news flash !!! Mt. Trudeau

One of our Ottawa reporters phoned in an hour and a half ago that this was coming down the pipes and here you go ... the news before it hits the street ...

Mount Logan, the highest peak in Canada, will be renamed Pierre Elliott Trudeau Mountain, Prime Minister Jean Chretien announced Wednesday.

Chretien recalled visiting the mountain with the former prime minister, saying the two of them wanted to climb it but “we didn’t have enough time to do that. We needed training.

“Some have done it, going three-quarters of (the way) in helicopters. But you know Mr. Trudeau — he said if we do it we’ll do it the only way, we’ll start at the bottom and go to the top.”

The mountain is located in Kluane National Park in Yukon — a park that was created when Trudeau was in power and Chretien was minister responsible for federal parkland.

Chretien, who made the announcement as he emerged from a cabinet meeting, said he had advised Sacha Trudeau, the former prime minister’s son, who was “extremely pleased with the decision.”

The Logan name, which honoured the first director of the Geological Survey of Canada, will be transferred to another mountain in the region. Chretien’s announcement scooped plans by the British Columbia government to name a mountain after the Trudeau family in the Kootenays near the spot where Trudeau’s youngest son Michel died in an avalanche.

Tourism Minister Ian Waddell said plans were in the works to name a Mount Trudeau in honour of the former prime minister and his son in a ceremony next month.

The B.C. NDP government was originally considering naming the mountain Mount Michel Trudeau, but the death of Michel’s father prompted a second look, Waddell said.

Waddell said the mountain would symbolize the deep connection Trudeau and his family have with British Columbia.

Trudeau’s former wife Margaret is from Vancouver and his eldest son Justin, 28, is a teacher in Vancouver. Sacha, 26, lives in Montreal. Michel worked at a ski resort in the Kootenays before his death and the former prime minister, an avid skier, took to the slopes in Whistler. Michel Trudeau died at age 23 after an avalanche swept him into Kokanee Lake, near Nelson. His body was never recovered, but family members have since said the picturesque lake with its surrounding mountains is a fitting resting place.

Friends of the former prime minister have said Trudeau never recovered from his son’s tragic death.

Waddell said members of the Trudeau family will be in the area in November to help raise money for a hiking cabin being built nearby.

This is a joke, right? Not like there is a shortage of unnamed peaks in Kluane park.

I'm sorry but Mt. Logan sounds more formidable. Don't you agree? I think it'd be more appropriate to rename a hill in Ontario/Quebec. Just my opinion.

Yeah, well I just heard that Mt. McKinley will be renamed Mt. Ronald Reagan. How about that? Foraker will become Mt. Nancy. The Republicans have taken

Not a joke at all. Check your newspaper tomorrow morning.

Why Logan instead of some obscure bump? In part to honour Trudeau's memory, I suppose, but a bit of political opportunism as well. Canada may be facing a federal election within the next two months. A gesture like this helps the reigning Liberals ride on the wave of grief that has swept the country since Trudeau's death.

Cheers, DH

There's a mount Logan in Quebec too. Maybe we should rename this one instead of renaming *the* Logan.

Cheers, Marc-André Giasson Charlesbourg, Qc

Yea...but there is only 'one' that is the highest...and because of simple human nature, that is the one that gets the attention...what famous politician would ever settle for being compared to some no name minor peak with absolutely nothing significant about it???? I'd love it, but is there really anybody in the political fray that could ever even think of themselves as being 'less' then the next politician??? And then, say...if they did accept the honor, the first thing the opposing party would have to do is get themselves named on any peak that was higher, simply to add insult to the injury...Politicians!!!...Don't cha just luv em???

The Rockrat...(Honorary member of the Klingon Party...)

Sorry...next election maybe...

The Rockrat...

Should this happen I will climb to the top of the nearest tall building,, cover myself in gasoline and light myself on fire as I jump into rush hour traffic.

God forbid.

Rob 'the ruined my day'

I will keep a warm thought for Maggie every time I utter the words 'Mount

These Canadians are like the Pharaohs of Egypt. The next one always had to build a bigger and better pyramid. So how often will the Canadians rename their mountains after the next favorite politician?