Trudeau salute

The Trudeau salute (AKA the Salmon Arm salute) refers to an incident of 8 August 1982, in which Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Elliott Trudeau responded to hecklers by giving them the finger.
== History ==
Trudeau had arrived in Salmon Arm, British Columbia in 1982 after having dealt with the Patriation of the Constitution, with his three sons, Alexandre, Michel, and Justin.A B.C. museum says it’s preserved the railcar from which Pierre Trudeau gave the finger to protesters - Tristin Hopper - 22 August 2016 - The National Post - Retrieved 10 March 2021 The four of them had arrived looking to go on vacation and had borrowed the Governor-General's train car. Protestors arrived at the train to complain about its perceived opulence while unemployment levels were high. Trudeau flipped them the bird and lowered the blinds.Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau faced demonstrators heaving tomatoes and protesting his extravagence during a holiday in Rockies - 9 August 1982 - UPI - Retrieved 10 March 2021 Trudeau was caught on camera.
=== Aftermath ===
Trudeau's train car was dubbed the Caesar Salad Special from being subjected to being hit by produce by angered mobs, including 500 protesters who pelted it with rocks, eggs, and tomatoes during a stop in Sudbury en route to Toronto.Around The World; Trudeau Rail Car Pelted With Rocks and Food - 21 August 1982 - The New York Times - Retrieved 10 March 2021
Another stop in Chapleau proved more peaceful as the townsfolk gifted him eggs instead.Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau received 'feed of eggs' during 1982 train stop in Chapleau presented by Ernest Lepine - Michael J. Morris 7 May 2016 - The Michael J. Morris Report - Blogger - Retrieved 10 March 2021
== Legacy ==
Trudeau would later jokingly reference the event after having been asked about Penticton on another trip to British Columbia.Webster! Clip December 3, 1982 - Royal BC Museum - 21 July 2017 - YouTube - Retrieved 10 March 2021
Over two decades later, the National Film Board of Canada would reclassify giving the finger as an act that would push a film towards PG classification rather than G.One-finger salute crude to Ont. Film Review Bd. - 7 February 2009 - CTV News - Retrieved 10 March 2021
In 2017 Trudeau's son Justin, who had gone on to become Prime Minister himself, was asked why his father had extended the finger to Western Canada. Trudeau dodged the question, defending his father by saying "My father had an approach to politics that not everyone agreed with," and that "He made a mark on this country that shapes us to this day."Student asks Justin Trudeau why his father gave western Canada ‘the middle finger’ - Rahul Kalvapalle - 26 January 2017 - Global News - Retrieved 10 March 2021
== Photographic record ==
The photograph of the event appears not to have been uploaded to the internet. A post on the r/Canada subreddit was posted in 2016 asking for the image to be shared but the photo has yet to be found.Does anyone have the photo of Pierre Elliot Trudeau flipping off a photographer on a train? - u/DarkFiction - 17 October 2016 - r/Canada - Reddit - Retrieved 10 March 2021
==Popular Culture==
===Appearances===
====Variants====
The following list is of various mentions of the Trudeau salute in fiction and popular culture.
Year	Name 	Appearance	Notes
1982	Truedough's Middle Finger	
* Truedough's Middle Finger, Paul Graham	
* A song about inflation and unemployment featured artwork of Trudeau extending his middle finger outside a train window.Graham, Paul - Truedough's Middle Finger b/w Sitting Bull's Lament (picture sleeve) - Citizen Freak - Retrieved 10 March 2021
2003	Pierre Trudeau salute 	
* Callahan's Con, author Spider Robinson	
* Character Jake Stonebender refers to the act of giving the finger as the "Pierre Trudeau salute".
==Links==
*Trudeau salute on Wiktionary
== See also ==
* Fuddle Duddle
* Just watch me
==References==
Category:Pierre Elliott Trudeau
Category:Real events
Category:Real Prime Ministerial ephemera
Category:Real lost media
Category:Real historical events
Category:Real 20th century events