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JULY 22, 2013
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Vol. 61, Issue 141
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Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, got to know the folks of Cranbrook a little better at a meet-and-greet event, Sunday, July 21, in Rotary Park.
BARRY COULTER PHOTO
Trudeau has deep connection with Kootenays Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada stops in Cranbrook during summer vacation
BARRY COULTER
The leader of the Liberal Party of Canada made a stop in Cranbrook Sunday, July 21, turning Rotary Park into the local political event of the season. It was less about politics, however, than it was about a summer vacation for Justin Trudeau and his family, in a part of the world that in his own words is very dear to him and his family.
Trudeau got off a large RV Sunday afternoon to be greeted by Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Stetski, Cranbrook’s youth ambassadors Makenzie Yates and Alicia Leasak and an enthusiastic crowd of more than 150 people. The event was billed as a meet and greet, and Trudeau graciously waded into the crowd, signing autographs, getting his photo taken — meeting and greeting — be-
fore heading over to the bandstand for a quick speech. Trudeau was accompanied by his son Xavier, 6, and daughter Ella Grace, 4. His wife Sophie was feeling under the weather, Trudeau said, and wouldn’t be joining this particular event. His kids were happy to have a stopover in a park. After the event, before heading off to Nelson, Trudeau told the Daily
Townsman of the emotional connection he and his family have with the Kootenays. “This place is extraordinarily special to me,” he said. “It’s the place my brother chose to live his life. We didn’t know he’d leave us at 23, but everytime I come back here I feel close to him. I’ll be in Nelson (Sunday night), and hopefully up to visit him at the lake tomorrow.”
Justin’s youngest brother Michel died in November, 1998, when he was swept by an avalanche into Kokanee Lake in Kokanee Glacier Park. Michel was never recovered from the lake. “I’m just overwhelmed by the strength of spirit of the people who live here,” Trudeau said. “The friendliness, the welcoming, just the strength of community around here, and how they
came together to support my family after we lost our brother. “But also, in the following years, as I was more and more active with avalanche safety, I got to meet a whole bunch of people who were driven by the same love for mountains and strength of community leaning on each other.”
See TRUDEAU, Page 3