Trudeaumania at Gyro Park

Lcocal critics of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau might look at Monday’s whistle stop in Penticton as an early campaign stop or a glorified photo-op.

I thought it was great — and so did the several thousand people who jammed into the cosy confines of Gyro Park.

Whatever your political stripes, it was a marvelous opportunity for the community. It was a chance for people to take their families to the park and get a glimpse of Canada’s prime minister and his wife.

When I was seven or eight, Trudeau’s father was in my hometown for a few hours. Our grade school got hold of the PMO and we all paraded outside to watch the prime minister’s limo drive down the street on its way from Point A to Point B. It slowed down in front of the school and Trudeau Sr. waved from a window. The memory has stuck with me, even though it lasted a grand total of 20 seconds.

Strategically, Penticton could be perceived as a waste of time for a high-ranking Liberal. The Grits finished third in South Okanagan-West Kootenay last time (but were only 1,110 votes behind the second-place Conservatives). Three elections ago the Liberals were fourth in Penticton.

For years, party leaders bypassed Penticton during campaigns because it was always a foregone conclusion the Conservatives would win.

Trudeau’s visit certainly won’t hurt the cause for whoever the Liberals choose to run in SO-WK.

The largest crowd ever seen at Gyro Park in at least a decade (even beating a free concert by Michael Burgess) waited patiently.

Suddenly, a piper played “Scotland the Brave,” and the usual BC Family Day dignitaries marched to the stage — Mounties, downtown VIPs, mayor, council, the MP and MLA, oh, and the prime minister of Canada.

The Trudeaus spoke for a combined four minutes, 45 seconds, but it was enough to engage the crowd. The PM then did what he does best, posing for selfies and high-fiving the crowd. He was particularly engaging with kids.

It’s unfortunate a few citizens went on hateful rants on social media attacking Trudeau, the person, not Trudeau’s ideas. Do the citizens of Penticton not want federal money coming into their riding?

This was clearly a tiny minority. A few protest signs and a pipeline protester quietly being dragged away by the cops, notwithstanding, it was a classy event.

Whistle stops, such as these, would be great whoever the prime minister happens to be. Stephen Harper and Paul Martin weren’t known for attending these kind of events. It’s actually a bit risky as they’re often a magnet for protesters and boobirds.

Of the 5,162 cities, towns and villages in Canada, it was nice the Trudeaus chose to include Penticton.

—James Miller, Valley Editor

How often can your kids see the PM in Penticton?