The man with the famous name who’s vying to be Canada’s next Prime minister will be in Nelson on the weekend.
Justin Trudeau will be at Lakeside Park on Sunday around 5 p.m. as he and his family make the local stop while vacationing in Western Canada.
“He’s vying to be the next prime minister of Canada and he’s there to shake hands and greet and meet people,” said Dan Ashman, the Southern Interior Liberal Riding Association president.
A non-political low-key event will be more about family time than campaigning though the key figure in Canadian politics is available to the public.
“If people want to meet Justin Trudeau, he’s definitely approachable,” said Ashman. “He’ll be having coffee and ice cream with his kids. He’ll be there with Sophie and his children.”
Prominent Canadians appearing in the isolated Kootenays clearly garner attention and Ashman sees it as good for the area and the politician.
“Human curiosity is that if people have the chance to meet, who in fact could be the next prime minister of Canada, that’s a good thing. And to see him in a non-political setting while he’s with his family — He’s not going to have a suit and tie on. I can guarantee that,” said Ashman.
Trudeau is charismatic and sure to attract the younger generation needed to continue political process into the next era, said the riding association president.
The Trudeau family has close ties to the West Kootenay and British Columbia. Justin’s brother Michel Trudeau died in an avalanche at Kokanee Glacier Park in November 1998. His body was never recovered from Kokanee Lake.
Michel lived in Rossland for one year. Their mother Margaret Kemper’s family is also from the Lower Mainland.