Wednesday August 1, 2007 ◆ PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR - 21 Crowds, fanfare mark the opening of James Bartleman Island Park BY MATT DRISCOLL Special to the North Star

PORT CARLING - There was a marching band, a flotilla of antique boats, dignitaries from throughout the area, and in the middle of it all was the pride of Port Carling: James Bartleman. On a warm Saturday morning throngs of well-wishers crowded Island Park in the middle of the village to watch as it was officially renamed James Bartleman Island Park. Mr. Bartleman is a member of the Mnjikaning First Nation who grew up in Port Carling, before spending 35 years in Canada’s foreign service. He was later named Lieutenant- Governor of , where he championed causes such as anti-racism, mental health and literacy among people. Mr. Bartleman is also an accomplished Matt Driscoll photo author having penned the novels Out Matt Driscoll photo James Bartleman and his wife Marie-Jeanne take a ride in a steamship during celebrations of Muskoka and Raisin Wine, both James Bartleman thanks the large crowd that showed up in Port Carling on in Port Carling on Saturday that marked the official naming of James Bartleman Island memoirs of a boyhood in and around the Saturday to witness the official naming of James Bartleman Island Park. Park. village of Port Carling. Mr. Bartleman’s other books, On Six island, stopping to shake the many hands of friends history. former Legion building were a few of the other Continents: A life in Canada’s Foreign Service and and strangers alike. “Our hearts are bursting with pride,” he said. recollections of the island that Mr. Bartleman Rollercoaster are about his life in the foreign service Glowingly “These are special moments in the history of shared with the crowd. Muskoka.” and his time as Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s A crowd gathered near a recently unveiled “The village of Port Carling and the First Nation Mr. Bartleman, with his mother Maureen, and his diplomatic adviser. plaque bearing the park’s new name, and mayor of Mnjikaning are the two places closest to me,” wife Marie-Jeanne by his side, accepted the honour Mr. Bartleman arrived with all the pomp and Pryke spoke glowingly of Mr. Bartleman. said Mr. Bartleman. “I’ve written two full books on with typical wit. ceremony of a conquering hero, as he landed aboard To have a local resident ascend to such a high Port Carling . . . I think I’ve squeezed it pretty dry “I thought they were going to name the dump an antique steamboat at the head of a flotilla of position is a source of pride for Port Carling, she for stories.” road after me,” he quipped. classic wooden watercraft. said. Mr. Bartleman thanked everyone who had come Mr. Bartleman said Port Carling and Island Park The convoy was greeted at the docks by native “The lieutenant governor’s kindness and to help him celebrate, before entering the crowd to both hold a wealth of memories for him. drumming and guests of honour including MP Tony generosity have brought great honour to our have his picture taken and sign copies of his books. “As a child, this park was the centre of life for the Clement, MPP Norm Miller, Mayor of Muskoka community,” said Ms Pryke. The hundreds of people in attendance were also children of the village, both native and non-native,” Lakes Susan Pryke and District of Muskoka chair Gord Adams echoed her sentiment, saying he treated to storytelling, a barbecue, bake sale, and he said. Gord Adams. could think of no better tribute than the renaming the music of the Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Seeing the premier and playing pool in the Mr. Bartleman slowly made his way around the of a park that has been integral to Port Carling’s Secondary School Dixieland Band. Work not over for outgoing lieutenant-governor

BY JULIA KILPATRICK ridiculed him because of his aboriginal understanding and tolerance, and well as mental health and anti-racism promoting libraries as honourary chair Special to the North Star heritage, and his family was ostracized to publicize the needs of some of the initiatives. In establishing the book of the Ontario Association of Librarians, because of his father’s eccentricities. province’s most vulnerable people. drive, literacy camps and reading has mobilized nine out of 18 colleges in The Hon. James K. Bartleman has He became familiar with the damaging “I have spoken in hundreds and clubs, he has forged partnerships with the province to support literacy camps had a full term as lieutenant-governor, effects of racism and poverty, until the hundreds of schools throughout the librarians' and teachers’ associations, in the north, and is about to be named attending roughly 550 events per