prime Minister Lester Pearson had announced in Parliament that the Order of Canada would be “born” on July 1, 1967. There would be much to do to get it up and running and the thought of helping to lay the groundwork excited Bryant. Massey had long advocated for a distinctly Canadian honours system, and Bryant had been party to his many discussions with the Governor General’s Office.
When Esmond Butler, then-secretary to Governor General Roland Michener, called to tell Bryant she had a job at Rideau Hall, she was elated.
“I had a job back in a place I knew and loved! And so began my second chapter at Rideau Hall in August 1967.”
Those last few months of 1967 were exciting and exhilarating as staff were under a great deal of pressure to finalize all the work before the first investiture, which was to be held Nov. 24. There were few precedents to draw on — certainly none in Canada. Not surprisingly, Bryant’s former boss, the Right Honourable Vincent Massey, was among that first group of Companions appointed to the Order.
While Bryant loved her work, any mistake or seemingly harmless oversight could have disastrous consequences. No matter how well the team planned and checked details, the unforeseen would often threaten the process.
“For my part, I was directly responsible for a few snafus!” she said. “In the early 1970s, the Order of Canada had only two levels: Companion and Medal of Service. One day, I inadvertently mixed up two letters. The first went to Dr. Gerhard Herzberg offering him the lesser Medal of Service — obviously a mistake as Dr. Herzberg was one of Canada’s outstanding scientists and had just won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
“The second letter, offering the honour of Companion, was sent to a woman who should have been offered the Medal of Service. When I realized what I had done, I nearly fainted! After recovering, I had to call both the recipients to explain the mix-up, which was totally my fault and, fortunately, both individuals were most understanding and graciously accepted my explanation and apology.”
As the 1970s drew to a close, Bryant began to think of retiring. She had married late in life to her dear friend Bert Bryant and looked forward to spending more time with her new husband.
Although she retired on July 4, 1981, after 30 years of service, her days of freedom were short-lived as she was asked to take on a few more projects at Rideau Hall. She agreed to return to work and ended up staying for another 10 years when, after serving eight governors general, Bryant felt she had been witness to enough milestones and memories to take her into a final retirement in 1992.
Since 2000, Bryant has made her home at the Edinburgh Retirement Residence, close to the house she had lived in and the office she had served for so many years.
She has written two books of memoirs, Slender Threads and Changes, Challenges and Chats, and she continues to delight her many friends with her wit and charm.
Most important, Bryant is looking forward to participating in Canada’s 150th celebrations next year and especially in the 50th anniversary of the Order of Canada. After all, she was there when it was born.
I had lived through a lengthy war and seen much of the horror first-hand . ... I had given thanks, many, many times for emerging from the conflict unscathed and not having lost any family members. — Joyce Bryant I had wept at the loss of life and extensive destruction and I had worked every day for victory.