Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Buchanan emigrated to Canada at age 17.
She enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces and completed basic training in 1987 before being assigned as a Resource Management Systems clerk.
[1][2] Buchanan faced racial prejudice from colleagues and the command structure which inhibited her career trajectory; she was promoted to the rank of master corporal after a successful grievance filing, and three years later was made a sergeant.
In an effort to address these concerns she co-chaired the Defence Visible Minority Advisory Group.
She retired from active duty in 2014 and assumed a role as civilian administrator with the Canadian Forces Support Unit.