Editing Pierre Trudeau (section)

== Personal life ==
=== Religious beliefs ===
Trudeau was [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] and attended [[Mass in the Catholic Church|Mass]] throughout his life. While mostly private about his beliefs, he made it clear that he was a believer, stating, in an interview with the ''[[United Church Observer]]'' in 1971: "I believe in life after death, I believe in God and I'm a Christian." Trudeau maintained, however, that he preferred to impose constraints on himself rather than have them imposed from the outside. In this sense, he believed he was more like a Protestant than a Catholic of the era in which he was schooled.{{sfn|Trudeau (1996)|pp=302–303}}

[[Michael W. Higgins]], a former president of Catholic [[St. Thomas University (Canada)|St. Thomas University]], researched Trudeau's spirituality and found that it incorporated elements of three Catholic traditions. The first of these was the [[Society of Jesus|Jesuits]], who provided his education up to the college level. Trudeau frequently displayed the logic and love of argument consistent with that tradition. A second great spiritual influence in Trudeau's life was the [[Dominican Order]]. According to Michel Gourgues, professor at [[Dominican University College]], Trudeau "considered himself a lay Dominican".{{attribution needed|date=May 2016}} He studied philosophy under Dominican Father [[Louis-Marie Régis]] and remained close to him throughout his life, regarding Régis as "spiritual director and friend". Another element in Trudeau's spirituality was an appreciation for [[contemplation]] acquired from his association with the [[Benedictines|Benedictine]] tradition. According to Higgins, Trudeau was convinced of the centrality of [[Christian meditation|meditation]] in a life fully lived. Trudeau meditated regularly after being initiated into [[Transcendental Meditation]] by the [[Maharishi Mahesh Yogi]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Maharishi: The Biography of the Man Who Gave Transcendental Meditation to the World|last=Mason|first=Paul|isbn=1-85230-571-1|location=Shaftesbury, Dorset|oclc=31133549|year = 1994}}</ref> He took retreats at [[Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Quebec]] and regularly attended [[Liturgy of the Hours|Hours]] and Mass at Montreal's Benedictine community.{{sfn|Higgins, M. (2004)|pp=26–30}}

Although never publicly theological in the way of [[Margaret Thatcher]] or [[Tony Blair]], nor evangelical, in the way of [[Jimmy Carter]] or [[George W. Bush]], Trudeau's spirituality, according to Michael W. Higgins, "suffused, anchored, and directed his inner life. In no small part, it defined him."{{sfn|Higgins, M. (2004)|pp=26–30}} Prior to his career in politics and evident shift towards religion and to practicing Catholicism, Trudeau had been a [[secular humanist]] and worked as a board member of the [[Humanist Canada|Humanist Fellowship of Montreal]] until moving to Ottawa to necome an MP in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thewalrus.ca/the-morgentaler-effect/|work=The Walrus|title=The Morgentaler Effect|last=Sumner|first=Wayne|quote= He eventually joined the Humanist Fellowship of Montreal, a group that shared his commitment to rational inquiry and his disdain for religious dogma. One of its board members at the time was a certain Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and after he vacated his seat to move to Ottawa in 1965 the headstrong doctor was elected to replace him.}}</ref>