year, generosity of a wealthy benefactor province on the need for society not to with politicians and leaders of civil chancellor of a university. conducting hundreds of interviews opened the way for him to leave Muskoka tolerate the racism that was socially society, and with native communities In his free time, he will be working and signing thousands of letters of best to pursue a first-rate education. acceptable when I was growing up as a across the country. on his fifth book, a novel with a social wishes to on significant Mr. Bartleman graduated with a child in Muskoka, and to try to banish “What we have done in Ontario is now justice theme set in , birthdays and anniversaries. It has all BA in history from the University of it as much as possible,” Mr. Bartleman being looked at as a model to be followed and spending time with his family at his been part of his role as the Queen’s Western Ontario, and later embarked said. across Canada,” Bartleman said. new home in Perth, Ontario. representative, but it has only been the on a 35-year career in the foreign service. He also travelled frequently to First He has also become an outspoken “It has been a very full five years,” Mr. beginning. He served in a variety of roles in New Nations communities in the north, advocate for mental wellness, speaking Bartleman said. “Probably the highlight “To occupy such a position is a York, Columbia, Ottawa, , where living conditions are often grim as openly about his struggle with depression has been that I’ve met so many good really exceptional opportunity,” Mr. , Peru, the Caribbean, , a result of poverty, unemployment and a and the need for increased awareness people. In this job, you don’t meet nasty Bartleman said. “But I felt that unless , and shortage of teachers, learning tools and and understanding. people — you meet the heroes of society holders of the vice-regal jobs . . . were to before returning to this country and educational facilities. “I was always candid right from the . . . people helping out other people.” become involved in social justice causes being offered the position of lieutenant- In 2004 he started a book drive to supply beginning,” Mr. Bartleman said. “I While it’s the ordinary people who and to work to help the disadvantaged governor of Ontario in 2002. schools and libraries in the north with think in general it’s a very deep-rooted made the most lasting impression on in society, and the groups which are “To be named lieutenant-governor adequate reading materials. More than phenomenon in society — people who Bartleman, the outgoing lieutenant- not fully included in society, or who are came as a complete surprise,” Mr 2.1 million books have been collected to struggle with depression and other governor also made a lasting impression discriminated against, then the office Bartleman recalled. Upon returning date through the program, which has illnesses have to come forward.” with the people who lived and worked will lose relevance.” from a visit to Senegal with his wife received the support and participation When he steps down from his role alongside him throughout his term. During his term as vice-regal, Mr. Marie-Jeanne and their son Alain, of the incoming lieutenant-governor and as the vice-regal representative, Mr. “Each lieutenant-governor has their Bartleman espoused three main causes: Bartleman received a call asking if he the governor general. Bartleman will continue to promote own style, and his has been a James combating the stigma of mental illness, would accept the role, appointed by the “Enormous quantities of books were mental wellness, literacy and racial K. Bartleman style,” said Col. Sandy ending racial intolerance and promoting prime minister, just a few days before the recycled from the hands of people who justice. Cameron, Mr. Bartleman’s chief aide- the welfare of aboriginal youth. Those announcement was made public. had loved their books and finished with He has agreed to serve on the board de-camp. “He moves very easily, as issues arose as priorities, he said, out of “It came about very fast, but I didn’t them, into the hands of people who could for the Centre for Addiction and you’ve noticed, amongst people, and he his tumultuous youth in Port Carling in have to think much about it,” he said. “It’s never afford to buy a book,” Bartleman Mental Health, a prominent national remembers people. He has not become the 1940s and early 1950s. a job you would never say no to.” said. organization that supports research, haughty — he’s earned the position and Mr. Bartleman grew up with a free- Instead, Mr. Bartleman threw himself The author of four bestselling books, health promotion, treatment and policy he’s made a wonderful vice-regal person spirited