Wayback Machine/West Point Grey Academy
This photo of Justin Trudeau in blackface was published in the West Point Grey Academy newsletter in April 2001.
- The 2001 party where Justin Trudeau dressed as Aladdin and wore brownface was a lavish event with corporate sponsors and belly dancers.
- A newsletter from West Point Grey Academy, where Trudeau taught, recounted the party, which raised $160,000 from private and corporate donors.
- The party boasted an auction with "fabulous vacations," tables adorned with "glittering trinkets." It was opened by "belly dancers" and hosted an "exotic meal," the newsletter said.
- Sponsors included the Vancouver Airport Authority and Electronic Arts (EA) Canada, the newsletter shows.
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The 2001 party where Justin Trudeau dressed as Aladdin and painted his face brown was a lavish event with corporate sponsors and belly dancers.
Canada's prime minister admitted his costume was racist and apologized on Wednesday amid widespread condemnation, after TIME magazine published a photo of him at the party.
The fundraiser was hosted by the prestigious Vancouver private school West Point Grey Academy, where Trudeau was then a 29-year-old teacher.
The event itself was held at the four-star Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver.
An archived school newsletter from April 2001 which documented the party, and which Business Insider has reviewed, reveals that it was a lavish affair.
The newsletter boasts an auction with "fabulous vacations," tables decorated with "rich fabrics" and adorned with "glittering trinkets," as well as "belly dancers," and "an exotic meal."
Wayback Machine/West Point Grey Academy
Guests attend a party at the school where Justin Trudeau taught in 2001.
The party raised $160,000 for the school and was supported by more than 280 corporate and private sponsors, the newsletter said.
Amongst them were the Air Canada Championship golf competition, the Vancouver Airport Authority, and Electronic Arts (EA) Canada, the newsletter shows.
Zita Astravas, head of media relations for the Liberal Party of Canada told TIME Magazine: "It was a photo taken while he was teaching in Vancouver, at the school's annual dinner which had a costume theme of 'Arabian Nights.' He attended with friends and colleagues dressed as a character from 'Aladdin.'"
TIME was first to reveal the photo of Trudeau at the party on Wednesday. Since then, two further instances of the prime minister wearing brownface have come to light.
One is a photo of Trudeau in blackface while he impersonated African-American singer Harry Belafonte at his high school talent contest.
The other is a video of Trudeau as a youngster wearing black paint on his face. Little information is known about it, but a spokesperson for the prime minister confirmed its authenticity.
Screenshot via Global News Canada
Justin Trudeau wearing blackface in an old video obtained by the Global News, a Canadian outlet.
In comments to reporters on Wednesday night, Trudeau said of his Aladdin costume: "I shouldn't have done that. I should have known better but I didn't and I'm really sorry."
"I'm going to be asking Canadians to forgive me for what I did. I shouldn't have done that. I take responsibility for it. It was a dumb thing to do."
Business Insider has contacted the office of Justin Trudeau and West Point Grey Academy for comment, but has yet to receive a response.