VANCOUVER - Haiti's earthquake has become a sad undercurrent in Vancouver as the Olympics are set to get underway.
In Vancouver today, Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean told members of the Haitian community, politicians, aid groups and fundraisers that the world was turned upside down Jan. 12 when the earthquake struck.
Jean says her daughter lost her godmother in the quake and the girl has been busy making jewelry to raise money for the Red Cross to try overcome her grief.
Jean, who teared up several times during her speech, says both she and her daughter are in mourning, just like many others touched by the disaster.
The governor general says the people of Haiti don't need more situations like these to prove their courage, but the Haitians know that residents of Vancouver, Canada and their world are their family.
Just before Jean spoke, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson announced a program to sell 3,000 of the city's 2010 Olympic street banners, which could raise up to $400,000 for UNICEF organizers who work in Haiti.
