Liberal leadership contender Justin Trudeau had no trouble attracting a crowd of enthusiastic and well-heeled supporters at a private $500-a-ticket fundraiser on Wednesday night in Windsor.
The private fundraiser for Trudeau, held downtown at The City Grill, was attended by prominent politicians, business people and community figures including former Windsor-West MPP and provincial cabinet minister Sandra Pupatello, Dr. Fouad Tayfour and city councillors Fulvio Valentinis and Jo-Anne Gignac.
Local lawyer Laura Joy, who helped organize the fundraiser, said there were a lot of new Liberals in the room on Wednesday night, though she declined to say how many attended or how much money was raised.
“For the first time I can say that it’s optimistic,” Joy said, commenting on the mood. “He has the Trudeau charisma, but putting that aside, he’s one of us.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Trudeau strolled up Ouellette Avenue, stopping to chat with patrons at Lefty’s patio en route to the fundraiser.
Nick Dzudz, who was on the patio at Lefty’s when Trudeau walked by, said he didn’t expect to see the 41-year-old Montreal MP come by, describing him as “just walking around town like he’s from this town.”
Trudeau declined to speak with journalists outside the restaurant, saying only that he was in town to have dinner and was already running late.
Trudeau was ushered in the door by Joy, Pupatello and local Grit supporter Ted Farron, who brought boxing gloves autographed by Mary Spencer as a gift for Trudeau – a reference to Trudeau’s last visit to Windsor in 2012, when he sparred with Canadian boxing champ Josh Cameron.
Applause could be heard from outside the restaurant as Trudeau went in.
Pat Papadeas, president of the federal Liberal Windsor-West riding association, had a ticket to the fundraiser but could not attend due to a prior commitment, said she did not see a reason to make an issue about the fundraiser’s cost and local Liberals’ prospects.
“People will contribute what they can,” she said, adding that Trudeau did take time on Wednesday to meet with volunteers from four local ridings and told them that he would be back in Windsor later in the year.
Barry Fowler, president of the federal Liberal Windsor-Tecumseh riding association, said he was not able to attend because he was away visiting family out of town.
bfantoni@windsorstar.com or Twitter.com/bfantoni
