On the evening of Feb 24, 2001 Justin Trudeau breezed into the palatial Fairmont hotel overlooking Vancouver harbour for a charity gala.

It was supposed to be a formal event with an "Arabian Nights" theme including belly dancers and Middle Eastern music.

Some 500 guests showed up, the men in tuxedos. Except Mr Trudeau. He had painted his face, hands and feet black, donned billowing robes, and placed a giant turban on his head. Not one other person was in blackface.

If Mr Trudeau felt any embarrassment at his jaw-dropping and racially offensive faux pas, then he didn't show it.

"We were taken aback when he walked in, but it just didn't seem to register with Justin. It was not OK," one guest, who saw his entrance said.

Mr Trudeau, apparently thinking it was OK, proceeded through a cascading red tent, over a Persian rug, and into a ballroom decorated with bright silks.