Michel Trudeau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michel Trudeau
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Trudeau in 1998
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| Born |
Michel Charles-Émile Trudeau
October 2, 1975 |
| Died | November 13, 1998 (aged 23) Kokanee Lake, British Columbia, Canada
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| Alma mater | Dalhousie University |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Trudeau family |
Michel Charles-Émile Trudeau (born October 2, 1975 – died November 13, 1998) was the youngest son of a former Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau. He was also the younger brother of Canada's current Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Michel sadly passed away in an avalanche on November 13, 1998. This happened while he was skiing in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.
Michel Trudeau's Early Life
Michel was born in Ottawa, Ontario. He was partly named after his grandfather, Charles-Émile. Friends and family often called him Miche, and later he started going by Mike. Michel grew up in Ottawa. After his father stopped being Prime Minister in 1984, his family moved to Montreal. There, he was a classmate of Sophie Grégoire, who later married his brother Justin.
During summer breaks, Michel and his brothers went to Camp Ahmek. This camp is on Canoe Lake in Algonquin Provincial Park. Michel later worked there as a camp counsellor. He studied at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf before going to Dalhousie University. At university, he studied microbiology. In 1977, his mother, Margaret Trudeau, talked about her sons. She said Michel was a happy and well-adjusted child. She felt he had the best traits of both his brothers.
A Tragic Accident
Michel Trudeau died on Friday, November 13, 1998. He was 23 years old. He had been working at Red Mountain Resort for about a year. He was living in Rossland, British Columbia at the time. Michel was on a backcountry skiing trip with friends. They were in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.
During the trip, an avalanche swept him into Kokanee Lake. He was not able to reach the shore. His friends tried to help him, but they could not rescue him. Michel drowned in the lake. A large search began, but his body was never found. The lake is very high up, and its waters are only open for a few days each year. This made it impossible for divers to finish the search. The Trudeau family decided to stop the recovery efforts. Later, they built a chalet nearby as a memorial to their youngest son.
A special type of rose was named after Michel. It is called the "Michel Trudeau Memorial Rosebush." Betsy Dening, a British Columbia horticulturist and Michel's aunt, discovered this rose. It was first shown at the World Rose Festival in 2010. Money from selling these rosebushes helps the Canadian Avalanche Foundation.
