Justin Trudeau, the current Prime Minister of Canada, does have siblings. Trudeau has two brothers named Alexandre and Michel, and he also has a sister named Sarah. Trudeau comes from a prominent Canadian political family. His father, Pierre Trudeau, served as Prime Minister of Canada for over 15 years between 1968 and 1984. With his father being such an influential political figure in Canadian history, there has been significant interest in Justin Trudeau’s family background and upbringing. Understanding the details of Trudeau’s siblings can provide insight into his early life experiences and family dynamics.
Justin Trudeau’s Brothers
Justin Trudeau has two younger brothers, Alexandre and Michel.
Alexandre (Sacha) Trudeau
Alexandre (also known as Sacha) Trudeau was born on December 25, 1973 in Ottawa, Canada. He is currently 49 years old. Sacha has largely stayed out of politics and public life. He is a journalist, filmmaker, and author. Some of his works include documentaries focused on international political issues, such as The New Great Game, which explores the geopolitical struggle between the major powers in Central Asia. In 2016, Sacha published a memoir titled Barbarian Lost: Travels in the New China. The book chronicles his motorcycle journey through China and his observations on the country’s culture and politics. Sacha has two children with his ex-wife Zoë Bedos. He maintains a relatively low profile and stays out of the spotlight, in contrast to his older brother Justin’s very public political career.
Michel Trudeau
Michel Trudeau was born on October 2, 1975 in Ottawa, making him the youngest of the Trudeau sons. He is currently 47 years old. Like Sacha, Michel has avoided the political spotlight. Michel is an entrepreneur and businessman based in Montreal. He worked for several years in the Circus arts community, co-founding the flying trapeze school Les Échassiers. Michel later transitioned into managing and owning restaurants in Montreal. He married Christine Sinclair in 2007 and they have four children together. Michel maintains an especially low public profile among the Trudeau siblings. He rarely makes public appearances or statements, instead focusing on his business and family life away from politics.
Justin Trudeau’s Sister
Justin Trudeau has one younger sister, Sarah Trudeau.
Sarah Trudeau
Sarah Trudeau was born on March 28, 1973 in Ottawa, Canada. She is currently 49 years old. After graduating from McGill University, Sarah focused on a career in broadcast journalism and public speaking. She spent over a decade working as a reporter and producer for CTV, covering stories across Canada and internationally. Sarah later transitioned into being a professional public speaker and youth advocate. She frequently gives talks and presentations at schools, conferences, and events. Her speaking topics focus on youth issues, mental health, equal rights, and education. Sarah married Jason Kemper in 2000 and they have two children. She is involved with several charitable organizations and serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Of the Trudeau siblings, Sarah has the second highest public profile after Justin due to her journalism career and speaking engagements. However, she still maintains more privacy than Justin and does not seek out media attention.
Early Life and Upbringing
Justin Trudeau and his siblings grew up with great privilege, but also under intense public scrutiny. Their father Pierre’s position as Prime Minister from 1968 to 1984 meant the Trudeau children were raised at the center of Canadian politics. However, their parents tried to provide them with some semblance of a normal childhood. The Trudeau kids attended public schools while growing up in Ottawa. Their parents emphasized education, hard work, Catholic values, and time spent appreciating nature and the outdoors. At the same time, Justin and his siblings had to grow accustomed to RCMP security, constant public attention, and heavy media coverage at times. Their parents’ marriage and family life were also very frequently in the news and gossip columns.
The Trudeau siblings were exposed to high-profile political activities and meetings from a young age, with visits to 24 Sussex Drive and travels abroad with their father. Yet Pierre and Margaret also made sure their children developed strong bonds with each other, spent time in private family retreats, and went on canoe trips away from the public eye. The siblings were often shielded or removed from stressful political events when possible. But the ongoing ambitions of their father meant politics played an integral role in their upbringing. Justin in particular was actively mentored by Pierre for future public service. This mix of privilege, siblings bonds, public attention, and high ambitions shaped the Trudeau children’s distinctive upbringing.
Siblings’ Relationships and Dynamic
By most accounts, Justin continues to have a positive relationship and stays in touch with his brothers Sacha and Michel as well as his sister Sarah. However, there are also unavoidable tensions and sibling rivalries within the prominent family. Justin’s high-profile political success likely creates difficult dynamics at times.
All three of Justin’s siblings have consciously avoided seeking major publicity or political power. They lead relatively quiet lives focused on family and their own careers. This contrasts Justin’s very public role leading Canada’s federal government. There are likely complex emotions involved for the siblings regarding jealousy, resentment, pride, or competitiveness. However, the siblings do generally support one another. During Justin’s first election campaign in 2015, Sarah provided public relations advice while Sacha and Michel made low-profile appearances at Trudeau events. The siblings also cooperated on a documentary about their father, Pierre, released in 2020. They gave joint interviews discussing family memories.
The fact that Alexandre, Michel, and Sarah have all turned down opportunities to run for public office suggests some desire to step out of Justin’s shadow. But their shared upbringing likely also bonds the siblings together. Having grown up in the public eye, the Trudeaus understand pressures and challenges in a way few can relate to. Overall, there appears to be a complicated but functional dynamic between Justin and his lesser-known brothers and sister. They maintain connections and support, while still handling the disparities in fame and ambition between them.
Conclusion
In summary, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau does have siblings—two brothers, Alexandre and Michel, and a sister, Sarah. Trudeau had a unique upbringing as the oldest child of Pierre Trudeau, which informed his path into politics. His brothers and sister have taken a different route, avoiding the public spotlight and carving out careers away from the world of government. The four siblings remain in contact as adults, but also handle underlying competitiveness and jealousy. While Justin embraced and exceeded his father’s towering legacy, the careers and families of Alexandre, Michel, and Sarah reflect their effort to find identities of their own. The different directions pursued by Pierre Trudeau’s children provide insight into the influences and privilege of their shared origin story.