RED DEER RESIDENTS HAVE THEIR SAY: What do you think of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau wearing “brownface” on three occasions, and as recently as 2001?
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Mercelene Tuazon, pre-health sciences student at Red Deer College:
“When I first heard about it, I thought: Wow. Now I feel, well, he was young, so because of his age and the fact it was 20 years ago, it’s OK when it would not be OK today.”
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Mumeen Olaniran, business student at Red Deer College:
“It is definitely not OK. He should not have done it at all. Even if it was 20 years ago, he should have known better — especially if he hoped to be prime minister one day.”
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Raye St. Denys, Metis advocate, Red Deer:
“We wore Caucasian makeup and clothing every day of our lives. He wore (brownface) 20 years ago at a party where the theme was Aladdin… Was it in good taste, looking back at it now? No.
“But he stood up like a man and apologized… He and his father have done a lot for our people.”
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Alyssa Verschoor, open studies student at Red Deer College:
“I don’t think that’s acceptable, even if it was 20 years ago. He should have known (it was offensive). I will not be voting for him.”
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Tyler Walline, musician, Red Deer:
“I’m disappointed. But there’s always something to be disappointed about in politics… I have to think what are the issues that matter? I’d rather we focus on mental health, helping house the homeless and the environment… Let’s get angry about the environment instead of what happened back in 2001.”
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Jennifer Cunday, community worker, Red Deer:
“It’s a silly thing for them to go on about. It’s something that he did when he was a lot younger. We all do something when we’re younger that we regret later…. Aren’t there more important issues for us to be concerned about?”
