Chris Bentley

Chris Bentley was appointed Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities by Premier Dalton McGuinty in June 2005.

Mr. Bentley was elected to the Ontario legislature in October 2003 and previously served as the Minister of Labour.

He is a lawyer who has practised criminal and labour law. Since 1992, he has taught part-time at the University of Western Ontario Law School. He helped to establish the Law School Careers Office and has lectured at various continuing education courses for judges, crown attorneys, the police and defence counsel. He has also written a book on criminal law.

Mr. Bentley is active in the London community. He was on the organizing committee and was the first chairperson of Neighbourhood Legal Services London & Middlesex, a legal clinic established in London in 1985 to assist low-income clients.

He attended the University of Western Ontario and received his law degree from the University of Toronto Law School in 1979. He was called to the Ontario bar in 1981 and later obtained a master’s-level degree from Cambridge University in England.

Mr. Bentley has lived in London since 1967. He and his wife, Wendy, have two daughters. An avid runner, he has been a regular participant in the 24-hour relay to raise funds for London’s hospitals and has completed three Boston marathons.