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Laraque, who is of Haitian origin, said the tragedy in his family’s home country has put his own life into perspective.

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Governor General Michaelle Jean (left), speaks with the congregation of the main Cathedral in Port-au-Prince Mar. 8, 2010. Jean is on a two-day official visit to Haiti.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean on Monday called the destruction in her native country “unbelievable,” but expressed optimism that the Haitian people can rebuild their quake-shattered country.

“It’s as if the city has been bombarded. The magnitude of destruction is unbelievable,” Jean said as she kicked off a two-day trip to Haiti.

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By SUE MONTGOMERY/ smontgomery@thegazette.canwest.com
Appeals to diaspora in Quebec Montreal hosts two-day conference on post-quake reconstruction plans

Haitian PM Jean-Max Bellerive told delegates that conferences like the one in Montreal can help build a stronger Haiti.

The plan to rebuild Haiti must be prepared by Haitians for Haitians, the prime minister of the devastated country said yesterday.

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Quebec Premier Jean Charest, left, and Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive met to discuss the rebuilding of the Caribbean nation on Friday.

Bellerive is in Montreal for a conference on the reconstruction of the earthquake-stricken country.

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(AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION via COMTEX) — Air Canada reported on Tuesday that it is resuming its scheduled flights to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, now that Toussaint Louverture International Airport has reopened to limited commercial operations.

From 9 March Air Canada will resume its weekly flights from Montreal to Port-au-Prince.

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Governor General Michaelle Jean, Canada’s first Black Governor General, speaks on Jan. 13, 2010 about the crisis in Haiti following its earthquake. (Photograph by: Blair Gable, Reuters)

OTTAWA — Governor General Michaelle Jean will travel to her native Haiti next Monday for a two-day visit of the devastated country that was rocked by a powerful earthquake on Jan. 12.

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Caribbean and Latin American leaders have agreed to create a new regional bloc that excludes the US and Canada.

Cuban President Castro with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez

Wrapping up a two-day summit of 32 leaders in Cancun on Tuesday, Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared that the new bloc “must as a priority push for regional integration and globally project a Latin American and Caribbean identity.”

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A Canadian soldier chats with young boys during a rural area patrol in Leogane near Port-au-Prince, Saturday January 30th 2010. A 7-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on January 12th damaging much of Port-au-Prince.

OTTAWA — The more than 2,000 Canadian Forces personnel in Haiti are beginning a gradual return to Canada as the emergency phase of international earthquake relief efforts move to longer term assistance programs.

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Young Artists for Haiti recorded a revamped version of hip-hop artist K’Naan’s “Wavin’ Flag.” Proceeds from the recording will benefit Free The Children, War Child Canada and World Vision.

More than 50 of Canada’s brightest, emerging young stars gathered Thursday to record a song in an effort to help Haiti.

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Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper (2ndL) speaks to Canadian soldiers at a water processing plant ran by the Canadians in Jacmel on February 16, 2010. (Photograph by: AFP, Getty)

OTTAWA — The federal government has rejected a call to appoint a former prime minister as a Canadian “champion” for Haiti — deciding not to follow in the footsteps of U.S. President Barack Obama, who drafted Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to spearhead American support for earthquake-relief efforts.

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