When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided to mark the first National Truth and Reconciliation Day by hitting the beaches in Tofino, B.C., he stayed in a multimillion-dollar beachfront estate.
According to the Toronto Sun, the home that hosted Trudeau and his family last week is owned by a Calgary business executive.
Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, a real estate agency, describes this rental house as a “surfer’s paradise.” Sotheby’s values this house at about $18.8 million.
Trudeau arrived in Tofino for a four-day vacation on the same day as Canada commemorated the first National Truth and Reconciliation Day. The prime minister’s poorly-timed vacation garnered criticism from Indigenous groups, some of which extended invitations for him to mark the day with them.
Union of BC Indian Chiefs Grand Chief Stewart Phillip called Trudeau’s move a “slap in the face” of residential school survivors.
“Given the fact this is a nationally recognized holiday in regards to truth and reconciliation, it would have been appropriate for the prime minister to fully acknowledge this day,” said Phillip.
Trudeau extended a private apology to Kamloops, BC, Tk’emlúps Nation Chief Rosanne Casimir on Sunday and on Wednesday, he told reporters that “travelling on September 30th was a mistake.”
The multimillion-dollar beachfront estate that Trudeau stayed in measures 5,987 square feet, and it is located on a 1.2-acre lot.
Municipal land records from 2012 identify the property owner as a numbered corporation. The corporation’s website advertises itself as a “secure payment processing solution” for the cannabis industry.
Dun & Bradstreet, a data and analytics business, lists the current owner’s husband as their main principal.
The property has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms split between four buildings. The luxurious home features white oak and Italian tile flooring, recycled barn wood ceilings, accented walls, custom cabinetry, granite and quartz countertops inside the residence, boardwalks leading to every residence, the sandy beach and a beachfront private deck with a built-in firepit.
The Prime Minister’s Office could not be reached for comment in time for publication of this article.
