It was the ultimate photo assignment..Flown into BC's famed Bugaboos mountain range by helicopter to cover the prime minister's ski trip..But not any prime minister — this was Pierre Trudeau, and Trudeaumania, is we called it then, had taken the nation by storm..My good friend Randy Hill, who served as photo editor at the Albertan, the Calgary Sun and the Calgary Herald before retiring a few years ago, had his Nikon 35mm in hand, ready for the challenge..He would find out that Trudeau, then still a bachelor, was an accomplished skier. He was also friendly and engaging, and they would get along well..His big splash onto the political scene had earned him rock star status — garnering major media attention around the world..From the staid leadership of men like John Diefenbaker and Lester B. Pearson, Canada suddenly had a head of state with a flamboyant personality..A flashy dresser who dated starlets —Barbra Streisand, Kim Cattrall, Margot Kidder and blonde bombshell guitarist Liona Boyd — he was extremely intelligent and formidable.. Trudeau and CattrallTrudeau and Cattrall .A street fighter who didn't back down..We would find the latter out, big-time, during the FLQ crisis. "Just watch me," he brazenly said to a journalist, who questioned him for using the War Measures Act..And then there was his appearances at New York's uber glam nightclub, Studio 54..The original Studio 54 was only open for 33 months, and in that time it became one of the most infamous and exclusive clubs.. Trudeau and StreisandTrudeau and Streisand .But let's go back to the Bugaboos, where my friend Randy was called upon to photograph Canada's dashing leader for several media outlets..An interview/photo date was set at the Bugaboo lodge, where dinner was to be held. Randy's newlywed wife, Karen, would also be in attendance..Both of them were aware of Trudeau's rock star status, and so, looked forward to what would likely be a memorable evening with the youngish PM..But when the agreed upon time came, Pierre was nowhere to be seen ... half an hour later, still no Pierre ... one hour later, still no Pierre ... finally, an apologetic PET did show up..He had just returned from a nap, following a busy day of skiing, and instantly picked up on Karen's body language. Let's face it, nobody likes to wait an hour at a table, for another dinner guest — even if he is a world leader..Trudeau would immediately break the ice: "Come Mrs. Hill, don't look so bored."."No, we just had to wait so long," she responded, to which Pierre apologized, saying he was "really sorry" for the wait..Despite the rocky start to the evening, they hit it off well, and had an eventful dinner. Randy found him very down to earth. He also got some great photos that weekend, and, I believe some of them went national..To Randy's shock, he and Trudeau had a common interest — Mercedes-Benz sports cars..Trudeau owned a gorgeous white Mercedes 300 SL Roadster. Randy's father owned a 300 SL Gull-wing — a very rare vehicle..The PM's eyes widened. "Oh my God, you are kidding me!" he said, enthusiastically..Randy explained from whom his dad bought it from, and the ever sharp politician responded, "I know about that car!".The friendship was sealed — just two guys, talking about cars. No other media, just Randy, Karen and Trudeau..After the dinner, they shook hands. Trudeau said, "It was so nice to meet you ... Oh, are you going to Calgary (tomorrow)?"."Yes, of course" he said, trying to be polite as possible, but thinking in the back of his mind, "Yeah, right, as if this guy cares!".Fast-forward to Calgary, where Trudeau was set to appear at a political gathering. Randy remembers a wall of lenses and video cameras — everybody was there, he said..Trudeau's black limousine pulls up, followed by a phalanx of police vehicles.."I was just this jerky little guy, with a Nikon 35mm camera, surrounded by all these big and expensive news cameras," he said..Trudeau, wearing his trademark flower in his lapel, stepped out of the limo, and had a quick look around. He spotted Randy, and made a beeline for him — ignoring the mass of media in attendance..Reaching out to shake Randy's hand, he offered, "Hi Randy, it's really nice to see you. I really enjoyed our chat yesterday.".Randy was floored. Absolutely floored..Suddenly, all the the media horde and their lenses turned their attention to Randy.."Obviously, they must have been thinking, what is going on here? Who is this guy?" Randy admits..Here was this man, a world leader with a rock star glow, remembering him, and seemingly treasuring their convo.."An incredible man," Randy recalls..Now, there are some men and women, who are destined for greatness. People like T.E. Lawrence, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, to name a few..People who make history. Who seize history..To quote the great T.E. Lawrence, who pioneered the art of guerrilla warfare during the Arab famed Revolt:."All men dream; but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds Awake to find that it was vanity; But the dreamers of day are dangerous men. That they may act their dreams with open eyes to make it possible.".It is then unfortunate, that Canada's current Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has none of the attributes of his father..Besieged with scandals, a lightweight on foreign affairs, a disaster when it comes to the economy and an adversary to the nation's oil & gas industry with his pie-in-the-sky climate targets, not to mention gross overspending during the pandemic and the Freedom Convoy fiasco, it is clear he was in over his head from Day One..There are those who say, he rode his Dad's coattails into the PMO ... and not without promise. At first, he seemed a refreshing change from the tight-fisted control of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper..Alas, hindsight is always 20/20..Oh, to have a leader that is more interested in stabilizing our economy ... and, maybe bringing some fairness to the table when it comes to Western issues..A bit of honesty would help too..And stop killing our O&G industry. Help us, don't hamper us..Funny socks are just that, funny. Politics is a serious business and the pretenders, along with the weak, are weeded out quickly and brutally..A few years after Randy's Bugaboo assignment, Pierre Trudeau would marry Margaret Joan Sinclair, and, have their first child, Justin. A child who also had a destiny..Assigned to cover a prime ministerial visit to Calgary with Maggie and Justin in tow, Randy would ask Pierre a small favour.."I asked if they would swing Justin between them, as they walked to their jet," he said..Trudeau said, sure, and once again, Randy had the photo of the day.."I'm sure he did that just for me," he said of the gesture. "I'm sure of it.".Some men can inspire, offering the certainty of bold achievement, and with it, hope for the future..And some men can't. Sadly, that's just the way it goes.
