About Me

This is the page where I'll describe myself in more detail.

My name is Joshua Spencer and I am the eldest of six children. My father was murdered during my early childhood. My mother succumbed to bone cancer some years later.The death of my father did lead to some instability in my life.He was a bookkeeper/Accountant. I even recall him serving as a security guard at one point or the other. My mom was a hairdresser by occupation but for many years operated a small family business. At one point, I lived with an uncle of mine, Mr. Benjamin Spencer, a school principal, but things were not going too well so I left to stay at my paternal grandparents' home in the comfort of my grandmother, Mrs Mary Spencer and my not-too- amicable grandfather, Mr. Reuben Spencer. This was in rural Jamaica in a district known as New Mills, Bethel Town. It was a bit of an adjustment for me as I was born and grown, up to that point, in the city of Montego Bay where I was accustomed to 'a more comfortable' life. The life style was more challenging in Bethel Town. The convenience and commodities here were next to non-existent. However, My grandparents, in particular my grandma, did an excellent job under the circumstances. I must also mention here that my youngest aunt, miss Gwendolyn Spencer, was also, and still resides, at this home. She was quite helpful to me as much as she could.

As is the case in Jamaica, to move from elementary to high school, (I attended the Bethel Town All-age School whilst residing with my grandparents), requires the passing of entrance examinations and one's schooling at this level also requires the paying of school fees and the purchasing of a long list of expensive textbooks. It happened that of a 'bunch' of approximately twelve (12) students who sat the required exam, I was the only successful candidate that year.The credit for this performance was due, significantly, to the excellent teaching and hard work of my then classroom teacher, Mrs. Spence of Bethel Town All-Age School and who also happened to reside in my district, New Mills, at the time. I, consequently, studied at the Manning's High School, Westmoreland, Jamaica. I almost did not make it though. Although my family background is not one that could be accurately described as impoverished (Several of my aunts and uncles were professionals, locally and abroad) in light of their achievements over the years, I found most of my close relatives quite selfish and unwilling to invest in my education at the time. The then Member of Parliament for the Westmoreland North Eastern constituency, Mr. Jim Thompson, heard of my challenge and offered to help. In a nutshell, he with his wife, Mrs. Thompson, adopted me and provided the necessary pecuniary and emotional assistance I needed then and which was not filled by my own biological family. Even when I graduated from Manning's High School and moved on to College to train as a science teacher, it was the Thompsons who provided all the emotional support, funds and allowances necessary to keep me through my three years of study at the institution. Unlike North America, Students seldomly work during high school and tertiary training and I was no exception. The only time I worked was when I was provided summer jobs by my foster father, usually with the Public Works Department. The job involved filing documents but we mostly chatted with each other for most of the summers!

It is obvious that I am deeply indebted to this family, and Mr. Jim Thompson in particular, and want to use this website to personally and publicly thank them for their humanity, kindness and patience with me throughout the years! They stood by me when my biological relatives turned their backs on me and walked away.
They provided the foundation necessary for any struggling and needy, but intelligent child in search of guidance and support to trod the right path and to avoid adversities, so rampant at such advent of adolescence. Who knows what would have happened, had they not come to my rescue!

Prior to migrating to Canada in December 1993, I taught high school science for approximately a decade. I had the opportunity to work with some excellent people who directly or indirectly have influenced me positively. I got my first teaching post with Mr. Noel Monteith, the then principal of Maud McLeod High School and currently Minister of State in Education, Jamaica. I also had the privilege of working with *Dr. Norman Buchanan in the then South Eastern Constituency of Westmoreland, Jamaica. He, strangely enough, must be credited for a significant extent of my political development, awareness and love for politics, even though I am few years his senior. Of course at the time, he was not yet a doctor but he has been one of the most brilliant young persons I have ever witnessed coupled with a flair and energy for politics, the welfare of the poor and the exploited, yet to be surpassed by anyone. He got me on the South East Constituency Executive of Westmoreland, Jamaica where I got the opportunity to observe politics at its best with then Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Honourable P.J. Patterson, et al. Interestingly, *Dr. Norman Buchanan was elected by the Constituency Executive on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 to replace the Prime Minister in the constituency, upon his exit which is anticipated to be in a few months' time.

I also served in several community organizations where I worked with young people, assisted them in several activities such as sports and in political awareness. I was also an avid and frequent contributor to the oldest and greatly respected Jamaica Gleaner from 1989 to 1993. I wrote on various issues ranging from the environment to eduation. I still, occasionaly, pen an article or two but now more so with The Jamaica Observer.

At Frome High School, Westmoreland, Jamaica where I later taught, the leadership and confidence acquired through my association with such political stalwarts as mentioned in the foregoing, quickly spilled over in the classroom. I was elected as Teachers' Representative to Board of Governors for three successive years, the only teacher to have held the position for more than a year during my tenure at Frome High. I also served as Head of the Science Department for the same period.

Finally, I must point out that in the realm of relationships, sad to say, things have not been duplicated in the wonderful and colourful picture as depicted in the previous paragraphs. I have had several unsuccesful intimate relationships and family challenges. However, I have no regrets. They all served as learning experiences. I am blessed with three wonderful children one of whom, Kadisha Spencer, is now an adult and has graduated from college as a teacher. The second child, Kaliese Spencer, is eighteen years (2005) and has just graduated from Manning's. She begins university (University of Technology, Jamaica) in September, 2005 on a scholarship. My son, Michael lives with me in Canada and he is seven years old (2005).

Canada has been a great challenge. This is not unusual to new immigrants. However, due to an unforeseeable family dilemma and disconnect, my early experience in Canada might have been as painful as it could have ever been for anyone! Nonetheless, I have managed to successfully complete studies at York University, Canada's third largest university, worked as a co-ordinator with the Ontario Ministry of Health for three years, qualified as an Ontario teacher to teach intermediate and senior kids, served as a personal banker/banking representative and manager's backup (assistant manager) with CIBC for two and one-half years and served as an Insurance Representative with the Royal Bank for two years.

In closing, I want to state that despite the challenges, I count myself as being fortunate in many ways.

*((NB: Since I wrote this article, Dr. Norman Buchanan died, September 18, 2005 from a respiratory problem. See the page In Memory of Dr. Norman Buchanan, in this website.))