The Honourable
James Bartleman
OC OOnt
Bartleman in 2014
27th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
In office
7 March 2002 – 5 September 2007
MonarchElizabeth II
Governors GeneralAdrienne Clarkson
Michaëlle Jean
PremierMike Harris
Ernie Eves
Dalton McGuinty
Preceded byHilary Weston
Succeeded byDavid Onley
Canadian Ambassador to the European Union
In office
26 July 2000 – 7 March 2002
Prime MinisterJean Chrétien
Preceded byJean-Pierre Juneau
Succeeded byJeremy Kinsman
Permanent Representative of Canada to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
In office
1990–1994
Prime MinisterBrian Mulroney
Jean Chrétien
Preceded byGordon Scott Smith
Succeeded byJohn R. Anderson
Personal details
Born
James Karl Bartleman

(1939-12-24)24 December 1939
Orillia, Ontario, Canada
Died14 August 2023(2023-08-14) (aged 83)
Spouse
Marie-Jeanne Rosillon
​
​
(m. 1975)​
[1]
Children3[2]
Alma materUniversity of Western Ontario (BA, 1963)

James Karl Bartleman OC OOnt (24 December 1939 – 14 August 2023) was a Canadian diplomat and author who served as the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 2002 to 2007.

Bartleman was a son of Percy Scott Bartleman and Maureen Florence Bartleman (Simcoe). He grew up in the Muskoka town of Port Carling, and he was a member of the Chippewas of Mnjikaning First Nation. In 1963, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in History from the University of Western Ontario, where he was initiated as a member of Phi Delta Theta.

From 2007 to 2012, Bartleman was the Chancellor of the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) in Toronto.

Foreign service career

Prior to taking on the role of lieutenant governor, Bartleman had a distinguished career of more than 35 years in the Canadian foreign service. In 1967, he began his diplomatic career in what was then known as the Department of External Affairs (now Global Affairs Canada). In 1972, he was given the task of opening Canada's first diplomatic mission in the newly independent People's Republic of Bangladesh. Bartleman also served in a diplomatic posting in Colombia. He was then made Canada's ambassador to Cuba (Havana) from 1981 to 1983. Upon his return from Cuba, he was appointed director of security and intelligence for the Department of External Affairs.[3] After this, Bartleman served as High Commissioner to Cyprus and Ambassador to Israel (Tel Aviv) simultaneously from 1986 to 1990. From that dual posting, he moved to the post of Canadian Ambassador to the North Atlantic Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels, Belgium, from 1990 to 1994. He was then moved from NATO to 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 from 2000 to 2002.

Bartleman was director of security and intelligence for the Department of External Affairs at the time of the Air India Bombing. On 3 May 2007, he testified at the Air India Inquiry that he had presented an intelligence document to the RCMP warning of a possible attack days prior to the bombing.[4][5] Bob Rae, who had been tasked with advising deputy PM Anne McLellan, later admitted that he never bothered to interview Bartleman, the former head of intelligence for Foreign Affairs Canada.[6]

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

Bartleman was sworn in as the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario on 7 March 2002. He was 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, Bartleman used his position to spearhead three initiatives that he personally identified with and considered important. During his mandate as Lieutenant Governor, he sought to:

  1. Reduce the stigma of mental illness;
  2. Fight racism and discrimination;
  3. Promote literacy among First Nations children.

To these ends, he initiated the Lieutenant Governor's Book Program in 2004. He has collected over 1.2 million 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, Bartleman initiated a program to pair up Native and non-Native schools in Ontario and Nunavut, and set-up summer camps for literacy[7] development in five northern First Nations communities.[8]

Personal life and death

Bartleman was related to honorary Chief of the Mnjikaning Indians John Bigwin, on his mother's side.[9]

James Bartleman died on 14 August 2023, at the age of 83.[10]

Unlike most vice-regal funerals, which are public, Bartleman's funeral will be private but flags will fly at half mast.[2]

Writing

Bartleman published several works of non-fiction, both before and during his viceregal term. These included the childhood memoirs Out of Muskoka (2002) and Raisin Wine: A Boyhood in a Different Muskoka (2007), and the professional career memoirs On Six Continents (2004) and Rollercoaster: My Hectic Years as Jean Chrétien's Diplomatic Advisor (2005).

