A man reaches out and kisses Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean's hand as she meets and dances with people in the Haitian town of Jacmel on Tuesday. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean paid an emotional visit to her family's hometown in Jacmel, Haiti, on Tuesday.

Jean said she wanted to bring hope to the people of the town where her mother and grandmother were born.

Jean was born in Port-au-Prince, but says she visited Jacmel many times before her family fled Haiti when she was 11 years old.

The Governor General was presented with the key to the town, and promised that she will use the key to open all doors.

Jean said she didn't want to be the focus of the visit.

"I want to see what the people are up to."

Residents relay their concerns

Jean was taken from event to event.

But outside a power plant she was due to inspect, Jean was greeted by local singers who waved signs saying, "Don't forget us."

Jean read the signs and then spent a couple of minutes joining the dancing.

Local residents Danielle Cornay and Beatrice Villeneuve said there are lots of problems in Jacmel.

"The power plant doesn't run all the time," they said. And they need better schools and health care.

At the last event of the morning, the Governor General was treated to a short concert at a school that is trying to keep children off the streets.

"Music," said Jean, "is important. It gives us hope."