Event Summary:
The Honourable James Bartleman
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
18 April, 2007
McMillan Binch Mendelsohn
Summary by
Josh S Bowen
Director of Conference Academics, Peace and Conflict Society
Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies University of Toronto
In front of the backdrop of a breathtaking view from McMillan Binch Mendelsohn's 44th floor conference room, Lieutenant Governor James Bartleman humbly offered his reflections on his 35-year career as a Canadian diplomat and his life in general. The Lieutenant Governor started by telling the audience of his childhood in Port Carling, Ontario, growing up "on the margins" of the Muskoka town. A member of the Mnjikaning First Nation, his family came from the lower class, often discriminated against because of his First Nation's status. From a very young age, his father instilled in him a sense of social justice and a love of reading. His grandfather echoed the push to read and coupled it with a need for the future Lieutenant Governor to "experience the world." These influences and devotions remain a strong part of Mr. Bartleman's character today.
Upon graduating from university, Mr. Bartleman worked for the British Council as a hall porter guiding visitors and answering their questions. This was a detail that was somewhat altered on his application to Foreign Affairs as the title of "Information Officer" sounded so much more impressive. This little white lie, combined with his veracious love for history, started Mr. Bartleman's 35-year career as a diplomat which took him to six continents, multiple posts as Ambassador, and an appointment as a top advisor to Prime Minister Chrétien.
Lieutenant Governor Bartleman highlighted his childhood experience of "living on the margins of society" as being a formative experience that helped him in his career as a diplomat. A diplomat "lives outside the society he is supposed to write reports on," something that most people are not used to. Anecdotes of his love for adventure, something he found in ample supply with Foreign Affairs, were mixed with a frank an honest account of personal experiences with racism and mental illness. Mr. Bartleman claimed that he was not sure if he made much of a contribution over his 35-year career, however he did say that he "happened to be in the right place at the right time" on more than one occasion; getting small pox vaccinations into Bangladesh to stop an outbreak is but one example. The Lieutenant Governor's humble and frank discussion of his career was a true testament to his character.
His experiences in Foreign Affairs pushed him to focus on his current priorities as Lieutenant Governor. Humbly, Mr. Bartleman stated that appointment as Lieutenant Governor gave him "a new lease on life." His own experience with mental illness and childhood marginalization have caused him to focus on raising awareness about persons living with mental illness in Ontario and the importance of literacy. His literacy programs have brought over 2.1 million books to native communities across the province as well as establishing 36 literacy camps. Enthusiastically, Mr. Bartleman stated that all of the programs he has started will continue for 5 years after he leaves his post as Lieutenant Governor in July, 2007.
Asked about what his plans are after his term as Lieutenant Governor is up in July, Mr. Bartleman responded with his usual humility that "something will come along."
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