Justin Trudeau draws crowd during visit to Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market

Hundreds of people gathered at the Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market on Saturday morning as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stopped by, greeting vendors and residents who clamoured for a photo.

Trudeau is in town for the annual general meeting of the provincial Liberals.

Ten-year-old Hanna Aris wept as she hugged Trudeau, saying she'll be sharing the photo they took together with friends and classmates.

"I guess I attracted him with my tears and we took a picture together," she said afterward. "It was amazing. I don't think it will ever happen again."

Aris says she likes Trudeau "because he lets the refugees come to Halifax and Canada and lets them have a better life, and he's so pretty."

The Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market is always a busy spot on Saturdays, but was even more so today because of Trudeau's visit, which lasted about 45 minutes. 

For many, it was a family affair. Tony Morrison says he has memories of his grandmother giving Pierre Trudeau a knitted handbag when he was prime minister. On Saturday, it was his young son getting a photo with the younger Trudeau.

"He just asked for his picture and my son jumped into his arms. [Brent] likes anyone, he's a people person."

During the visit, selfies were on full display.

Eight-year-old Clement Jackson says his family was planning to go to the market anyway, although he wasn't as moved by his brush with the prime minister as some were.

"Just [like] shaking anyone's hand," he said, adding he'll be washing his hands as often as he usually does, which isn't often.

CBC reporter Stephanie vanKampen wasn't quite ready for her encounter with the prime minister.

CBC videographer Steve Lawrence followed along for the entirety of Trudeau's visit.