Who is Justin Trudeau, Canada’s new prime minister

Canada’s newly-elected prime minister is no stranger to the official residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa. Justin Trudeau grew up there, one of three sons of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. His maternal grandfather, James Sinclair, was also a politician serving in Liberal governments in the 1940s and 50s.

As a child, Trudeau says he knew little about what his father did for a living, other than that he was “the boss of Canada.” In his memoir, Trudeau says he had a difficult relationship with mother Margaret Sinclair. She says she never really fit into life at 24 Sussex and was often away, leaving the boys in the care of their father.

Second-youngest prime minister

At 43 years old, Trudeau is the second-youngest person elected to be prime minister, although he has been a member of parliament since 2008. He has served nearly twice as long as his father had before he became prime minister in 1968. He is now married and has three young children.

The Conservative regarded Justin Trudeau as a light-weight and launched a series of attack ads contending that he “was just not ready” to be prime minister.

Trudeau a bouncer, teacher

His bio includes snowboarding instructor, a bouncer at a night club, a high school teacher, and chair at a youth volunteer program. He made national headlines working with the Canadian Avalanche Association after his brother Michel died while hiking in a provincial park in 1998.

He was also in the national spotlight when he gave the eulogy at his father’s funeral in 2000.

Justin Trudeau has a person fortune valued at $1.2 million, most of it inherited from his father and some of it from speaking engagements.

‘Just not ready’ proven wrong

Pollsters had Trudeau running third in popularity among leaders at the beginning of this long election campaign. The low expectations about his performance may have helped him enormously, drawing surprise and attention when he turned out to be an energetic, telegenic and effective campaigner.