Love him or hate him, Pierre Trudeau was unquestionably the strongest Canadian political persona of the past half century. Passionate but cerebral, reserved but visceral, private yet theatrical, Trudeau's personality was an enigma, which garnered more attention than his policies, both in his homeland and internationally.

The Trudeau government marched with and in many ways spirited a change in Canadian political attitude. He told Canadians that " the state had no place in the bedrooms of the nation" and his government re-shaped the Canadian Criminal Code.

When asked how he would deal with terrorism in Quebec during the October crisis, he responded "Just watch me", proceeded to invoke the War Measures Act, and called upon the Canadian army to crush the FLQ revolt.

He antagonized Western Canadians with the National Energy Program and inspired them by bringing home the Constitution and entrenching the Charter of Rights.

He danced with princesses and dated movie stars. He was declared by Chatelaine magazine to be one of the 10 sexiest men of the world at age 67.

Perhaps the most important legacy of Canada's 15th Prime Minister is that he left Canadians more connected to their country, more confident in their potential, more courageous in dealing with their challenges, and more determined to discover the "Canadian Just Society".