A photo showing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second from right, at a 2001 costume party — his hands and face blackened with makeup — was published by Time magazine Wednesday. It says it was published in the yearbook from West Point Grey Academy, a private school in Vancouver, B.C., where Trudeau worked as a teacher before entering politics.
Here’s what we know so far about Trudeau’s ‘Arabian Nights’ evening in brownface and the Vancouver school where it happened
A West Point Grey Academy 2001 newsletter recounts the evening where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, then a teacher, wore a turban and painted his face, hands and feet brown.
A photo showing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second from right, at a 2001 costume party — his hands and face blackened with makeup — was published by Time magazine Wednesday. It says it was published in the yearbook from West Point Grey Academy, a private school in Vancouver, B.C., where Trudeau worked as a teacher before entering politics.
VANCOUVER—The evening started at 6 p.m. with guests entering through a “cascading” red tent.
That’s according to a 2001 school newsletter from Vancouver’s West Point Grey Academy in which 29-year-old Justin Trudeau, then a teacher, is photographed at an “Arabian Nights”-themed gala, wearing a turban, with his face, hands and feet painted brown.
Trudeau taught French and math at West Point Grey Academy, a private school, located on an 18-acre lot overlooking the ocean in an affluent Vancouver neighbourhood.
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“As the ballroom doors opened, two belly dancers emerged, dancing around the marketplace auction and escorting people into the lavishly decorated ballroom — rich fabrics, glittering trinkets on the table,” the newsletter recounts of the event which, 18 years later, has sparked a scandal that threatens to derail the Liberal leader’s re-election campaign, despite two days of public apologies by Trudeau.
On the night of the fateful event, there were more than 350 auction items displayed in the foyer and people were eager to start the bidding. There was a master of ceremonies who greeted all the guests.
“As the exotic meal was being served, the live auction began with items ranging from the ever-popular parking spots to fabulous vacations,” the newsletter said. “Later on, the music started, and as usual our parents and teachers rose to the occasion by filling the dance floor.”
The event wound down by roughly 1 a.m. and raised approximately $160,000, which the newsletter said would benefit the “school life of students in all grades.”
Based on the 2001 school yearbook, which included the picture of Trudeau wearing “brownface” makeup published by Time magazine, the future prime minister appears to have been a well liked teacher.
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The yearbook, filled with pictures of teams, clubs, students and teachers, lists Trudeau as a staff member and head of the newspaper club. Among a list of questions in the “Grad Poll” — which included “Best Hair” and “Most School Spirit” — is one for “Biggest Crush on Mr. Trudeau.”
Layne Moore, who attended West Point Grey Academy as an elementary student from 1996 to 1999, recalled learning during a schoolwide assembly that Trudeau would be coming to the school, and that everyone was told to treat him as they would any other teacher.
Moore only had a handful of classes with Trudeau before she transferred to a nearby public school. But she recalls her time as his student with great enthusiasm.
“When I had him, he was right up my alley. He was super energetic.”
Founded by four families in 1996, West Point Grey Academy was envisioned as “a progressive” option for an area that, at the time, had no other coed schools.
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The school today has 940 students in junior kindergarten to Grade 12 with a ratio of eight students per teacher, according to its website. The average student-teacher ratio for Vancouver public schools is 18 students to one teacher. Current tuition fees at the school range from $21,780 for younger students to $23,490 for students in Grades 8 to 12.
On Thursday night, the school issued a statement saying that the 2001 gala had been organized by a “culturally diverse group of parent volunteers” and that it was “intended to be celebratory and respectful.”
“That said, we recognize cultural sensitivities have evolved over the past 18 years,” said spokesperson Megan MacMillan. “We appreciate the concerns that have been raised, as they align with our own values and commitment to inclusion and equality.”
“At West Point Grey Academy, we strive to provide school programming, activities and events that are progressive and inclusive,” the Thursday statement said.
In a 2000 interview with The Canadian Press, Clive Austin, headmaster at the academy, was asked about Trudeau potentially having a future in politics.
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“His future, as far as I’m concerned, is here,” Austin said. “If he leaves the teaching profession, there will be a lot of children who will miss out on his enthusiasm and love for life. On the other hand, he could make as great an impact on the country as his dad did.”
With files from Cherise Seucharan
Melanie Green Melanie Green is a former reporter for Star Vancouver.
