The vicereine again won plaudits , though not universal , from the media and public for her actions following the earthquake that devastated her native Haiti on January 12 , 2010 , in which she lost her friend Magalie Marcelin , godmother to Jean 's daughter . The Governor General , with her prime minister , Stephen Harper , attended an emergency meeting at the Department of Foreign Affairs and then made a tearful speech , with parts in Haitian Creole , thanking the Cabinet for its swift action and the Canadian media for its coverage , as well as urging strength and courage to Haitians . She later attended a vigil in Montreal and , on January 25 , 2010 , met at Rideau Hall with Haitian prime minister Jean-Max Bellerive . After officially opening the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver , on February 12 , and the Winter Paralympics a month later , the Governor General made a visit to Haiti , from March 8 – 10 , 2010 , to observe the devastation and Canadian assistance being meted out there and to meet with President Préval
earthquake that devastated her native Haiti
2010 Haiti earthquake
Michaëlle Jean