Margaret Trudeau
Margaret Trudeau, born on September 10, 1948, in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a notable figure in Canadian history, primarily known for her marriage to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and her advocacy for mental health awareness. She studied English literature at Simon Fraser University and first met Pierre while on vacation in Tahiti at age eighteen. They married in 1971, during Pierre's first term as prime minister, and had three sons together: Justin, Alexandre, and Michel. Margaret's struggles with mental illness, which included a misdiagnosis of postpartum depression, became public after their separation in 1977 and subsequent divorce in 1984. Her mental health challenges were compounded by personal tragedies, including the death of her son Michel, leading to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in 2001. In her later years, she has become an advocate for mental health, contributing to various initiatives and writing several books detailing her experiences, including "Changing My Mind" (2010). Margaret has also played a role in supporting clean water projects through her work with WaterCan. Today, she is recognized not only as a former First Lady of Canada but also as a resilient advocate for mental health awareness.
Subject Terms
Margaret Trudeau
Former First Lady of Canada
- Born: September 10, 1948
- Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia
Contribution: Margaret Trudeau is most famous for becoming the youngest first lady in Canadian history, following her marriage to the Canadian prime minister, Pierre Trudeau, when she was twenty-two. She was in the spotlight during her husband’s time in office and afterward for her wild behavior. She has suffered from bipolar disorder throughout her adult life and, after seeking help, became a mental health advocate.
Early Life and Education
Margaret Joan Sinclair was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, in September 10, 1948, to James Sinclair and Kathleen Bernard Sinclair. Her father was a politician who served as an official of the Liberal Party and a fisheries minister. She studied English literature at Simon Fraser University, in British Columbia.
First Lady of Canada
Margaret Trudeau first met Pierre Trudeau while on vacation in Tahiti when she was eighteen. He was minister of justice at the time. Pierre began pursuing Margaret after this meeting, and they were married on March 4, 1971. At the time of their marriage, Trudeau was already in his first term as the prime minister of Canada. He served as prime minister from 1968 until 1979 and again from 1980 until 1984.
Trudeau did not realize that she suffered from mental illness while she was married to Pierre. When she became depressed after the birth of her second son—Alexandre, known as Sacha—in 1973, she was misdiagnosed with postpartum depression. During her marriage, she had an affair with Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy, and was rumored to be involved with Ronnie Wood of the band the Rolling Stones, as well as actors Jack Nicholson and Ryan O’Neal. She also became known for her erratic behavior and illicit drug use, and once smuggled marijuana in her husband’s luggage. Margaret and Pierre split up in 1977 and divorced in 1984.
After divorcing Pierre, Margaret worked for a short time as a cohost on a local television show. She married Fried Kemper in 1984, but continued to suffer unknowingly with mental illness; after she made delusional comments during a family vacation in 1998, her family admitted her to St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. After returning home, she suffered from a mental breakdown when her youngest son, Michel, was killed by an avalanche while skiing in British Columbia. This incident contributed to her divorce from Kemper in 1999.
In 2000, Margaret’s mental state was further tested after the death of former husband Pierre Trudeau. She isolated herself and did not seek help in coping with her condition, and by the end of 2000, with the help of her family, she was hospitalized. She was hospitalized again in 2001 when she checked herself into the Royal Ottawa Hospital, where she was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In 2006, she announced publicly that she had suffered with bipolar disorder for her entire adult life.
Margaret Trudeau has since become an advocate for mental illness, sat on the executive advisory board of the University of British Columbia (UBC) Institute of Mental Health, and was awarded the Society of Biological Psychiatry Humanitarian Award for her contributions to mental health. She also was the honorary president of WaterCan, a Canadian charity for clean water projects. She has written three books: Beyond Reason (1979), Consequences (1982), and Changing My Mind (2010), the latter of which deals with her struggles with bipolar disorder.
Personal Life
Margaret Trudeau had three sons with Pierre Trudeau—Justin, Alexandre (Sacha), and Michel Trudeau. In 2008 Justin was elected as a member of Parliament, and was elected leader of the Liberal Party of Canada in 2013; Alexandre is a journalist and documentary filmmaker. Less than a year after her divorce from Pierre, she married Fried Kemper, a real estate developer. They had two children together, Kyle and Alicia Kemper, before divorcing in 1999.
Principal Works
Beyond Reason, 1979
Consequences, 1982
Changing My Mind, 2010
Bibliography
Govani, Shinan. “Margaret Trudeau is the Wife of the Party.” National Post. Postmedia Network, 29 Jan. 2013. Web. 2 Aug. 2013.
Kingston, Anne. “Just Margaret.” Maclean’s 18 Oct. 2010: 74–77. Print.
MacQueen, Ken. “Breaking Out of Bounds.” Maclean’s 15 Oct. 2012: 46–48. Print.
“Margaret Trudeau’s Secret War.” Canada.com. Postmedia Network, 7 May 2006. Web. 2 Aug. 2013.
Trudeau, Margaret. Interview by Erin Anderssen. “Margaret Trudeau Reflects on Her Struggle with Mental Illness.” Globe and Mail. Globe and Mail, 12 Oct. 2010. Web. 2 Aug. 2013.