labourer father and a practical fully into his new role, using it as Mr. Bartleman contributes some of development related to mental wellness. and the Queen’s representative. He’s Ojibwa mother. As a child, his peers a platform from which to promote the royalties to promote literacy as In addition, he plans to continue going to be missed.” United Church yard and bake sale PUTTING OUR HAND UP BY AL & LESLEY LAST News from FOR THE COMMUNITY. Camp Dogwood North will be hosting this year’s event from Friday, MCKELLAR September 14, to Sunday, September 16, at Camp Manitou. This will be a euchre and the winners were: first, Don three-day fun-filled weekend for dog Johnston, 313; second, Rhoda Bailey, enthusiasts and their canine friends. 312; and third, Doreen Fretz, 306. You can participate in activities such Bea Charron won the Share the as: agility, search and rescue, tellington Wealth and Ruby Reid the Call "I". touch, dock diving (new this year), free Marg Beamish had the hidden score style dance, and obedience, to name of 169. Moonshots were made by: Tom a few. You can participate in various Lesley & Al Last Phipps, Evelyn Phipps, Ken Woehl, events over the weekend. Brochures Robert Walker, George Beck, Maggie are available at the McKellar library lone hands by Jack Smith. Holdenby, Eileen McDonald, Terry and you can contact Jean Kingston at A reminder that the Hurdville Hall Wiseman and Rhoda Bailey. There will 705-389-2676 for more information. will be hosting a pancake breakfast on be no bid euchre on Sunday, August 5, The Township of McKellar is hosting August 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the but will resume at 4 p.m. on August 12. the McKellar Artisan Festival on Hurdville Hall, 493 Hurdville Road. Everyone is welcome. Saturday, August 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 There will be a yard sale and bake The next Rama trips are: on August p.m. (rain day is August 12). sale at the Dunchurch United Church 8, leaving McKellar at 10:30 a.m. and This event will be held at Minerva's on Saturday, August 4, from 8 a.m. to Parry Sound at 11 a.m.; and August Mill Pond Park, along Highway 124, noon. There will also be a barbecue 22, leaving McKellar at 4:15 p.m. and in the village of McKellar. Parking is beginning at 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Parry Sound at 4:45 p.m. Call Mary Ann available across the highway at the The Near North Outdoors Club Beck for more information 389-2512 or roads department yard. is hosting its sixth annual marine 389-2899. Come to shop among the beautiful poker run on Lake Manitouwabing, Don't know what to do on a Tuesday Watch every month as we get answers work of our local artists. Many artists Sunday, August 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 night? Come to bingo at the McKellar are expected – with a wide array of p.m. The top prize is a 50/50 split and Community Centre at 7 p.m. All to the questions on the mind of the community art such as pottery, painting, stained there are numerous other prizes. For proceeds go to the West Parry Sound glass, woodworking, and much, much, information you can call 746-1555 or Health Centre. by interviewing local newsmakers. more! 389-3309. We miss some of our regular There will be live musical A reminder to contact Gerald Bell members. Hope to see you soon and Hosted by Parry Sound North Star Editor Jack Tynan. entertainment, and a barbecue is being if you know of any veterans, from the stay healthy. hosted by the McKellar Volunteer Fire McKellar area, who participated in Money for the shopping trip to Erie A Multimedia program available on Department. World War I or World War II. Gerald Pennsylvania, Dirty Dancing and If you have any questions about is collecting names of your friends, Niagara Falls are now due. TVCogeco Channel 13 and online at parrysound.com this event, please contact Councillor relatives and family members for a If you have news to report in the For more information or to suggest a future guest Tamara Black at 705-389-2842. memorial in McKellar. Please contact McKellar area, please contact Al or contact the ‘Star’ Office 705-746-2104 [email protected] Here are the results of the Hurdville Gerald by home phone at 705-389-2840, Lesley Last at 389-1786 or last@vianet. Hall euchre night last week: high man, or in writing to Gerald Bell, RR#1, ca. Please note that we will be on brought to you through the partnership of Gerry Schmidt; low man, Gordon (last Parry Sound, ON, P2A 2W7. vacation from August 4 to 18 and will name not known); high lady, Vivian On Sunday, July 22 at 4 p.m. the return to McKellar news on the week Smith; low lady Mildred Tait; and most McKellar Senior Citizens Club held bid August 20. Enjoy the summer!