Michel Trudeau

Who was Michel Trudeau?

Michel Trudeau was the youngest son of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Margaret Trudeau.

Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he lived in Montreal and studied at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf before attending Dalhousie University to become a microbiologist.

Michel was killed in an avalanche while skiing at British Columbia's Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park on November 13, 1998; he was 23 years old. His body was swept into Kokanee Lake.

An extensive search was launched, but his body has never been found. The lake's high altitude and limited days of open waters each year prevented divers from completing the search. The Trudeau family called off the recovery and later created a chalet nearby as a memorial to their youngest son.

A varietal of rose discovered by Betsy Dening, a British Columbia horticulturalist and Michel's aunt, debuted at the World Rose Festival in 2010 as the "Michel Trudeau Memorial Rosebush". Sales of the rosebush benefit the Canadian Avalanche Foundation.

In honour of Michel, Justin Trudeau selected the date of what would have been his brother's 37th birthday - October 2, 2012 - to announce his bid for leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.