=== Marriage and children ===
Described as a "swinging young bachelor" when he became prime minister, in 1968,<ref>{{cite news |work = Vancouver Sun |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UJplAAAAIBAJ&dq=swinging%20young%20bachelor&pg=1398%2C2894663 |date = April 8, 1968 |access-date = February 1, 2013 |title = Liberal Right Wing Pushed Into Exile |page = 1 (photo caption) |quote = Swinging young bachelor, Canada's new prime minister-designate Pierre Trudeau signs autographs for youngsters during stroll on Ottawa street Sunday. He held press conference and attended memorial service for Martin Luther King. |archive-date = July 28, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728090348/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UJplAAAAIBAJ&dq=swinging+young+bachelor&pg=1398%2C2894663 |url-status = live }}</ref> Trudeau was reportedly dating [[Barbra Streisand]] in 1969<ref>{{cite news |agency = AP |title = Prime Minister Trudeau won't tell about date with Barbra |date = November 12, 1969 |work = Windsor Star }}</ref> and 1970.<ref>{{cite news |work = Milwaukee Sentinel |agency = AP |title = Barbra Visits Commons, Members Play to Gallery |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m9cpAAAAIBAJ&pg=5211,6206488&dq=streisand+trudeau |access-date = February 1, 2013 |date = January 30, 1970 }}{{dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bcgyAAAAIBAJ&pg=5817,2172460&dq=trudeau+streisand |title = Barbra—Act 2 |work = Ottawa Citizen |date = June 8, 1970 |access-date = February 1, 2013 |archive-date = July 28, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728090337/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bcgyAAAAIBAJ&pg=5817%2C2172460&dq=trudeau+streisand |url-status = live }}</ref> While a serious romantic relationship, there was no express marriage proposal, contrary to one contemporary published report.<ref>TVO, [http://backend.tvo.org/video/163439/author-john-english-his-book-trudeaujust-watch-me Video Interview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229135932/http://backend.tvo.org/video/163439/author-john-english-his-book-trudeaujust-watch-me |date=December 29, 2013 }} of [[John English (Canadian politician)|John English]] by [[Allan Gregg]], timecode 10:45</ref>

On March 4, 1971, while prime minister, Trudeau quietly married 22-year-old [[Margaret Trudeau|Margaret Sinclair]], who was 29 years younger, at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in [[North Vancouver (district municipality)|North Vancouver]].<ref>{{cite news|work=Ottawa Citizen|date=October 1, 2000|access-date=February 1, 2013|author=Christopher Guly|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/life/Archive+kept+Trudeau+biggest+secret/7781606/story.html|title=Archive: The man who kept Trudeau's biggest secret|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114180005/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Archive+kept+Trudeau+biggest+secret/7781606/story.html|archive-date=January 14, 2013}}</ref>

Belying his publicized social exploits, and nicknames like "Swinging Pierre"<ref>{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Tina |title=Crowds flock to greet Pierre Trudeau at Ōhakea |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/lifestyle/104530939/crowds-flock-to-greet-pierre-trudeau-at-hakea |access-date=September 13, 2020 |agency=Manawatu Standard |publisher=stuff.co.nz |date=June 9, 2018 |archive-date=June 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601112428/https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/lifestyle/104530939/crowds-flock-to-greet-pierre-trudeau-at-hakea |url-status=live }}</ref> and "Trendy Trudeau";<ref name="Litt">{{cite journal |last1=Litt |first1=Paul |title=Trudeaumania: Participatory Democracy in the Mass-Mediated Nation |journal=Canadian Historical Review |date=March 2008 |volume=89 |issue=1 |pages=27–53 |doi=10.3138/chr.89.1.27 |s2cid=154281706 |url=https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/abs/10.3138/chr.89.1.27?select23=&mobileUi=0&journalCode=chr |access-date=September 13, 2020 |archive-date=October 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015052142/https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/abs/10.3138/chr.89.1.27?select23=&mobileUi=0&journalCode=chr |url-status=live }}</ref> he was an intense intellectual with robust work habits and little time for family or fun. As a result, Margaret felt trapped and bored in the marriage, feelings that were exacerbated by her bipolar depression, with which she was later diagnosed.{{sfn|English (2009)|pp=242–43, 321, 389}}
[[File:Justint Pierre Elliott Trudeau (1).jpg|thumb|Trudeau's eldest son [[Justin Trudeau|Justin]] (23rd Prime Minister of Canada) at the age of 10, touring the [[Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille]] with his father on November 8, 1982]]
The couple had three sons: the first two, [[List of Prime Ministers of Canada|23rd]] Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau|Justin]] (born 1971), and [[Alexandre Trudeau|Alexandre]] (born 1973), were both born on Christmas Day two years apart. Their third son, [[Michel Trudeau|Michel]] (1975–1998), died in an avalanche while skiing in [[Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park]]. Trudeau and Margaret separated in 1977, and were divorced in 1984.{{sfn|Southam (2005)|pp=113, 234}}{{sfn|McCall (1982)|p=387}} He was involved with guitarist [[Liona Boyd]] for eight years during this time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liona Boyd Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/liona-boyd-mn0000145864 |access-date=November 24, 2023 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>

