Alexandre Trudeau
Encyclopedia
Alexandre "Sacha" Trudeau (born December 25, 1973) is a Canadian
filmmaker and journalist, and second son of Canada's former Prime Minister
, the late Pierre Trudeau
, and Margaret Trudeau
.
. He graduated with a philosophy degree from McGill University
in 1997.
At birth, he was given the nickname "Sasha" (the Russian diminutive of Alexander) in recognition of his father's love of Russian literature and culture. The name also is linked to former Soviet ambassador to Canada and family friend Alexander Yakovlev
.
While attending McGill, Alexandre joined the Canadian Forces
as a Reserve Entry Scheme Officer at the Royal Canadian Hussars
reserve regiment in 1996. He trained at CFB Gagetown
, New Brunswick
and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, but released voluntarily before completing his training as an armoured
officer. Following graduation, he traveled to West Africa to produce his first documentary: Liberia, the Secret War (1998).
When Pierre Trudeau died in 2000, both Alexandre Trudeau and his older brother Justin Trudeau
returned to the public eye. Although Alexandre was visibly more reserved and quiet than his brother, his heightened public profile brought new attention to his work as a journalist.
In 2003, he was one of the highest-profile Canadian journalists covering the 2003 invasion of Iraq
, producing a documentary film for the CTV
program W5
, Embedded in Baghdad
.
In June 2005, Trudeau focused attention on what he said were the implications for civil liberties
in the Canadian government's use of security certificate
s to detain indefinitely, without trial, suspected terrorists based on secret evidence.
Trudeau offered to be a surety
for Hassan Almrei
, a Syria
n refugee held in a Canadian jail for four years without any charges being laid. Trudeau's appearance in court in support of Almrei resulted in front page coverage in the Toronto Star
and National Post
and major media attention being given to the security certificate issue for the first time. Trudeau's efforts were chronicled in his documentary "Secure Freedom." Almrei was ordered released under house arrest by a Federal Court judge on January 2, 2009. On December 14, 2009, he was further released and not considered a suspect anymore.
His most recent documentary "Refuge", produced in 2008, tells the story of the crisis in Darfur.
He was one of several children of former Prime Ministers who became Canadian media personalities between 1998 and 2001. The others were Ben Mulroney
, Catherine Clark
, and his own brother, Justin
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
filmmaker and journalist, and second son of Canada's former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, the late Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
, and Margaret Trudeau
Margaret Trudeau
Margaret Joan Sinclair Trudeau Kemper is the former wife of the late Pierre Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada.-Early years and marriage:...
.
Early life and education
The second of three children born to Pierre and Margaret Trudeau during Pierre's term in office, Alexandre Trudeau was a media sensation, just like his brothers, at the time of his birth. However, Pierre and Margaret tried as much as possible to protect their children from the public eye, and after Pierre retired as Prime Minister in 1984, he raised them in relative privacy in Montreal. Like his father and brothers, Alexandre studied at Collège Jean-de-BrébeufCollège Jean-de-Brébeuf
Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf is a private French-language educational institution offering secondary school and CEGEP college-level instruction in Montreal, Quebec. It is a co-ed establishment for students in their final year of secondary school and in college. It is boys-only in the first four years...
. He graduated with a philosophy degree from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in 1997.
At birth, he was given the nickname "Sasha" (the Russian diminutive of Alexander) in recognition of his father's love of Russian literature and culture. The name also is linked to former Soviet ambassador to Canada and family friend Alexander Yakovlev
Alexander Nikolaevich Yakovlev
Alexander Nikolaevich Yakovlev was a Soviet politician and historian who was a Soviet governmental official in the 1980s and a member of the Politburo and Secretariat of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union...
.
While attending McGill, Alexandre joined the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
as a Reserve Entry Scheme Officer at the Royal Canadian Hussars
The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)
The Royal Canadian Hussars is a Primary Reserve armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces. The unit is based in Montreal.-Lineage:...
reserve regiment in 1996. He trained at CFB Gagetown
CFB Gagetown
Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, referred to as CFB Gagetown is a large Canadian Forces Base located in southwestern New Brunswick.- Construction of the base :...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, but released voluntarily before completing his training as an armoured
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
officer. Following graduation, he traveled to West Africa to produce his first documentary: Liberia, the Secret War (1998).
