James Bartleman was sworn in as Ontario's 27th lieutenant governor during a ceremony at Queen's Park on Thursday.

Bartleman was treated to a vice regal salute and a 15-gun salute fired by the 2nd regiment of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.

After Chief Justice of Ontario Roy McMurtry administered the oath of allegiance, Bartleman, flanked by his wife and three kids, spoke of his native roots growing up in the Lake Simcoe and Muskoka Lake area and how his aboriginal background has shaped him.

Born in Orillia, Ont., Bartleman's mother was a Mnjikaning native and his father white.

"I have never forgotten how normal it was considered, when I was young, to wound the children of minority communities with vulgar epithets and engage in racist bullying," Bartleman said.

"We must never cease to combat all the forms of discrimination and abuse that do remain."

Heritage Minister Sheila Copps brought greetings from Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

"Your wife, your family and the government of Canada are especially proud of you today," said Copps.

Bartleman's past posts include being Canada's ambassador to a variety of countries, including Cuba, Israel and South Africa.

"My passion for tolerance and diversity has been increased by the years I have spent abroad," Bartleman said.

Bartleman succeeds Hilary Weston, wife of wealthy grocery magnate Galen Weston, who formally departs the legislature on Friday.