We are saddened to announce the passing of another Farmerette. On August 22, 2025, in her 100th year, Jean Bunker Brett left us, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, adventure, and determination that defined a generation.
Her life story — particularly her experience as a member of the Farmerette Brigade during World War II — remains a testament to the courage and contribution of young women who stepped forward to support Canada’s wartime efforts on the home front.
A Young Woman’s Leap Into Independence
In the spring of 1941, at just 16 years old, Jean embarked on what she would later call one of the most transformative experiences of her life. Living in Toronto with her aunt, Jean sought permission to join the Farmerette Brigade, a program that sent young women to work on farms to fill the labor gap created by the war.
On May 10, 1941, she boarded a train bound for St. Catharines, Ontario, unaware of just how profoundly the summer ahead would shape her. Stepping off the train, she was greeted by a local farmer who transported her to her new home — a canvas tent pitched in a field. It would be her base for the months to come.
Life in the Fields
Jean’s days were defined by hard work and routine. Under the supervision of a YWCA Labour Secretary, a housemother, and a camp cook, she and her fellow Farmerettes adhered to strict camp rules — curfews, daily schedules, and posted lists of farm assignments.
Their work was grueling. They transplanted seedlings, hoed endless rows, and harvested crops from dawn to dusk. The season began with asparagus cutting, then shifted to strawberry picking, followed by cherries and peaches, which required climbing high ladders in the summer heat. Jean’s background in gymnastics gave her an edge in handling the physical demands of orchard work.
Among the camp’s many characters was Leo, a protective black Great Dane who shadowed Jean around the campgrounds, seemingly adopting her as his charge.
Moments of Joy Amid Hardship
Though the labor was exhausting, Jean found joy and camaraderie in her new community. Saturday nights were a highlight, with dances at Port Dalhousie Lakeside Park. Big Band music filled the air as local boys, American visitors, and Air Force trainees joined the festivities. The “jitterbug” was a favorite, and Jean danced as hard as she worked in the fields.
Sundays often brought adventure. With a few close friends, she hitchhiked — always in groups for safety — to Crystal Beach or Niagara Falls, savoring her first real taste of freedom and independence.
One memorable misstep — a painful sunburn early in the season — did little to dampen her spirit. Jean thrived in the rhythm of work, friendship, and discovery that defined her Farmerette summer.
A Bold Step Forward
When the harvest ended and the camp was set to close, Jean faced a choice: return to Toronto or strike out on her own. She chose independence. Staying behind in St. Catharines, she lived in the tent while job-hunting, eventually landing work as a stenographer in a local factory. It was there that she met the man she would marry in 1943, and where she began building the next chapter of her life.
Looking back, Jean always spoke of that summer with pride and affection. It marked her transition from girlhood to adulthood, set against the backdrop of wartime Canada. The Farmerette experience taught her resilience, resourcefulness, and the power of shared purpose — qualities she carried with her throughout her long and remarkable life.
A Lasting Legacy
Jean Bunker Brett’s story is not only her own but also part of the greater history of the thousands of young women who sustained Canada’s farms during World War II. Their contributions fed a nation and supported soldiers overseas, yet their efforts often went unheralded.
As we remember Jean, we honor all the Farmerettes whose spirit lives on in the freedoms and opportunities their sacrifices helped secure.
Rest in peace, Jean Bunker Brett. Your legacy endures in the fields you once worked, the lives you touched, and the history you helped make.
Leave a Reply