Seal meat, new uniforms, and crisis in Haiti Michaëlle Jean

as representative of canada s head of state, governor general welcomes president barack obama canada, february 19, 2009

during tour of nunavut in 2009, governor general again garnered headlines when participated in traditional inuit seal feast @ community festival, gutting seal had been killed hunters , consuming piece of raw heart. while both immediate predecessor , prince charles had partaken in raw seal meat in canadian arctic, jean s simple act drew attention, both positive , negative, because of coincidence european parliament s recent ban on import of canadian seal products. dining on seal traditional aspect of annual event , proper etiquette governor general, guest, take part. when asked reporters motivations were, jean replied: take will.

a series of state visits followed in 2009, norway, croatia, greece, , mexico, visit canadian troops in afghanistan september 8–9. in between these diplomatic missions, jean presided on june 27 on ceremonies in halifax, nova scotia, consecration , presentation of new queen s colour canadian navy; wore @ time commander-in-chief s naval uniform, marking revival of practice had ceased following tenure of ray hnatyshyn. she, along prince charles, did same @ 2009 remembrance day events in ottawa, both @ time sporting canadian army dress uniform. then, in june 2010, jean conducted fleet review in esquimalt harbour, mark 100th anniversary of founding of royal canadian navy.

the vicereine again won plaudits, though not universal, media , public actions following earthquake devastated native haiti on january 12, 2010, in lost friend magalie marcelin, godmother jean s daughter. governor general, prime minister, stephen harper, attended emergency meeting @ department of foreign affairs , made tearful speech, parts in haitian creole, thanking cabinet swift action , canadian media coverage, urging strength , courage haitians. later attended vigil in montreal and, on january 25, 2010, met @ rideau hall haitian prime minister jean-max bellerive. after officially opening 2010 winter olympics in vancouver, on february 12, , winter paralympics month later, governor general made visit haiti, march 8–10, 2010, observe devastation , canadian assistance being meted out there , meet president préval.