James K. Bartleman
|
The Hon. James K. Bartleman |
James Karl Bartleman O.Ont ,
BA (born
24 December,
1939, in
Orillia, Ontario), is a
Canadian diplomat, author, and the 27th
Lieutenant-Governor of
Ontario.
James Bartleman grew up in the
Muskoka town of
Port Carling, and is a member of the
Mnjikaning First Nation. He earned a
Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in History from the
University of Western Ontario in
1963.
Prior to taking on the role of Lieutenant-Governor, Mr. Bartleman had a distinguished career of more than 35 years in the
Canadian foreign service. He began his diplomatic career in the
Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade in 1967 and was given the task of opening Canada's first diplomatic mission in the newly independent People's Republic of
Bangladesh in 1972. Following that posting he was made Canada's
Ambassador to
Cuba (
Havana) from
1981 to
1983, and served as
High Commissioner to
Cyprus and Ambassador to
Israel (
Tel Aviv) simultaneously from
1986 to 1990. From the dual posting he moved to post of Canadian Ambassador to the
North Atlantic Council of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in
Brussels,
Belgium from
1990 to
1994. He was moved from NATO to the
Commonwealth of Nations positions as
High Commissioner to
South Africa (
Pretoria) in
1998-
1999 and to
Australia (
Canberra) in
1999-
2000. Finally, he was transferred back to Europe to serve as Ambassador to the
European Union in Brussels, Belgium from
2000 to
2002.
The Honourable James Karl Bartleman was sworn in as the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario on 7 March 2002 as Ontario's 41st vice-regal representative (27th since confederation, 41st since the establishment of the post in 1792).
As is traditional to a vice-regal appointment, Mr. Bartleman has used his position to spearhead three initiatives that he personally identifies with and considers important. During his mandate as Lieutenant Governor he seeks to:
* 1) Reduce the stigma of mental illness
* 2) Fight racism and discrimination
* 3) Encourage aboriginal young people (a homage to his Native Canadian heritage)
To these ends he initiated the Lieutenant Governor's Book Program in 2004, and has collected over 1.2 million used books, donated from all corners of the province from both institutions and individuals, to stock school libraries in First Nations communities, particularly in Northern Ontario. In 2005, to further promote literacy and bridge building, His Honour initiated a program to pair up Native and non-Native schools in Ontario and Nunavut, and set-up summer camps for literacy development in five northern First Nations communities.
In 2004 he Lt. Gov. Bartleman was awarded the
Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year Award and the DAREarts Cultural Award for his creation and leadership of the Lieutenant Governor's Book Program.
His Honour also received the Dr Hugh Lefave Award (2003) and the Courage to Come Back Award (2004) in recognition of his efforts to reduce the stigma of mental illness and he received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award for public service in 1999.
( http://www.lt.gov.on.ca/sections_english/welcome/hishonour_main.html is the source of all of the above)
On June 1, 2002, he was invested as a Knight of Justice in the
Order of St John and as Lieutenant Governor he received the
Order of Ontario.
James Bartleman is the first member of a
First Nation to hold a vice-regal office in
Ontario. He now lives in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
*
Out of Muskoka (2002)
*
On Six Continents (2004)Years as Jean Chrétien's Diplomatic Advisor 1994-1998'' (2005)
*
Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario Official Site
*
VICE-REGAL BADGE OF SERVICE
