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The Honourable James Bartleman speaking at the YPI/Leaders Today Event at the Carlu in Downtown Toronto

James Karl Bartleman KStJ, O.Ont (born 24 December 1939, in Orillia, Ontario) is a Canadian diplomat, author, and was the 27th Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario from 2002 to 2007.

James Bartleman grew up in the Muskoka town of Port Carling, and is a member of the 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.

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 what was then known as the Department of External Affairs (now the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade) in 1967. In 1972 he was given the task of opening Canada’s first diplomatic mission in the newly independent People’s Republic of Bangladesh . He was then made Canada's Ambassador to Cuba (Havana) from 1981 to 1983. Upon his return from Cuba, he was appointed as director of security and intelligence for the Department of External Affairs. ^[1] After this, Bartleman 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.

Bartleman was director of security and intelligence for the Department of External Affairs at the time of the Air India Bombing. On May 3, 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. ^[2] Bob Rae later admitted that he never bothered to interview Bartleman, the former head of intelligence for Foreign Affairs Canada while investigating the Air India bombing.^[3]

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 First Nations 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.^[4]

• On June 1, 2002, he was invested as a Knight of Justice in the Order of St John
• On June 1, 2002, as Lieutenant-Governor he received the Order of Ontario and became the Order's Chancellor.
• Bartleman was awarded the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for public service in 1999.
• The Dr. Hugh Lefave Award
• The Courage to Come Back Award
• The Deloitte Hero Inspiration Award
• The Jane Chamberlin Award for his efforts to reduce the stigma of mental illness.
• The Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year Award
• The DAREarts Cultural Award in recognition of the Lieutenant Governor's Book Program.

• University of Western Ontario
• York University
• Laurentian University
• Queen's University
• University of Windsor
• Ryerson University
• McGill University
• Nipissing University

James Bartleman is the first member of a First Nation to hold a vice-regal office in Ontario.

• Out of Muskoka (2002)
• On Six Continents (2004)
• Rollercoaster: My Hectic Years as Jean Chrétien's Diplomatic Advisor (2005)
• Raisin Wine: A Boyhood in a Different Muskoka (2007)

• Monarchy in Canada
• Monarchy in Ontario

• Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario Official Site
• Vice-regal Badge of Service
• James Bartleman on The Hour

• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada diplomatic history

v • d • e Lieutenant Governors of Ontario

Post-Confederation (1867-present) Stisted • Howland • Crawford • D.A. Macdonald • J.B. Robinson • Campbell • Kirkpatrick • Gzowski • Mowat • Clark • Gibson • Hendrie • Clarke • Cockshutt • Ross • Mulock • H.A. Bruce • Matthews • Lawson • Breithaupt • MacKay • Rowe • W.R. Macdonald • McGibbon • Aird • Alexander • Jackman • Weston • Bartleman • Onley Province of Canada (1841-1866)* Clitherow • Jackson • Bagot • Metcalfe • Cathcart • J. Bruce • E.W. Head • Monck Upper Canada (1791-1841) Simcoe • Russell • Hunter • Grant • Gore • Brock • Sheaffe • de Rottenburg • Drummond • Murray • F.P. Robinson • Smith • Maitland • Colborne • F.B. Head • Arthur • Sydenham British Province of Quebec (1759-1791)* Amherst • Murray • Carleton • Haldimand • Carleton (2nd Time) * The Crown's representative from 1759 to 1791, and from 1841 to 1866 held the office and rank of Governor-General