Over 200 people gathered along Welham Road this morning, hoping for a glimpse of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who was at the Barrie Transit garage for a funding announcement.
"Maybe he'll surprise us," said Zeina Karam, a Trudeau fan who travelled to Barrie from Oakville today. "We just want to say hi. Maybe he'll get out and take a few selfies with us."
Karam says she has followed the PM to various venues since he was elected last October, "He's the best for Canada," she said. "I respect that he is doing what he said he would do."
It was an audience of young and old, including a group of youngsters from a nearby daycamp.
Like many in the crowd, Tanya Placzek brought her children to the event.
"They wrote letters and they are hoping to give them to Justin," she said. "The Trudeaus are a staple in my family. My family supported Pierre Trudeau and I really think that was the best and most proud time for the country."
The anticipation built for about an hour, but the fans went away disappointed, as Trudeau sped by in a motorcade without stopping to acknowledge the crowd.
"I think I saw an arm waving," Placzek said. "Maybe that was him."
Rita waited patiently, clutching a laminated newspaper page from 43 years ago, when she saw Pierre and Margaret Trudeau at an event at CFB North Bay.
"I've been waiting for him to come here and I've been saving this all these years," she said. "I just want to give it to him, so he can see his mom and dad."
"I don't think I'll try again."
There was tight security with Barrie Police and RCMP outside the transit garage while Trudeau and Premier Kathleen Wynne were inside.
Luke Razauskas and Laura Hurst were attending their first political event, and they were disappointed that the announcement was not held in public.
"It could have been better," Razauskas said. "We figured he would be out here in the public."
The announcement included cash for 13 standard and six para-transportation buses in Barrie.
Along with the dignitaries, dozens of Barrie Transit workers attended the event.
Mayor Jeff Lehman welcomed Trudeau and Wynne, and says the money "means all three levels of government investing in infrastructure for economic growth.
"Six more specialized transit buses for BACTS means we can serve more seniors and other Barrie residents with mobility challenges," he later tweeted, adding that the best part of the day "was the gasps from Barrie Transit staff behind me when the number of new buses was announced.
"It will make a big difference."
