Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean met with local leaders in her family's hometown city of Jacmel Tuesday and described her "big dream" of a revitalized port in the wake of January's devastating earthquake.
On the second day of her two-day visit to the country of her birth, Jean listened to concerns from civic leaders about a devastated local school system, a lack of electricity and frustration with the Haitian government's slow distribution of aid funds.
After listening to the leaders' concerns, Jean spoke about her high hopes for the small town in which her mother was born.
"I have this big dream," Jean said. "There is a refurbished port to get goods in and out… There are extraordinary beaches. There are kilometres of white sandy beaches… If we could get ships back in here, to see the port of Jacmel rediscover its pride, to work with all its vigour. It would be extraordinary."
After the meeting, Jean paid an emotional visit to a group of women, whom she encouraged to continue to work together to rebuild their community. Jean promised the women that Canada will "continue to support you."
The governor general spoke after a long and tearful embrace with the daughter of a close friend who was one of more than 200,000 people who perished in the earthquake.
After the meeting Jean and her husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, went on a walking tour of the town as onlookers rushed to get a glimpse of the woman who enjoys celebrity status in her native land.
The Governor General was determined to show courage as she toured Jacmel's narrow streets.
"It's not about my pain, it's not about me mourning," she said. "It's about how do we engage in the reconstruction phase of the Haitian people."
One of her main messages was about empowering women, and one that appeared to resonate.
"She represents progress," said Jocelyne Fimin, a local student. "She represents a dream come true."
Earlier, Jean met with Canadian soldiers and thanked them for their efforts in the earthquake-devastated country.
She arrived by helicopter near a field hospital run by Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team. The hospital is being taken down after more than 10,000 Haitians were treated there.
"You've made a lasting legacy. You made a difference," she told Canadian troops. "Thank you so much, I'm so proud of you."
About 500 Canadian military personnel were stationed in the town, but roughly half of them have returned home as part of a staggered withdrawal.
Jean delivered a message of hope when speaking on Monday.
"She refused to show any tears, she had a clear message to the Haitian people and it was a message of strength, 'we need to move on, we need to reconstruct this country,'" CTV's Richard Madan told Canada AM from Jacmel Tuesday morning.
Jean also stopped to see Canadian troops in Leogane, and gave her thanks for their hard work.
"People are talking about you back home," Jean said in French. "People are proud of you … You instill pride in the country you represent. We could not ask for better representatives than you."
The extent of the devastation overwhelmed the governor general again as a helicopter prepared to whisk her back to Port-au-Prince, while Jean buried her face in her hands and wept.
With files from CTV's Richard Madan
