Justin Trudeau and the remaking of Canada's image

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      Trudeaumania is gathering momentum internationally.

      The New York Times editorial board has applauded Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's "personal warmth and leadership" in meeting Syrian refugees at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

      The paper's lead editorial also declared that his actions can "serve as a beacon for others".

      Trudeau's warm welcome for Syrian refugees was also the lead story in the New York Times international section.

      Never before has the election of a Canadian political leader so quickly remade our nation in the eyes of the world. And it's not happening by accident.

      Trudeau and his wife Sophie have appeared in a stylish Vogue magazine photo shoot. This type of fashion splash takes a great deal of organization.

      He also jetted off to the climate summit in Paris to rebrand the nation. This was accomplished by adopting the progressive stance of aiming for an average global temperature increase of 1.5 °C over pre-industrial times.

      In the Philippines, the prime minister was greeted by a mob of well wishers when he arrived at the airport for the APEC summit in Manila. 

      Trudeau also met Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. 

      Towering above the monarch, Trudeau charmed the British public by telling her that she was so much taller than him the last time they met.

      Canada becomes cool again

      In 2003, the Economist magazine published a cover story calling Canada "cool" because of its socially liberal and fiscally conservative policies.

      A 2003 Economist cover played up Canada's cool factor.

      Ten years later, the influential British publication declared that the moose had lost its shades and Canada had become uncool.

      Whereas Canada had seemed on the verge of legalizing cannabis in 2003, it was far behind U.S. states a decade later. Canada's failure to make progress in dealing with indigenous issues was also condemned.

      But now, there's a new dawn with a prime minister intent on legalizing weed, embracing refugees, and willing to play a constructive role in international climate talks.

      Canada is cool again, which might make our country more of a magnet for international investment and tourism.

      Other world leaders are rebranding countries

      Image-building exercises aren't unheard-of, not in business or in politics.

      After Indian prime minister Narendra Modi won a landslide victory, he went gallivanting around the globe.

      This was designed to make his country more appealing to investors, particularly non-resident Indians.

      Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has used holographic imagery to boost his appeal.

      During his visit to Canada earlier this year, Modi was often called a "rock star". He timed a trip to Surrey to whip up patriotism for India shortly before the Vaisakhi parade. This is when zeal for a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan reaches a crescendo in Canada.

      Modi's shine lasted a little while until religious communalism at home—often fomented by the prime minister's supporters—gave India an international black eye. It didn't help that right-wing fans of Modi wanted to build a monument to the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.

      China's president, Xi Jinping, also tried to boost his country's reputation with a high-profile visit to Britain in October. He popped into a pub for a beer and had a selfie taken with a soccer star. The Chinese have learned the power of celebrity.

      Soccer player Serio Aguero took this selfie with Chinese president Xi Jinping and British prime minister David Cameron.

      However, this tour came with some public-relations hiccups as protests drew attention to China's dismal human-rights record.

      Marketing can only take a country so far. And if the reality doesn't reflect the message, it quickly rings hollow.

      So far, Trudeau has done an outstanding job in remaking Canada's image around the world. For that, we owe him a debt of gratitude.

      Now, it's up to the rest of us to demonstrate the same type of compassion that he showed at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

      So far, Canadians appear to be living up to the standard set by the prime minister.

      If there's any doubt of that, check out the video below. It shows Canadian children singing a song of welcome to Syrian refugees.

      They chose the same song of welcome sung to the Prophet Mohammed when he sought shelter in the city of Medina.

      Canadian kids send a loving message to Syrian refugees with the song of welcome that greeted the Prophet Mohammed when he sought refuge in Medina.

      Here's how the song has been received.

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