Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Photo: 1993 AP file

October 18, 1919 - September 28, 2000

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Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport

When Pierre Elliott Trudeau was Prime Minister, Canadians could be assured of least one thing: he was noticed. Wherever he went in the world, he shone. He had more charisma than all the politicians of his time combined. When Mr. Trudeau spoke, people listened. When he smiled, the world smiled with him. You couldn't help it. His magnetic personality made it impossible to keep your eyes off him. "Trudeaumania" was real. When he first became Prime Minister in his early forties, he really was like a superstar. He was young, single, vibrant, charismatic and absolutely brilliant. The world became his stage.  

Regardless of what he said and did, he always did it with class and intensity. During the October Crisis of 1970, when he invoked the War Measures Act during the FLQ crisis, CBC reporter Tim Ralfe asked Mr. Trudeau how far he would go to keep law and order. Mr. Trudeau said "Just watch me". Everyone did.

He did more for Canada and Canadians than many will ever begin to understand. The fact that one could come to Canada, became a citizen, be treated with dignity and respect, and still maintain their own culture in addition to  gaining a new one, is what makes Canada one of the best countries in the world. Pierre Trudeau was greatly responsible for that. Were it not for him, Canada would be more divided than it is, or maybe even gone by now. His passing is somehow reminding everyone of the vision: that we can be as great as we want to be. He opened the doors to the world before the global village was even conceived. He believed in human rights, justice and freedom. And he did everything with tremendous panache.

I know firsthand how generous Mr. Trudeau was. I was visiting a homeless shelter one day and was chatting with the director, when we got the news that Mr. Trudeau's contributions had arrived. It was a truckload of valuables from his personal collection, to be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the shelter.  Apparently, this was a common occurrence. It never made it to the papers because he kept his generosity anonymous. I'm fortunate to have two (2) paintings from Mr. Trudeau's personal Art Collection, and they mean a great deal to me. One of them is shown at the bottom of this page.

This is just a small glimpse into the greatness of Pierre Elliott Trudeau. When he retired from politics, he returned to practicing law. Montrealers could often spot him walking to work along Pine Avenue, Sherbrooke Street and other streets downtown in his cape, trademark red rose on his lapel, and hat. He was easy to talk to and fun to be with, and always left a lasting impression. He was a magnificent figure, bigger than life. 

He was a superstar, a legend in his own time. He will be sorely missed. But his spirit - that magnanimous all encompassing joie de vivre - will live forever. He made us better people, just by being who he was.

Au revoir, Mr. Trudeau, and thank you. You will always be loved.

WOW to you!

Carmen Colombo

October 2000

Canada Post

Pierre Elliott Trudeau
Commemorative Stamp

Issue Date:  July 1, 2001 (Canada Day)

Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport

Montreal, Tuesday September 9, 2003

Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport was officially announced on September 9, 2003 as the new name of Dorval International Airport in Montreal. Although the new name is now officially in effect, the full transition be will take effect on January 1st, 2004.

Over the weeks when the news was announced, before the official change on September 9, Montrealers reacted. Some think it's a fantastic way of paying homage to a great man, who was Prime Minister of Canada for 16 years. Others think that it's the ultimate irony, since Mr. Trudeau wanted to shut down Dorval Airport in favor of Mirabel Airport, the famous white elephant. 

Since several years, Mirabel Airport, one of the most amazing, innovative and modern airports in the world, is home to cargo and charter flights only. What a colossal waste! 

Many movies have been filmed there, because nobody has a problem with crowds. You can run around in the buff at Mirabel Airport, and nobody would see you. Why? Because it's too far away from the city, too far from Downtown Montreal, where everything happens. Of course we all knew that way back in 1975, when it was built, and hundreds of people had their lands bought over or were expropriated. But the government of the time thought that making something so huge and amazing would attract people, even if it took them almost  3 times as long to get to their destination, once they arrived in Montreal.

Unfortunately, everybody is in a rush, so Mirabel became the "famous white elephant", as predicted by everybody before it was even in construction. We even discussed it in classes when I was in high school, and it was in the planning stages. Absolutely everybody was against it, but it was built. And it was beautiful. But it was empty, and now it's basically shut down. To give you an idea, imagine that you own an immense castle, but you live in one tiny closet. That's what Mirabel Airport is.

However, while Mirabel died a slow death, the new Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport has been expanding, modernizing, and still is. Everybody knew something was coming up, because when you change so much - it's basically a new beginning. 

And so it is. Dorval is no more. 

Welcome to PET! The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Montreal International Airport.