Business

Justin Trudeau’s brother vanished in 1998 avalanche

By Sohail Khan 25 August 2026, 9:01 pm

Benchmarks
Nifty24,334.55115.5

FEATURED FUNDS★★★★★

Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth

5Y Return
23.95 %

Invest Now

Enter search text:

Business News›News›International›Global Trends›Justin Trudeau’s younger brother vanished in 1998 and was never found; ‘I went numb, my heart sank, and my blood ran cold,’ former Canada PM wrote

Read Today's Paper

Justin Trudeau’s younger brother vanished in 1998 and was never found; ‘I went numb, my heart sank, and my blood ran cold,’ former Canada PM wrote

Synopsis

Justin Trudeau’s younger brother Michel vanished in a 1998 avalanche in British Columbia at just 23. Despite an extensive search, his body was never found. Years later, Trudeau recalled the devastating moment in his memoir, writing, “I went numb, my heart sank, and my blood ran cold.”

In 1998, the Trudeau family was struck by an unimaginable tragedy when Michel Trudeau, the youngest son of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, died in an avalanche. Michel was just 23 when the tragedy happened. Nearly three decades later, the story of his disappearance continues to haunt the family, particularly because his body was never recovered from British Columbia’s Kokanee Glacier Park, according to a report in .

ALSO READ: "I’ve never encountered a ghost, but until recently…": Japan PM Sanae Takaichi

Michel Trudeau disappeared in an avalanche

On November 13, 1998, Michel Trudeau went skiing with friends in Kokanee Glacier Park in British Columbia. The 23-year-old was caught in an avalanche that separated him from the rest of the group.

While his friends survived, Michel was swept away. Despite extensive efforts to locate him, his body was never found. A memorial service was held in Quebec about a week after his death, as the Trudeau family came to terms with the devastating loss.

ALSO READ: Tech layoffs 2026

Michel was the youngest of Pierre Trudeau and Margaret Trudeau’s three sons. His older brothers were Justin Trudeau, born in 1971, and Alexandre Trudeau, born in 1973.

Search for Michel's body ended without answers

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police returned to the area nearly 10 months after Michel disappeared in another attempt to recover his body.

A dive team searched Kokanee Lake, but the effort continued for weeks without success. Before the operation began, authorities had warned that finding Michel could prove impossible. Divers could reach only around 30 metres, while the lake descended to about 91 metres at its deepest point.

ALSO READ: In 2014, scientists blasted Mount St. Helens, one of America's most closely watched volcanoes, with 23 explosions, revealing a vast magma system underground

After the unsuccessful search, the family eventually called off further efforts to recover Michel. Instead, the Trudeaus erected a chalet nearby as a memorial to him. The family came to believe that Michel was destined to remain at Kokanee Lake.

Justin Trudeau remembered his brother's death

Years later, Justin Trudeau opened up about the loss in his 2014 memoir, Common Ground. At the time of Michel's death, Justin was living in British Columbia and working as a substitute teacher at Pinetree Secondary School.

The tragedy happened on a Friday the 13th. After finishing work that day, Justin returned to his apartment, had dinner and went to bed without knowing that his younger brother had died.

The following morning, his mother Margaret called him. Justin immediately sensed that something was wrong. "I went numb, my heart sank, and my blood ran cold," he wrote in his memoir.

He described the devastating impact Michel's death had on their parents and the entire family.

'My father was never the same man'

Justin Trudeau wrote that his father, Pierre Trudeau, was deeply affected by Michel's death. "My father was never the same man," Justin recalled, while describing the profound grief that followed the tragedy.

He also wrote about his mother's suffering, describing Margaret Trudeau as enduring "horrific, debilitating grief." For the Trudeau family, Michel's disappearance was especially difficult because there was never a body to bring home and no definitive ending to the search.

Michel Trudeau's haunting words about his final resting place

One of the most poignant parts of Justin Trudeau's account involved something Michel had said years before his death. Justin recalled that, a few years before the avalanche, Michel had casually watched a television documentary about burial customs in Asia.

During the conversation, Michel reportedly said: "When it's my turn, just leave me down at the mountain where I lie" Justin later reflected on how eerily those words appeared to match what ultimately happened.

"His comments proved to be prescient: divers would never find his body, and he is there to this day."

Michel's body remains missing, while the mountains and lake where he disappeared became closely associated with his memory.

Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Add Now!

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

Read More News on
Justin TrudeauMichel Trudeau1998 avalancheTrudeau familyBritish Columbia avalancheMichel Trudeau deathJustin Trudeau memoirCommon GroundPierre TrudeauMargaret Trudeau

Enter search text:

Continue reading with one of these options:
Limited Access
Free
Login to get access to some exclusive stories

& personalised newsletters
Login Now

Unlimited Access
Starting @ Rs120/month
Get access to exclusive stories, expert opinions &

in-depth stock reports
Subscribe Now

Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL

15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers

Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00

I'd rather pay ₹2599 now

Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today!

Subscribe to gain powerful insights on business, stock market and industry trends.

Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off

Student Only Offer

Already a Member? Sign In now

Already a Member? Sign In now
Already a Member? Sign In now

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Special Offer

Get flat 40% off on ETPrime

Avail Offer
Avail Offer

Claim NowAlready a Member? Sign In now

Need Assistance?

Connect with an ETPrime expert for personalized support and guidance

+91 9484700004

' + h3 + '

' + h4 + '

' + listing + '

What’s Included with

ETPrime Membership

1Exclusive Insights That Matter

Uncover the truth with our investigative stories

Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies

Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends

Spot opportunities with in-depth insights that matter

Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US

What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising
Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer.

Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?
Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?

The problem with lab grown diamonds
Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy

A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year