Troy Shantz
As a filmmaker and journalist, Alexandre “Sacha” Trudeau says he has his father to thank for his love of exploring far-off places.
“My brother followed in my father’s footsteps as a politician, I followed his footsteps as the lone traveller of the wild places and the rare places of the world,” he said.
The son of the late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Alexandre Trudeau applied his inherited desire for adventure to his latest book: Barbarian Lost, book he’ll present at The Holiday Inn in Point Edward on Sept. 21.
The event is a fundraiser for the Organization for Literacy in Lambton.
Barbarian List is written from the perspective of a traveller. Through it, Trudeau explores the hidden cultures and codified history of China – a country he has been fascinated with since his youth.
Under Pierre Trudeau, Canada became one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, and brother Justin, the current prime minister, returned to Beijing last week seeking to “reset” the relationship between the two countries.
“China is such an important player in the world right now that it needs to be understood by people who want to understand how the world works right now,” Trudeau said.
“It’s especially important to Canada; it’s our 2nd biggest trading partner. Good relations to China are important to our economy.”
Trudeau describes Barbarian Lost as a travel book, which he hopes will make China’s culture, economy and role in the world more understandable to those who read it.
“I’m really trying to get to the heart of why China is the way it is.”
As a filmmaker and journalist, Trudeau has long immersed himself in the settings of his documentaries, exploring subjects in the Balkans, Africa and Middle East.
Though coming from a famous political family, Trudeau is confident he has something to offer through his storytelling.
“That’s who I am: I love the real stories of real people and real places. I love getting to them, finding them – which are not easy to find, and weaving them in a way which is fun and easy to read.”
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Showcase Literacy presents Alexandre “Sacha” Trudeau
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
WHERE: The Holiday Inn, 1498 Venetian Blvd., Point Edward
TICKETS: $25, available at The Book Keeper, Northgate Plaza, and Organization for Literacy in Lambton, Lochiel Kiwanis Centre, 180 College Ave.