Margaret Trudeau launches new speaker series at UOIT

Since bursting into the spotlight some 45 years ago as the beautiful young bride of Canada’s prime minister, Margaret Trudeau has been a national icon. Her life has been celebrated both for her role in the public eye and as a respected mental health issues advocate. 

For all of the many triumphs associated with being one of the country’s most well-known personalities, Trudeau has also survived the loss of both her son Michel and her former husband Pierre. Ten years ago she announced she has lived with bipolar disorder since the birth of her second child in 1973.

Today, Trudeau tirelessly and courageously shares her personal stories to remind others of the importance of nurturing the body, mind and spirit.

On March 30, she accepted an invitation to come to the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) as the inaugural speaker of the Dean’s Public Lecture Series, hosted by the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities.

“We are so honoured to have been able to welcome Margaret Trudeau to campus to help us launch this speaker series,” says Nawal Ammar, PhD, Dean, UOIT Faculty of Social Science and Humanities. “Margaret is a distinguished speaker who has done so much in recent years to broaden awareness of mental health topics. Her genuine willingness to share her personal experiences has encouraged Canadians to not only speak openly about their own situations, but also to seek help.”

The audience at the Regent Theatre rose as one at the conclusion of her remarks, applauding her for all she continues to do to help reduce and hopefully eliminate the social stigma of mental illness.

In recounting her many moments of personal despair over the years, Trudeau reiterated that one of the keys to good mental health is staying true to a simple regimen: good nutrition, a proper sleep routine and regular exercise. The combination of all of these factors helps the body replenish its internal chemistry and mechanisms, which in turn helps the brain function in the healthiest way possible. 

Trudeau is the author of four books, including her bestselling title, Changing My Mind, which charts her life's ups and downs, and her latest title, The Time of Your Life, which offers women an inspirational and practical approach to creating a healthy, happy, secure and satisfying future.

The launch of the FSSH Dean’s Public Lecture Series and the invitation to Margaret Trudeau to speak was made possible by The Carpenters’ Union Local 397. 

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