When his divorce was finalized in 1984, Trudeau became the first Canadian prime minister to become a single parent as the result of divorce. In 1984, Trudeau was romantically involved with [[Margot Kidder]] (a Canadian actress famous for her role as [[Lois Lane]] in ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman: The Movie]]'' and its sequels) in the last months of his prime-ministership<ref>{{cite news|work=Ottawa Citizen|date=April 29, 1983|access-date=February 1, 2013|agency=Canadian Press|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=66MyAAAAIBAJ&pg=3107,4381909|title=Dating Superman's girl Trudeau's major impact|author=Carl Mollins|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728090333/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=66MyAAAAIBAJ&pg=3107%2C4381909|url-status=live}}</ref> and after leaving office.<ref>{{cite news|work=Ottawa Citizen|agency=CP|title=Trudeau steals the spotlight at Montreal film premiere|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c6QyAAAAIBAJ&pg=3476,799386&dq=kidder|date=August 3, 1984|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728090333/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c6QyAAAAIBAJ&pg=3476%2C799386&dq=kidder|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1991, Trudeau became a father again, with [[Deborah Coyne|Deborah Margaret Ryland Coyne]], to his only daughter, Sarah.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/895866--pierre-trudeau-s-daughter-sarah-lives-under-the-radar|location=Toronto|work=The Toronto Star|first=Brett|last=Popplewell|title=Pierre Trudeau's daughter, Sarah, lives under the radar|date=November 24, 2010|access-date=April 6, 2012|archive-date=January 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124022108/http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/895866--pierre-trudeau-s-daughter-sarah-lives-under-the-radar|url-status=live}}</ref> Coyne later stood for the [[2013 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election]] and came fifth<ref name="Coyne">{{cite web |title=Deborah Coyne, mère de l'enfant illégitime de PET, sera candidate |url=http://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2012/06/27/deborah-coyne-mere-de-lenfant-illegitime-de-pet-sera-candidate |website=[[TVA Nouvelles]] |location=Montreal |date=June 27, 2012 |access-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402222904/https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2012/06/27/deborah-coyne-mere-de-lenfant-illegitime-de-pet-sera-candidate |url-status=live }}</ref> in a poll won by Justin.

Trudeau began practising [[judo]] sometime in the mid-1950s when he was in his mid-thirties, and by the end of the decade, he was [[Judo ranks and grades|ranked]] ''ikkyū'' (brown belt). Later, when he travelled to Japan as prime minister, he was promoted to ''shodan'' (first-degree black belt) by the [[Kodokan Judo Institute|Kodokan]], and then promoted to ''nidan'' (second-degree black belt) by [[Masao Takahashi]] in Ottawa before leaving office. Trudeau began the night of his famous "walk in the snow" before announcing his retirement in 1984 by going to judo with his sons.<ref>{{cite web |last = Nurse |first = Paul |title = Pierre Trudeau and Judo? |url = http://www.judoontario.ca/download.php?file=newsletters/newsletter_2009_07_06.pdf |work = The Gentle Way (Volume 6, Issue 4) |publisher = Judo Ontario |access-date = August 1, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130523053420/http://www.judoontario.ca/download.php?file=newsletters%2Fnewsletter_2009_07_06.pdf |archive-date = May 23, 2013 |url-status = dead }}</ref>