(Ottawa) ...Throughout Governor General Michealle Jean's term, carefully crafted itineraries were obliterated with aplomb. Longer-than-planned meetings, extended handshakes at meet-and-greets, and impromptu detours all contributed to a daily ritual described by one aide as, "like trying to catch a butterfly."
Her exhausted entourage looked on in Haiti earlier this year as a carefully planned walk through the streets of her mother's hometown morphed into a prolonged group hug. Canada's ambassador to Haiti, who'd been tasked with getting her to her next event, rested against a nearby hunk of concrete and sat impassively when reminded of the time. "I give up," he shrugged.
Jean steadfastly refused to wear a watch — not even as a fashion accessory — during her term. She preferred not to know what time it was.
Although there will be occasions to assess Jean's term this week as it concludes with a military salute, an event in Parliament, and a tree-planting ceremony at Rideau Hall, she moves on Thursday to the next phase in her life as a United Nations envoy to Haiti, her earthquake-battered homeland.
The man who replaces her, David Johnston, brings with him undisputed gravitas and stellar credentials as an academic and public servant. But any of her successors would be hard-pressed to outperform Jean in some aspects of the job. Few public figures will ever command a higher profile as a Canadian spokesperson.
Governor General Jean will be noted for many things during her term, but many will remember how she managed a high-profile assist in the Harper government's fundraising efforts for Haiti, her homeland without any thought given to being accused of bias by her fellow Canadians.
Infact, when Prime Minister Steven Harper invited the Gov. Gen. to do a briefing on the disaster relief..., she made a teary-eyed public appearance that tugged at Canadian heartstrings and pried open wallets.
Jean's office estimates that between Jan. 12, the date of the Haiti earthquake, and her departure this week, she received at least 166 interview requests from media outlets including international heavyweights like CNN, Al Jazeera, and the BBC.
The Canadian Press Mon Sep 27, 12:50 AM By Alexander Panetta
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100927/...
Posted By: Jen Fad
Monday, September 27th 2010 at 3:03PM
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