When Pierre Trudeau died in 2000, both Alexandre Trudeau and his older brother Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James Trudeau, MP is a Canadian politician. He has represented the Montreal electoral division of Papineau in the Canadian House of Commons since 2008 as a member of the Liberal Party and currently serves as the party's critic for youth, post-secondary education, and amateur...
returned to the public eye. Although Alexandre was visibly more reserved and quiet than his brother, his heightened public profile brought new attention to his work as a journalist.
Documentary work
In the years following his father's death, Trudeau produced documentaries for Canadian television. Alexandre Trudeau attracted controversy in August 2006 for an article he penned praising Fidel Castro's Cuba.In 2003, he was one of the highest-profile Canadian journalists covering the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, producing a documentary film for the CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
program W5
W-FIVE
W5 is a Canadian news magazine television series produced by CTV News. The program is currently initially broadcast Saturday nights at 7 p.m...
, Embedded in Baghdad
Embedded In Baghdad
Embedded In Baghdad is a 2003 documentary created by Alexandre Trudeau for the CTV Television Program W-FIVE. It documents Trudeau's experience before, during, and after the US Bombing Campaign with the A-Saadi family, a middle class family living in Baghdad.-External Links/References:*...
.
In June 2005, Trudeau focused attention on what he said were the implications for civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
in the Canadian government's use of security certificate
Security certificate
In Canadian law, a security certificate is a mechanism by which the Government of Canada can detain and deport foreign nationals and all other non-citizens living in Canada...
s to detain indefinitely, without trial, suspected terrorists based on secret evidence.
Trudeau offered to be a surety
Surety
A surety or guarantee, in finance, is a promise by one party to assume responsibility for the debt obligation of a borrower if that borrower defaults...
for Hassan Almrei
Hassan Almrei
A Syrian, Hassan Ahmed Almrei arrived in Canada in 1999 claiming refugee status. He has been since held, and accused of terrorist connections and ideology, for his "reputation... for obtaining false documents", and his relationship with Ibn al-Khattab following time shared together during the...
, a Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n refugee held in a Canadian jail for four years without any charges being laid. Trudeau's appearance in court in support of Almrei resulted in front page coverage in the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
and National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
and major media attention being given to the security certificate issue for the first time. Trudeau's efforts were chronicled in his documentary "Secure Freedom." Almrei was ordered released under house arrest by a Federal Court judge on January 2, 2009. On December 14, 2009, he was further released and not considered a suspect anymore.
His most recent documentary "Refuge", produced in 2008, tells the story of the crisis in Darfur.
Public life
Currently, Trudeau is President and Chief Producer at Jujufilms. He and girlfriend Zoë Bedos became the parents of a son, Pierre-Emmanuel Trudeau, on December 22, 2006, and a daughter, Gala Simone Trudeau, on December 24, 2008. He is also a director of the Trudeau Foundation for excellence in social sciences and humanities research and innovation.He was one of several children of former Prime Ministers who became Canadian media personalities between 1998 and 2001. The others were Ben Mulroney
Ben Mulroney
Benedict Martin Paul "Ben" Mulroney is a Canadian television host, and is the son of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.-Early life:...
, Catherine Clark
Catherine Clark
Catherine Jane Clark is a Canadian television broadcaster, and the daughter of former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark and Maureen McTeer.-Life and career:Clark was born in Ottawa, Ontario...
, and his own brother, Justin
Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James Trudeau, MP is a Canadian politician. He has represented the Montreal electoral division of Papineau in the Canadian House of Commons since 2008 as a member of the Liberal Party and currently serves as the party's critic for youth, post-secondary education, and amateur...
.
External links
- Alexandre (Sacha Trudeau) faces the world - Globe & Mail profile written by Sarah Hampson.
- Alexandre Trudeau Interview on The Hour with George StroumboulopoulosGeorge StroumboulopoulosGeorge Mark Paul Stroumboulopoulos is a Canadian television and radio personality, best known as the host of CBC Television's George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight and being a VJ for Canadian music television channel MuchMusic...
- Le nouveau Trudeau: Little PET weighs in at 7 pounds 4 ounces - Globe & Mail article written by Jane Taber