There's nothing scarier than a federal election, and to many, nothing is spookier than a change in government.
New platforms? New political opposition? New leadership? Frightening.
With that spirit in mind, many Canadians used Halloween as an opportunity to dress up as some of the country's most prominent political leaders, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper and prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau. While some costumes were more of a literal depiction of the politician's appearance, plenty included satirical hits at their public personas, platforms, or used wordplay for stronger comedic impact.
Take, for instance, this photo of Trevor Deley and a friend — both from Ottawa. These two celebrated All Hallow's Eve as "Tom Mulscare" and "Screamin' Stephen Haunted Harper," respectively.
Not a bad showing from the nation's capital.
Like Deley, several others shared their politically minded costumes on social media. John Johnston of Calgary helped his 15-month-old daughter Betsy disguise herself as a suffragette, complete with a "Votes for Women" ribbon and hat. This playfulness runs in the family, too, as his wife dressed up as the "Alberta orange wave."
But it was Trudeau costumes that were quite popular online, and showed plenty of creative range from #TruBro to a riff on his "Thrilla on the Hilla" getup.
Seth is dressed up as @JustinTrudeau for Halloween. Last yr he was a zombie. @ElizabethMay #cdnpoli #trubro #costume pic.twitter.com/hrbVXcRHsS
— Dean Crouse (@discgolfdean) October 31, 2015
So here's @gajarchibald's Halloween costume: zombie apocalypse survivor @JustinTrudeau 😛 pic.twitter.com/WG6WPAl1r7
— Maegen Andolfatto (@maegenand) October 30, 2015
Ready! Just won my workplace costume contest dressed as @JustinTrudeau. pic.twitter.com/x5YbfF5n1p
— Elyse Lamontagne (@ElyseLam33) October 30, 2015
@JustinTrudeau My 14 year old son won best costume at his Halloween Dance dressed as Justin Trudeau! pic.twitter.com/p76roQeTTw
— wallapalooza (@wallaplooza) October 31, 2015
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@JustinTrudeau @SeamusORegan @NickWhalenMP look who we met at St. John's Mardi Gras. Great costume Wesley Saunders! pic.twitter.com/MB45MyQRzp
— Mag (@Freddie_Winnie) November 1, 2015
"Stephen Harpist" also came out of the woodwork:
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While another version of Harper was Calgary-bound:
My last minute #Halloween costume? I'm busting out a sweater vest, and going as defeated Stephen Harper. #CdnPoli pic.twitter.com/SoNIfEnUoS
— Josh Terry (@JoshuaMTerry) October 31, 2015
And threw it back to his days of yore:
Lynch went for the "Young Stephen Harper" costume today. How does he look?
- @TylerOnAir & @Lyncher99 pic.twitter.com/UbfY6kApe3
— X92.9 (@X929) October 30, 2015
With 365 days to go until next Halloween, Canadians have a full leap year to plan ahead for their next government-related costume. After all, what's more hair-raising than news itself?
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