Contender

Is Justin Trudeau the saviour of the Liberal Party of Canada? Will he one day be prime minister? As the son of one of Canada’s most popular prime ministers, Trudeau was never far from the political spotlight, but in recent years, the MP for Papineau has sought it out. Now he’s running to take charge of the party his father once led.

The Huffington Post Canada’s Ottawa bureau chief Althia Raj spoke to family, friends, confidants and Trudeau to document his journey. She traces his path from Ottawa, where he grew up under the glare of the national spotlight, to his years living in relative obscurity in Montreal and Vancouver, to the eulogy at his father’s funeral, which thrust him back into the public eye. In the past year, Trudeau has been more visible than ever, from a pivotal boxing match to the leadership campaign, where the 41-year-old candidate has become its top contender. Raj paints the most detailed portrait of one of Canada’s most intriguing political figures.