Snowmobiling Justin Trudeau meets and greets on Fogo Island trail - Action News
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Snowmobiling Justin Trudeau meets and greets on Fogo Island trail

A man out on a Easter weekend snowmobile ride unexpectedly met up with the prime minister.

'Typical Newfoundlander, falling into the parade,' says Gus Loder of surprise meeting

Gus Loder and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pose after meeting up on a snowmobile trail on Fogo Island on Easter weekend. (Submitted by Gus Loder)

A man out snowmobiling Easter weekend on Fogo Island had an unexpected surprise along the trail: an encounter with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Gus Loder, of Badger, said he and a friend were out enjoying the day when their curiosity was piqued whena line of security detail vehicles and a contingent of snowmobiles zoomed past them.

Typical Newfoundlander, falling into the parade kindof thing.- Gus Loder

"We kinda fell in with the line of Ski-Doos, with the prime minister Iguess. Typical Newfoundlander, falling into the parade kindof thing," laughed Loder.

As the snowmobiles slowed to a stop, Loder was starstruckto seeTrudeau, his wife Sophie Grgoire-Trudeauand the couple's threechildren.

"Itook my helmet off, and took my gloves off, and just kinda stared. Googly eyed Iguess," said Loder.

"You're like 50 feet away from the prime minister, and there's nobody pushing you away."

'I'll always remember'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and family made a brief stop-over at Gander International Airport Friday while en route to Fogo Island for an Eastern weekend family trip. (235FireFly/YouTube)

Loder kept his distance as Trudeau unloaded his children, and afterwards cautiously approached.

"We heard it was like a family vacationand that kinda stuff, so like most Newfoundlanders[we]didn't want to be imposing," said Loder.

"As Iwas walking up to him, he hauled his glove off and Iintroduced myself and he shook my hand, and Iwelcomed him to Newfoundland."

I was surprised, he's very easy going.- Gus Loder

Loder said talking to Trudeau was just the same as meeting up with anyone on a snowmobile trail.

"I was surprised, he'svery easy going, very easy to talk to."

Trudeau said no problem when asked to get a photo takenafterwards, and now Loder has a memento of the most famous person he's ever met.

"It's one for the books," said Loder, who added the pictures he uploaded to Facebook have been shared and liked widely.

"It's one of those [encounters]that I'll always remember, and Ialways got the pictures to prove it too."

Gus Loder first wondered if the Trudeaus were out on the trail when he came across a line of security detail vehicles. (Submitted by Gus Loder)

With files from Central Morning