The Perfect Gentleman Issue 9 - Christmas | Page 19

The Generational Magic of
Trudeau Style
Back in 1968, a craze swept over Canada and
then the entire world, when a dapper young
lawyer took the leadership of the Liberal party
and became Prime Minister of Canada. Pierre
Trudeau was the man in Canada’s highest office
with electrifying charisma and a stylish image
that the world fell in love with. Trudeaumania
began in the late 1960s and encapsulated the
spirit of the times.
The Prime Minister (PM) wore capes and floppy
hats, donned his signature red rose in his lapel,
hob-nobbed with the world’s elite politicians,
and dated famous entertainers like Barbara
Streisand and Margot Kidder. He danced, he
laughed, he made faces. Pierre Trudeau gave
Canada a strong national identity and brought in
constitutional independence from British
Parliament; reformed and updated laws for
divorce, abortion, and homosexuality. Canada
loved him. The world fell under his spell

John Lennon and Yoko Ono with
Pierre Trudeau, December 22, 1969
Photo: Duncan Cameron Library
and Archives Canada PA-110805

According to Canada History, “Trudeau
instantly made dull Canadian politics accessible
and exciting. Trudeau was "cool."” It seems that
the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Over 45 years later, Trudeau’s eldest son, Justin,
stepped into his father’s stylish political shoes.
The younger Trudeau won the Liberal
leadership and became Canada’s 23rd Prime
Minister on a platform of cutting middle class
taxes, assisting students, boosting child care
benefits, gender inclusion, and equality among
all people. Trudeau formed Canada’s first
gender-balanced cabinet upon being elected
because, as he said, “It’s 2015”.

by Leah Morrigan

The Perfect Lady

19