Michaelle Jean: Presented with a Goat

Michaelle Jean is the third and last female governor general of Canada who just ended her term in October 2010. She is a journalist and stateswoman and former refugee from Haiti.

Michaelle and the women in her family suffered abuse at the hands of her father. Michaelle Jean had conducted a study on spousal abuse while she was still in university. She also worked in a women's shelter after she finished her studies.

International travel

Part of the job of the governor general is to visit other countries, representing Canada. The first trip Michaelle Jean and family took in her role as Governor General of Canada was to the closing ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympicsin Italy, in February 2006 She met the Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, and Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.

Shortly afterward she went to Haiti for the investiture of the New President, René Préval. This would be her first trip to her native land as Governor General and she was well received in Jacmel where she grew up.

Michaelle Jean finished the year in November and December visiting five African countries: Algeria, Morocco, Mali, Ghana, and South Africa. Her focus for these trips to African countries was to talk about women's rights. Michaelle Jean explained her mission on her website, Citizen Voices. She also posted her personal observations and feelings about her trip.

Presented with a goat

Tens of thousands of people in Mali came out to see her motorcade passing through the town of Benieli. Michaelle Jean was presented with a goat wearing a Canadian flag on its collar as a gift from the town. Unusual as that gift was so was the actions of the townspeople. The male vendors of the town were prepared to give the journalists gifts to pass on to her providing she gave them her phone number.

South African President, Thabo Mbeki supported the Queen-in-Council's decision to appoint her as governor general and thus head of state of Canada. He went on to say that her appointment was a good example for European countries to see how African immigrants could be and should be treated.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micha%C3%ABlle_Jean

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2010/09/29/f-michaelle-jean-bio.html

http://www.conservative.ca/EN/news_releases/statement_from_stephen_harper_on_the_appointment_of_new_governor_general/

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20050811/gg_sovereignty_050811/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2005/08/12/jean-sovereignty050812.html

http://www.canada.com/national/features/governor_general/story.html?id=78549c49-781f-43c0-908d-20f24db2ca5a

http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4728

http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4994