Justin Trudeau heads west on Wednesday after announcing that he's running for the leadership of the federal Liberals.

He'll visit Calgary and Richmond, B-C before attending a rally Thursday in Mississauga, Ontario.

The 40-year-old son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau entered the leadership race in his Montreal riding last night. He told supporters that the Liberals need to prove that the party has learned from the past and is now 100 per cent focused on the future.

The eldest son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau also said he wants to reconnect the Liberal party with the ordinary people who gave it life.

A school teacher before jumping into politics in 2008, Trudeau has long been seen by his critics (many of them fellow Liberals) as little more than a pretty face. Trudeau has already ruled out a merger or co-operation pact with the N-D-P.

The Liberals pick their new leader next April.