St. John's boy sits with hero Justin Trudeau during show at Arts and Culture Centre

A Newfoundland boy who reached out toJustin Trudeau earlier this year finally rubbedshoulders with him this week when he sat next to the Canadian prime minister at an event in St. John's.

Abdallah Shahwanis a 12-year-old Grade 8 student at Leary's Brook Junior High in St. John's.

He was in the news in April when he wrote the prime minister, inviting him to visit his mosque on Logy Bay Road following attacks on a Quebec City mosque in January.

Previously, on Twitter, Trudeauhad also wished Abdallahand his friend a happy Eid.

• Dear Prime Minister: Muslim boy invites Justin Trudeau to visit St. John's mosque

When Trudeau and his cabinet came to St. John's on Sept. 11, Abdallah managed to get tickets to the Come From Away forum the politicians wereattending at the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre.

However, when he arrived there was a problem with his tickets.

A lucky fluke

Trudeau's assistant toldAbdallah they would try to figuresomething out, and next thing he knew hewas sitting in a red theatre seat right next to the Canadian prime minister.

"It was basically just a fluke. People were wondering how a little kid like me got a seat like that," Abdallah told the St. John's Morning Show on Friday.

"It was really fun and lucky for me to get that seat because a bunch of people were trying to get seats closer but they couldn't."

Abdallah said being in the glare of the lights and cameras pointed at Trudeau, he didn't get to talk to him a whole lot. But the prime minister did acknowledge that he got Shahwan's letter and thanked him for it.

"We basically talked about the letter and everything that was going on and what encouraged me to write it," he said."It made me feel happy that my hero Justin Trudeau read my letter."

After sharing some photos of his eveningwith Trudeauon social media, Abdallah said his friends have had a lot to say about the experience.

"Everyone was like, 'Oh my god, you met Justin Trudeau! That's super cool,'"he said. "I'll never forget this moment."