Detroit is about to get a new Canadian Consul General.
Andrea Clements, the daughter of a retired General Motors executive (Robert “Bob” Clements) who is steeped in trade and autos, will step into the job in mid-August as Colin Bird retires.
The appointment, announced July 14 by Anita Anand, Canada’s minister of Foreign Affairs, was one of a handful of new consular appointments. The other appointments announced include Kamal Khera, who will become Consul General in Los Angeles; Claire Kennedy, who will become Consul General in Chicago, and Susannah Pierce, who will become Consul General in New York.
Bird leaves Detroit at an important time, just as the new Gordie Howe International Bridge is finally set to open on July 27.
“It’s very satisfying to leave Detroit as we celebrate the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge,” said Bird. “I came to Detroit not knowing what to expect, but I leave convinced that there is no better posting for a Canadian diplomat than Detroit. This community embraces its northern neighbors and recognizes we have common interests that bind us together as a Great Lakes region. We need to keep fighting for the region together.”
Of Clements, he added, “Andrea is a super choice as my successor. … She has strong roots in the region and also auto background.” Clements worked at GM earlier in her career.
‘A very effective diplomat’
Bird has gained accolades from those who have worked with him.
“Colin has been a very effective diplomat,” said Jim Blanchard, former Michigan governor and U.S. ambassador to Canada. “During these challenging times, Colin’s leadership has been deeply appreciated.”
Bird, a career-long Canadian diplomat, was named Consul General of Detroit in 2023.
He has a long personal history with Michigan as his wife, Stacy Bird, grew up in Grosse Pointe. The pair have been married for 30 years.
The Birds have a cottage in Quebec, which Colin Bird said, “is in need of renovation. We want to have it done so the kids can come visit.” They have two grown children.
The consul job is headquartered in Detroit and, in addition to Michigan, includes Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky in its territory. Because Detroit is a crucial gateway with more trade crossings each year than at any other border crossing, the Canadian government located the Consulate General of Canada office in the Motor City.
Clements has a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a masters of political science and international affairs from Carleton University.
She comes to Detroit from the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC. She joined the Canadian Embassy in August 2022 as head of the Commercial Policy and International Business Development. She has been with the Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service for over 22 years.
She also has served at the Canada embassies in Japan and South Korea and the Canadian Consulate in Fukuoka, Japan. She is fluent in French and Japanese.
From 2019 to 2022, Clements worked on developing programming for high growth, high potential Canadian companies. Prior to that, she was director, Aerospace, Automotive, Defense and ICT Practices Division.
Contact Carol Cain at clcain@cbs.com. She is senior producer/host of “Michigan Matters,” which airs 5:30 a.m. Sundays on CBS Detroit and 9:30 a.m. Sundays on CW Detroit 50. See state Rep. Jennifer Wortz , state Rep. Joe Tate, Jim Sullivan (CURE Auto Insurance) Tiffany Gunter (SMART) and Assad Turfe, Deputy Wayne County Executive on this Sunday’s show.. You can also watch the show simultaneously on the two stations’ listings on Fubu, Pluto TV, YouTube TV and Apple TV.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Canadian consulate in Detroit to get new leader as Colin Bird retires
Reporting by Carol Cain, Detroit Free Press Business Columnist / Detroit Free Press
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By Carol Cain, Detroit Free Press Business Columnist | USA TODAY Network
