Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean will arrive in Haiti Monday morning for a two-day visit, and although she expects to see terrible devastation from January's earthquake, she is determined to visit those involved in the relief effort.
"I am expecting to see the worst when I get there," she wrote on her blog Friday. "However, I feel I must go to meet those who are working so hard to rebuild Haiti."
Large crowds are expected to greet Jean, and the visit is being hailed as another sign of Canada's deep bond with Haiti. Jean will also visit her home town of Jacmel.
Jean last visited her birth country after destructive hurricanes hit Haiti in 2008. During that trip, she sobbed openly while surveying the damage.
In the weeks after the quake struck, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and some of his cabinet ministers have also travelled to Haiti. Canada is among the nations which is leading the charge to help reconstruction efforts after the quake.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay is also in Haiti, visiting Canadian troops and overseeing their work in the recovery effort.
The date of Jean's arrival coincides with International Women's Day, and the timing is no accident.
"Without the women of Haiti and without their perspectives and assistance, reconstruction would not be possible," Jean wrote.
"They must be honoured and their efforts must be supported. They need to be heard and their voices must resonate across borders."
Speaking from the capital of Port-au-Prince, CTV's Richard Madan said Jean will also pay tribute to the people who have come together to help with the reconstruction process.
"The governor general will be here to thank people who have donated (to the relief effort) and to take a first hand look at the devastation in the region," he said Sunday.
Madan described Port-au-Prince as a city desperately trying to rebuild.
"Along the main drags you can see that hundreds and hundreds of tent cities have been popping up everywhere," Madan said.
"We drove by and saw hotels that have collapsed, shopping centres that have collapsed, people walking around trying to sell whatever wares they have just to bring in some income."
