The swearing in of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was a personal event for the Ahmad family, who gathered around their TV in Hamilton, Ont. to watch the historic ceremony Wednesday morning.
Holding her infant son, Omar, Sadia Ahmad pointed to Trudeau on the TV.
鈥淩emember him?鈥� she asked her son.
Little Omar probably won鈥檛 remember the moment his mother is talking about in the years to come. But the new prime minister will.
Ahmad tried a number of times throughout the election campaign to meet Trudeau. And she succeeded on Oct. 13 at a rally in St. Catharines, Ont., where she handed Trudeau her son as he exited his campaign bus.
Trudeau recalled the interaction with Ahmad in his election victory speech on Oct. 19, when the Liberals won a sweeping majority.
鈥淎nd as she leaned forward, she said something that I will never forget. She said she鈥檚 voting for us because she wants to make sure that her little girl has the right to make her own choices in life,鈥� said Trudeau.
Although Trudeau got Omar鈥檚 gender wrong, Ahmad said she won鈥檛 hold that against him. She was just shocked to hear him describe that very personal moment.
鈥淎t first we were shocked and I started crying. I couldn鈥檛 believe it. I was a nobody in the crowd,鈥� .
She said the fact that Trudeau remembered that interaction is a good sign for all Canadians.
鈥淚f he can acknowledge this, I鈥檓 pretty sure that if the people give him the right amount of time, whatever promises he made, he will fulfill, hopefully,鈥� said Ahmad.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled and I鈥檓 humbled and I鈥檓 very happy. And we鈥檙e hoping for a positive change.鈥�
Ahmad immigrated to Canada from Saudi Arabia in 1998. She is now a citizen and says Trudeau鈥檚 swearing in ceremony on Wednesday made her proud to be a Canadian.
With files from CTV Toronto鈥檚 Janice Golding
