Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Quebec for Fete Nationale weekend

FILE: The man then suggested Trudeau had come to “bother us at home,” to which  Trudeau replied, “I am home” (Photo: Justin Trudeau)

MONTREAL — Justin Trudeau greeted crowds at public events in Quebec to celebrate the Fete Nationale holiday on Saturday, where a day of smiles and selfies was briefly interrupted by an angry protester who confronted the prime minister in his own riding.

The incident occurred at a Fete Nationale event at a Montreal park, where a bearded man in a white shirt appeared to object to the prime minister’s presence at a holiday that has historically been associated with Quebec nationalism.

“You came to speak English to us?” the man asked in French. “Isn’t your party next week?”

The man then suggested Trudeau had come to “bother us at home,” to which Trudeau replied, “I am home.”

“There’s no place for intolerance here,” Trudeau said to the man, who was quickly pulled away by the prime minister’s security team.

Trudeau was otherwise greeted warmly at the event, where he also crossed paths with with Parti Quebecois Leader Jean-Francois Lisee.

Earlier, Trudeau kicked off his two-day visit to the province in Drummondville, where he visited a public market in the company of his sons Xavier and Hadrien.

He was also greeted enthusiastically during a stop at a reconstructed 19th Quebecois village, where he shook hands with actors in traditional costumes, stopped for photos and tried to entice his sons to dance to traditional music.

His visit to the province will continue Sunday when he visits two family-friendly events west of Montreal.

Trudeau won’t be the only leader in the province for the June 24 holiday, which is also known as St-Jean-Baptiste Day.

Progressive Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer will begin his Sunday 200 kilometres northeast of Quebec City in Riviere-du-Loup, where he’ll hold a news conference and attend at least three fete nationale events as he makes his way to the provincial capital.

And NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will be in Montreal on Sunday, where he’ll join the celebrations alongside local MP Alexandre Boulerice.