MEDIA ADVISORY

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario to visit Trent University

Honourable J.K. Bartleman to speak on mental health issues

NOVEMBER 4, 2002

The Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, will be at Trent University’s Symons campus November 7, 2002 as part of a panel discussion for the Native Studies Department’s annual lecture series, the Pine Tree Talks.

The lecture, hosted by Trent’s Native Studies Department in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association, will feature Mr. Bartleman in discussion with other panelists, Michael Degagne of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and Native Studies Professor Shirley Williams. The talk is entitled "Legacies of the Past, Aboriginal Mental Health for the Future."

Bringing the experiences of his distinguished, multicultural career to Trent, Mr. Bartleman has many insights to share at the Pine Tree Talk on November 7. The primary focus of his talk will be Aboriginal mental health. He will discuss personal mental health challenges he has faced and how those challenges have shaped his advocacy role in the realm of mental health.

A member of the Mnjikaning First Nation, Mr. Bartleman became the province’s 27th Lieutenant Governor in March of 2002. He has worked for more than 35 years as part of the Canadian Foreign Service, and has served as ambassador in Israel and Cuba, high commissioner in Cyprus, Australia and South Africa, ambassador to the North Atlantic Council of NATO and ambassador to the European Union. From 1994 to 1998 Mr. Bartleman was foreign policy advisor to the prime minister and assistant secretary to the Cabinet for Foreign and Defence Policy, Privy Council Office. He has also served in senior positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and opened Canada’s first diplomatic mission in the newly independent People’s Republic of Bangladesh in 1972.

Mr. Bartleman recently published a book called Out of Muskoka and will sign copies of his book for members of the University community and the public following the panel discussion. Proceeds from the sale of Out of Muskoka will benefit the National Aboriginal Scholarship Foundation for scholarships for Aboriginal youth.

Event hosts will include Janice Bowen, chair of the board of directors for the Peterborough chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association; Reid Morden, chair of Trent University’s Board of Governors; and Bonnie Patterson, president of Trent University. Also attending will be Mark Graham, executive director of the Peterborough chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association, and David Newhouse, chair of Trent’s Native Studies Department.

This event is free and open to the public and begins at 2:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of Champlain College.

Schedule of Events for Lieutenant Governor James K. Bartelman’s Visit to Trent • November 7, 2002

2:15 p.m. Arrival and media interviews: Senior Common Room Champlain College
2:30 p.m. Pine Tree Talks panel discussion on Aboriginal Mental Health for the Future
4:00 p.m. Book signing and reception
4:30 p.m. Departure

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For more information, please contact the David Newhouse, Chair of Trent University’s Native Studies Department at 748-1011, ext. 1466, or Mark Graham, Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Peterborough Branch at 748-6711 ext. 211.