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“Are you going to vote for me?” he
asked me in 1969 at the National Arts Centre at a fancy affair
about a year after he had been elected Prime Minister. My answer
was a blunt no and he wanted to know why.
I explained that I was not long enough in the country to be able
to vote, but even if I could I would not vote for him. “Why?”
“Because a politician
elected by screaming women who throw roses at him is suspect.”
He laughed hard and asked me my name and a few other
particulars. We exchanged a few more remarks about speeches
being sometimes boring, and that night there were speeches
galore, besides a great performance. We went back to our
respective seats and that was that.
I did not think about it anymore until a couple of years later,
when the next federal election was coming up and I was invited
by one of the big corporations (Famous Players Theatres) for
whom I had designed wall carpets, to attend this rally in his
honour. If I recall correctly this took place in the Royal York
Hotel. I was circulating, and suddenly there he was also
circulating in the opposite direction from me. I recall exactly
what happened next. I suddenly felt I was being followed and
turned around, and there he was, looking at me, saying my name! He was complimenting me and asking me how come I was not
walking, but gliding, and I answered: “Like the Russian dolls”,
thinking of the Ukrainian dancers that appear to be gliding
rather than dancing and the Russian doll I had won on the
Alexander Pushkin, the Russian ship we came to Canada with. He
laughed that famous carefree laugh of his, and we renewed our
brief encounter in Ottawa two years earlier. I was astounded at
his amazing memory. He recalled every detail and also wanted to
know if I would now vote for him…still not being able to do so I
answered: “I would be more inclined to do so now.”
That night I was driven home in a limo courtesy Mr. Trudeau. The
window curtains in our middle class neighborhood, (we were
living across from a house that was occupied not too long before
then by the last Canadian executioner) were moving frantically
to see how Sybille got home that night. That street had seen a
lot, since I was also a model and performer at the time and
often had occasion to be driven home in fancy cars or had
flowers delivered by some adoring fan. But that’s another story.
 Let’s go on with the Trudeau saga, one that took place just
recently, when an editorial board was called by Multimedia Nova
Corporation. Justine Trudeau arrived punctual, on time, and
relaxed minus a jacket in the boardroom of said company and
walked around to every attending editor/reporter, shook their
hand and responded freely to all sorts of remarks.
 Clearly the young man was really welcome by this small crowd of
professionals from various backgrounds. Each one was given a
turn to ask a question and he always answered with eloquent
words, to the point and from the heart. No matter what the
concern was it became very clear that his vision is precise, one
might even say idealistic; but that is something this cold and
calculation world with its business attitude of tit for tat
needs.
 Anyone who would say things like: “We have to bring hope back to
the people, here and abroad, that is what will help handle
problems…quell terrorism…not military or a few more guns, like
the current ‘regime’ (tongue in cheek) seems to think…Working
with the people of the arctic, isolating problems, doing more
research is going to win the day and beyond…not the quick
solutions of gifts and divisive actions, which might bring a
short term gain only to be lost in the future…”
 Such was the tenor of his presentation. He is not surprised by
the cynicism people hold for politics and politicians. He says
that young people in his experience want to participate, they
want to do something important, and they know there is a lot of
work to be done. But as long as politicians behave the way they
do, as in yelling at each other in the capital, they are staying
away, knowing that in such a way nothing gets accomplished and
they do not want to play like that.
Does he believe in the Liberal Party’s leader Mr. Ignatieff?
Yes, he does.
 Does he see himself as a future Prime Minister of Canada? Who
knows? He does not know what the future will hold, but he will
not avoid any challenges, should they come. For now he is happy
doing what he is doing as the MP for his Papinaeu riding in
Montreal, and as his party’s critic for multiculturalism and in
questions of youth. Having worked with youth as a teacher he is
eminently suited to the latter position and his generosity of
heart, his upbringing and his believe in a Canada that can make
a difference in the world make him also ideally suited to defend
the rights of all the people of Canada.
 Ever since I heard the eulogy at his father‘s memorial service I
wanted to meet him and tell him of my encounter with his father.
Well, I did, and he said that he loves hearing those stories.
I hope there will be many more stories to tell about him in the
future, to which we wish him good fortune!
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
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