Justin Moore is pretty sure he messed up his handshake with Justin Trudeau.
The third-year general machinist apprentice at Linamar’s Frank Hasenfratz Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing, Moore was under a lot of pressure. It’s not every day you get to meet the Prime Minister of Canada and show him how to clean and prep a Chrysler differential case.
His hands were shaking and sweaty, and there were a lot of cameras around. He was understandably nervous.
“I think I messed up the handshake, for sure,” Moore said. “Mind you, I judge myself hard. But what an amazing experience to meet a fellow ‘Justin,’ and such a powerful one.”
The PM made a stop in Guelph as part of a day-long trip through the Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph area. He didn’t speak to members of the press, nor make any formal public remarks while at Linamar Corporation's Canadian base for research and development.
Trudeau shook a lot of hands while at the facility, and he spent a lot of time chatting with apprentices in the leading edge facility on Woodlawn Road. Many in the building appeared star struck.
The event was carefully orchestrated by Trudeau’s entourage, and there was a strong police presence inside the building.
An RCMP sniffer dog went through the camera bags and assorted cases of members of the media before the leader of the country arrived.
Wearing a light blue dress shirt and dark suit pants, Trudeau donned a pair of high-grip work gloves for his time at the machinist table. Despite the precautions, and instructions to stay within a defined perimeter around the Prime Minister, the media pressed in on Trudeau as he lifted the differential case with Moore and set it in place.
Linamar founder and chairman of the board Frank Hasenfratz, his daughter and company CEO Linda Hasenfratz, and Jim Jarrell, president and chief operating officer, accompanied the Prime Minister on the tour.
The PM’s press secretary, Cameron Ahmad, said in an interview that Trudeau spent the day talking with people in the technology sector in the area about the 2017 budget and its measures to invigorate the sector. The PM also spoke of the budgetary measures aimed at preparing the workforce to adapt to changing times.
Linamar is a global diversified automotive manufacturing company with 58 manufacturing facilities around the world. It has grown steadily in recent years, along with its profit margins. Over 20 of the company’s plants are located in Guelph. It employs roughly 25,000 worldwide, and is Guelph's largest employer.
Ahmad said Trudeau has been highlighting the innovative nature of the Waterloo and Wellington region, seeing in the area a reflection of where the country in general is heading.
Justin Moore spends four days of the week in his apprenticeship position, learning hands-on machinist skills. The other day is spent in a Conestoga College classroom.
