FREDERICTON - Hundreds of people gathered in the rain Tuesday to see Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean as she started the public portion of her official visit to New Brunswick with a 21-gun salute at the provincial legislature.
Marie Gachette said it was important for her to meet the first Governor General from her home country of Haiti.
"I feel proud of my nation and I feel proud of the job that she does for the country of Canada,'' said Gachette. "She is a good example and I hope everyone follows her footsteps.''
Krista Allport of New Maryland, N.B., huddled under a large umbrella with two small girls as they waited for the Governor General.
"I think it's important to bring the children out today to explain what she represents to Canada with the monarchy,'' said Allport.
After reviewing an honour guard from nearby Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, Jean addressed politicians and guests inside the legislature.
She spoke of the province's history and its bilingual culture.
"It pleases me to see you work so productively together under this historic roof,'' Jean said. "Your province is a model of co-operation for the entire country and the world.''
During the brief speech, she spoke of the Aboriginal Peoples who embraced the natural resources of New Brunswick.
"The Mi'kmaq and Maliseet have shared with us the spirit of this generous land. Their ancestors wisely gathered the various resources offered by the forests, lakes rivers and ocean that surrounded them,'' she said.
And she took time in both official languages to speak of the Acadian and Loyalist refugees who settled the province.
"I might even go as far as to say that the memory of those refugees is part of your collective history and pertains to the woman you see before you today,'' she stated.
The Governor General began her first visit to New Brunswick Monday with a tour of CFB Gagetown and a meeting with families of soldiers deployed in Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, her schedule includes a discussion with people who work to prevent family violence and violence against women.
Premier Shawn Graham made note of Jean's ongoing efforts in that area Tuesday by announcing the province had donated $5,000 in her name to Making Waves, a provincewide project that educates teens on how to prevent dating violence.
Jean and her husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, travel to northern New Brunswick Wednesday afternoon for the balance of the five-day visit to the province.
That includes a visit to trawlers in the waters between Caraquet and Shippagan to meet with lobster fishermen.
The trip wraps up Friday when she meets with students and young professionals from across the province to discuss the state of French Canadian culture in New Brunswick.
