Trudeau makes brief stop in Regina during tour

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a couple of stops during a brief appearance in Regina Thursday.

The day started with breakfast at the RCMP Depot Division alongside cadets. He had the standard egg breakfast with an orange juice, walking with his canteen tray like everyone else.

From there, it was an impromptu stop at Nicky’s Cafe on Winnipeg Street and 8th Avenue, home of the famous lentil soup.

Trudeau didn’t try the soup, but spent about 30 minutes walking through and meeting diners.

Many of those at the restaurant were Liberal supporters, but one table did question the prime minister about pipelines and the legacy of his father.

“My father had a slightly different approach, it should be less imposing the ideas from the top down, but more working together to figure out what the right path forward is,” Trudeau told them.

The table didn’t want to chat with media, but said they were glad to see him listening.

Not everyone at Nicky’s Cafe was there for Trudeau, however – others had their breakfast interrupted.

“I was pretty much waiting for my buddies to show up for breakfast and they hadn’t shown up, probably the crowds were blocking the doors,” one diner said.

“I basically shook his hand and said hello and a pleasure meeting you and that was about it.”

While the media wasn’t informed of the stop at Nicky’s, owner Perry Makris, was happy to see him.

“It is our prime minister, whether I voted for him or I didn’t it doesn’t matter,” Makris.

Well they know how to schmooze! #skpoli pic.twitter.com/aLzTvNQ7eY

— Sarah Mills (@smillsSK) January 26, 2017

Trudeau university stop

It was a scene in Regina that resembled something out of Hollywood – minus the red carpet.

But it wasn’t a movie premiere. Instead, Justin Trudeau greeted hundreds of students at the University of Regina Thursday. It took him about an hour to slowly weave through those wanting to get a selfie and snap a quick picture with the prime minister.

“I still feel like a bit nervous. It’s like a three seconds of bravery thing to like ask to get it,” said university employee Lynn Barber, who got a picture with Trudeau. “It’s a little bit of the like star struck thing. [My] support goes back and forth a little bit as with politics. But I think, regardless, someone of his celebrity to come to the U of R is always huge.”

“I’m actually lost for words right now,” said student union president Jermain McKenzie. “It’s a really great honour.”

He was hoping the prime minister would take a few of his questions surrounding tuition and jobs. Trudeau, however, stuck to pictures and brief handshakes.

The PM swarmed with people hungry for selfies at U of R pic.twitter.com/Eqnpl2Egeq

— Kevin Martel (@KevinMartel) January 26, 2017

International students also took advantage of something many Canadians haven’t had the chance to do.

“If I was Canadian I would be very proud to have him as a prime minister,” said Leslie Lopez, from Mexico, who’s nearly in her fourth year of study in the country.

Not everyone was there to admire him. Some didn’t want a picture – they just wanted to be heard.

Third year social work student Morgan Dominix was part of a group that held signs and chanted slogans like “Water is Life” and “Trudeau, Trump is not your friend. Water pollution has to end” all aimed at how various pipeline projects could impact the environment.

“I think the fact that he didn’t really stop to talk to us means that he heard it and he didn’t want to acknowledge it,” she said.

After whisking his way through the crowd, Trudeau then took off from the university shortly before 11 a.m. He was off to Winnipeg for another town hall meeting.