She recalls her own story
The Parliament Hill ceremony, including gospel singers, acrobats and a virtuoso performance on a Chinese two-stringed instrument known as the erhu, was an emotional one for Ms. Jean.
At one point, tears streamed down the Governor- General’s cheeks as she quietly sang along to a haunting rendition of Hymne à la Beauté du Monde sung by Quebec artists Julie Massicotte and Lynda Thalie.
The song, echoing a theme struck by Ms. Jean in her speech, is a plea to preserve the beauty of the world for future generations.
Moments later, she paused and warmly embraced Adrienne Clarkson, the outgoing governor- general, and her husband, John Ralston Saul, as she worked her way to the front of the Senate Chamber.
Near the end of the official program, a visibly relieved Ms. Jean joined in a booming spiritual sung by Sylvie Desgroseillers and the People’s Gospel Choir of Montreal. For a few minutes, the Senate foyer looked like the scene of a set for a Broadway musical as Ms. Jean joined the group, clapping and swaying to the music.
Earlier, inside the Senate Chamber, she appeared lost in solemn thought as Mr. Martin praised Mme. Clarkson and Mr. Saul for the “ warmth, intelligence and wit” with which they conducted themselves before turning his attention to Ms. Jean, whose life he applauded since she and her family fled strife-torn Haiti in 1968 as a “remarkable” success story.
“But no matter how far she has come, no matter how much she has accomplished, she has nurtured her memory of the past,” he said. “ Through her work we can see that by looking back, she has found the compass to guide her into the future.”
Ms. Jean briefly relived her family’s story, and quoted her poet uncle as she described the hope that has characterized her approach to life. “My own story begins as a young child in another country,” she said, “one ‘ draped in barbed wire from head to toe,’ in the words of Haitian poet-inexile Rene Depestre, who is also my uncle.”
Ms. Jean sat down after the oaths and looked as if she doubted her own senses — that little girls from Haiti don’t suddenly ascend to become head of state of Canada. Then it was as if she suddenly awoke to her good fortune and she broke into a radiant smile. She comes across as dignified and caring, someone who is eager to ensure “ the ethical and ecological integrity of this world and do other good works in her role as Canada’s goodwill ambassador.
Ms. Jean’s mother, who is divorced from her father, suffers from Alzheimer’s and was unable to attend the ceremony.
But many other relatives and friends were on hand.
Yardly Kavanagh, one of her Haitian-born cousins, said she was very proud her cousin was chosen for such a prestigious appointment. But she echoed her uncle in saying the family was most unhappy about the controversy surrounding her appointment. “I hope Canadians will give her that chance to (get to) know her, especially English Canada who doesn’t know her that well,” said Kavanagh, of Brossard, Que.