The Trudeaus: From meet-cute to moving on
Sparks between Sophie Grégoire and Justin Trudeau were first lit long before politics — or adulthood — ever entered the picture. As children, Gregoire was classmates with Trudeau’s youngest brother, Michel, and often hung out at the Trudeau home.
“They had this really cool pool with a trapeze and ropes — we’d play Tarzan for hours,” she told Maclean’s in 2005. “We would hide in the closets to have our first kiss.”
Fast forward a few decades, and fate threw them back together when they co-hosted a charity event in 2003. But this time, timing wasn’t on their side. After the event, Trudeau reportedly ghosted Gregoire.
“I got the email, and I said, ‘Nice. Okay. Good.’ And I didn’t answer it,” he later admitted. “I didn’t delete it, I just decided, ‘No, I’m better off not starting anything that I’m not willing to go through with.’”
When they finally did go out, their first date ended with dinner, karaoke, and a classic Trudeau moment — he famously walked into a pole on the way home, as People reported.
The couple wed in 2005 at Montreal’s Sainte-Madeleine d’Outremont Church. CBC News reported that as she entered the church, she told the crowd outside, “I’m the luckiest woman in the world.”
They went on to have three children: Xavier, Ella-Grace, and Hadrien. After 18 years together, they announced their separation in August 2023.
“It hurts deeply. You know, marriage is ‘success.’ Separation and divorce are ‘failure,’” Sophie reflected on Next Question with Katie Couric earlier this year.
Before marriage and after
Before she was Canada’s most-watched political spouse, Gregoire was already carving out her own lane. Fluent in three languages — French, English, and Spanish — she worked as a reporter and correspondent for CTV’s eTalk, building a strong media career long before her marriage put her under the global lens.
She’s also been open about her personal battles. “Addictions are biochemical imbalances of the brain. Eating was my only way of controlling my life, or so I thought,” she said in a 2011 interview with Erica Diamond, discussing her recovery from bulimia nervosa.
Today, Gregoire channels those experiences into advocacy for mental health and emotional well-being, partnering with the Canadian Mental Health Association and speaking on self-acceptance and resilience.
Her 2024 book, Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other, dives into that very theme — exploring connection, emotional strength, and the courage to love without clinging.
Lakshana is an entertainment and lifestyle journalist with over a decade of experience. She covers a wide range of stories—from community and health to mental health and inspiring people features.
A passionate K-pop enthusiast, she also enjoys exploring the cultural impact of music and fandoms through her writing.