JACMEL, HAITI – Michaelle Jean has landed in her ancestral hometown of Jacmel, Haiti.

The Governor General arrived by helicopter in the colourful port city, where as a child, she would spend summers with relatives.

She was born in Port-au-Prince, but considers this place the source of her family roots.

She arrived at an airstrip and shook hands with Canadian soldiers, thanking them for their efforts there.

The military is shutting down its field hospital, but will leave behind infrastucture like the water-purification unit and latrines it built.

Up to 500 troops were here after the earthquake, and roughly half have already gone home.

Jean also met with local dignitaries at the airport.

She will meet with civic leaders, and then visit her old neighbourhood in the town centre.

The Canadian Press