Following the end of his viceregal term, Bartleman has also published a trilogy of social justice novels, As Long as the Rivers Flow (2011), The Redemption of Oscar Wolf (2013) and Exceptional Circumstances (2015). As Long as the Rivers Flow was a finalist for the 2013 Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature.[11]

Honours

Orders and awards

Honorary degrees

Bartleman was awarded many honorary degrees for his service, including the following:

Province Date School Degree
 Ontario 25 June 2002 University of Western Ontario Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)[16]
 Ontario Fall 2003 York University Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)[17]
 Ontario 2004 Queen's University Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)[18]
 Ontario 2004 Algoma University Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)[19]
 Ontario 2004 Laurentian University Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)[20]
 Ontario 2005 Ryerson University Doctorate[21]
 Ontario Spring 2005 University of Windsor Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)[22]
 Quebec 29 May 2006 McGill University Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.)[23]
 Ontario 2006 Nipissing University Doctor of Education (D.Ed.)[24]
 Ontario 2008 OCAD University Doctorate[25]
 Ontario 2013 Carleton University Doctorate[26]
 Ontario 10 June 2016 University of Toronto Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)[27]
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2015)

Honorific eponyms

Awards

Bibliography

See also

References

  1. ^ "St. Paul's College to install James Bartleman as honorary chair". University of Waterloo. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Tributes pour in for 'proud' Rama FN member, James Bartleman". Orillia News. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  3. ^ Gloria Galloway and Paul Koring (5 May 2007). "How one warning ricocheted through government". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 10 March 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
  4. ^ "I warned RCMP days before Air India disaster: Bartleman". CBC News. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
  5. ^ "RCMP, CSIS knew of threats to Air India: documents". CBC. 6 May 2007.
  6. ^ Les Whittington, "Rae didn't talk about attack with Bartleman", "Toronto Star", 7 May 2007.
  7. ^ "Frontier College – Home".
  8. ^ Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario: The Honourable James K. Bartleman, O.Ont., 27th Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario Archived 13 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Mr. Bartleman's battles".
  10. ^ "Former Ontario Lt.-Gov. James Bartleman dies". CHCH. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Richard Wagamese wins Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature". Quill & Quire, 3 October 2013.
  12. ^ High Commissioner James K. Bartleman, Public Service at National Aboriginal Achievement Awards
  13. ^ "The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient". Gg.ca. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  14. ^ "Appointments to the Order of Canada". 20 September 2017.
  15. ^ "The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient". Gg.ca. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  16. ^ http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/senate/honorary/honorary_degrees_by_year.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  17. ^ "Honorary Degree Recipients | University Secretariat". Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  18. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ^ "Algoma Home Honourary Degrees". Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  20. ^ "Laurentian University | Honourary Doctorates". Laurentian.ca. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  21. ^ "Honorary Doctorates – Convocation – Ryerson University". ryerson.ca. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2015.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. ^ https://www.mcgill.ca/secretariat/files/secretariat/hon-alph_2.pdf[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ "Honorary Degree Recipients | Nipissing University". Nipissingu.ca. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  25. ^ "Honorary Alumni – Our Alumni – Alumni – OCAD U". Ocadu.ca. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  26. ^ "James Bartleman Receives Honorary Doctorate from Carleton University". Newsroom.carleton.ca. 26 September 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  27. ^ "#UofTGrad16: Diplomat and literacy leader Hon. James Bartleman". 30 October 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  28. ^ Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario & the Central Agencies I&IT Cluster, Customer Solutions Delivery Branch. "The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario – Recent Lieutenant Governors". Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Bartleman.
Government offices Preceded byHilary Weston Lieutenant Governor of Ontario 2002–2007 Succeeded byDavid Onley Diplomatic posts Preceded byGary Richard Harman Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Cuba 1981–1983 Succeeded byKenneth Bryce Williamson Preceded byVernon George Turner High Commissioner to Cyprus 1985–1990 Succeeded byMichael Dougall Bell Preceded byVernon George Turner Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Israel 1986–1990 Succeeded byMichael Dougall Bell Preceded byGordon Scott Smith Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council 1980 Succeeded byAdmiral John R. Anderson Preceded byArthur C. Perron High Commissioner to South Africa 1984–1987 Succeeded byLucie Geneviève Edwards Preceded byArthur C. Perron High Commissioner to Mauritius 1998 Succeeded byLucie Geneviève Edwards Preceded byArthur C. Perron High Commissioner to Namibia 1998 Succeeded byLucie Geneviève Edwards Preceded byBrian Schumacher High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands 1999 Succeeded byJean T. Fournier Preceded byArthur C. Perron High Commissioner to Swaziland 1999 Succeeded byLucie Geneviève Edwards Preceded byArthur C. Perron High Commissioner to Lesotho 1999 Succeeded bySandelle D. Scrimshaw Preceded byEstablished Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Palau 1999 Succeeded byJean T. Fournier Preceded byBrian Schumacher High Commissioner to Australia 1999–2000 Succeeded byJean T. Fournier Preceded byBrian Schumacher High Commissioner to Vanuatu 2000–2002 Succeeded byJean T. Fournier Preceded byEstablished Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Marshall Islands 2000–2002 Succeeded byJean T. Fournier Preceded byBrian Schumacher High Commissioner to Nauru 2000–2002 Succeeded byJean T. Fournier Preceded byEstablished Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Micronesia 2000–2002 Succeeded byJean T. Fournier Preceded byJean-Pierre Juneau Head of Mission to the European Community 2000–2002 Succeeded byJeremy Kinsman
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