Hundreds of Yukoners came out to meet the prime minister last Friday evening in Whitehorse.

The informal gathering outside the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre marked Justin Trudeau’s first visit to the territory since being elected in October 2015.

Elder William Carlick opened the event with a prayer. Ta’an Kwäch'än Council Chief Kristina Kane and Yukon MP Larry Bagnell also made opening remarks.

“This is a lot more people than when I have an event,” Bagnell joked.

He noted some of the achievements of the federal Liberal government over the last two years.

Those include the biggest transfer payment ever to the Yukon, the first gender-balanced federal cabinet, and new health care and mental health funding for the territory.

Trudeau was dressed casually in a blue button-down shirt and jacket as he thanked Bagnell for his friendship during his political career.

“He taught me a lot about how important it is to stay connected with the people you serve day in and day out,” the 45-year-old prime minister told the crowd in brief remarks.

Trudeau also spoke about visiting the Yukon throughout his life, and his love for the territory.

“The best thing about Whitehorse, the best thing about Yukon, the best thing about the North, is the people,” he said.

“It’s the connections we have, it’s the people who appreciate this place, open their hearts to neighbours and strangers and know how to live a good life together, and that for me is something we could all learn a little bit more from in the South.”

Trudeau highlighted a trip he took to Whitehorse with his father, the late Pierre Trudeau, when he was 19.

He said because of his father, he’s had many discussions with Canadians about their hopes for the country.

“I got to hear people’s dreams for this country and for me, everywhere I go, every time I get to gather, I reflect on the conversations that brought me to this place right now and the place of responsibility and service that I have now, and I want to say thank you,” he said.

Veteran Yukon musician Hank Karr and the Canucks serenaded the crowd as they enjoyed s’mores, bannock and jam, and warm drinks by the Yukon River waterfront on a blustery but sunny evening.

After arriving at the cultural centre amid a motorcade of black SUVs, Trudeau met many Whitehorse residents, smiling broadly, shaking their hands and even taking a few of his signature selfies.

Plainclothes security personnel wearing earpieces kept a close eye on the people surrounding the prime minister, hoping for a moment of his attention.

Those who turned out included many families with children, Premier Sandy Silver, cabinet ministers, senior cabinet officials, Indigenous leaders, Mayor Dan Curtis and longtime Yukon Liberal party workers and loyalists.

Among those who turned out Friday night were the Omar family, the third Syrian refugee family to come to the territory, arriving last March.

“It was very much an honour for us to meet him,” Mohamed Omar said. “I am happy and grateful.”

He added that his family has been settling well into Whitehorse over the past few months.

“So far, so good,” he said. “People are very helpful, very co-operative, and we feel like we are with our family in Whitehorse.”  

Also out to see the prime minister were friends Amin Abdullah, who has lived in Whitehorse for the past 10 years, and Farhad Mollaj, who was visiting his brother in the city.

He has lived in Toronto for the past three years but originally hails from Bangladesh.

“It’s a privilege, because I’m from a Third World country,” Mollaj said of meeting Trudeau.

“He’s a very simple man, he likes the people, he talks to the people and he likes to spend time with people.”

Abdullah was equally excited about meeting the prime minister. 

“That was a pleasure, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said.

Abdullah said he likes the fact that Trudeau is concerned about low-income people.

And he noted this concern that progress in national politics seems to be moving backwards and free trade is threatened by the stance of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trudeau also surprised local residents on Saturday afternoon as he took a stroll down Main Street from the waterfront to the Pride crosswalk.

See letter, photo.