Justin Trudeau sworn in as Canada's new prime minister

The 43-year-old Trudeau, a former school teacher and member of Parliament since 2008, on Wednesday became the second youngest prime minister in Canadian history.

He is the son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who swept to office in 1968 on a wave of support dubbed "Trudeaumania."  He was prime minister until 1984 with a short interruption and remains one of the few Canadian politicians known in America, his charisma often drawing comparisons to John F. Kennedy.

The new prime minister now has the chance to restore his father's Liberal legacy, which has been under siege during 10 years of Conservative rule under Stephen Harper.