Early Life
The oldest of three boys, Justin was raised speaking both French and English, growing up with the profound influence of his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and his mother, Margaret Trudeau. This background helped spark his passion for public service and shaped his conviction that diversity is Canada’s strength.
Justin earned a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from McGill University in 1994. He went on to complete the University of British Columbia’s education program, and spent several years teaching French, math, and other subjects in Vancouver.
Before Politics
Before entering politics, Justin served as the Chair of Katimavik, on the board for the Canadian Avalanche Foundation, and as an advocate for young people and the environment, speaking at events and conferences around the country. These experiences made it increasingly clear to him that the issues young Canadians care about – education, the environment, their generation’s economic prospects – needed a stronger voice.
Justin entered politics to make change that would better serve all Canadians. In 2007, he built a community-based, grassroots campaign to win the Liberal Party nomination in the Montréal riding of Papineau. He was elected in 2008, and re-elected in 2011, 2015, and 2019.
Liberal Leadership
Justin was elected Leader of the Liberal Party in April 2013. His leadership campaign focused on building a new, truly national movement of progressive Canadians, bringing hundreds of thousands of Canadians into politics, most for the first time. He worked closely with his team to build a plan to create jobs, grow the economy, and strengthen the middle class. With Justin’s leadership, the Liberal plan emphasized economic opportunity for everyone, respect for and promotion of equality and diversity, and strong action to address climate change and the environment.