Canada’s new Consul General in New York has visited the island for the first time.

Phyllis Yaffe spent two days meeting with members of the local business community, as well as the Governor, the Premier and other politicians.

“It was really an introductory trip,” Ms Yaffe, who took up the post in September, told The Royal Gazette.

“This is three months since I’ve been in the job and it was my first opportunity to come here and meet some people and get a sense of the place and I think we accomplished that. We met with the Governor, we met with the Premier, some politicians and we certainly met with the business community as well.”

Ms Yaffe is responsible for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Bermuda.

“It’s unique in that list of places and it has a whole different set of issues because it’s so different than the rest of my area,” she said, adding that she thinks of it as “a jewel in the crown”.

Ms Yaffe, who arrived last Tuesday and left on Thursday, noted: “Canada and Bermuda have a long history of a great relationship and we want to continue that.”

She said her job was to ensure Canadians on the island understand “we’re here for them”, as well as expanding Canadian businesses in Bermuda and opportunities for Bermudians.

“Many Bermudians go to Canada for university or postsecondary education so we want to make sure that they understand that’s still a great opportunity for them.

“So continuing just to build good relationships between Canada and Bermuda is the job at hand.”

Ms Yaffe, who said she thoroughly enjoyed her first visit, plans to return in the New Year.

“I intend to come once or twice a year for sure,” she said. “My team is here on a regular basis.”

She added that the full services of the Consul General in New York were available to Canadians on the island through the Honorary Consul and directly through the team in New York.

“We are on the island if they need us, particularly under the circumstances of emergency services,” she added.

Ms Yaffe, who previously served as the chief executive officer of Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc, has had a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors, holding positions including chairwoman of the board of Cineplex Entertainment, lead director of Torstar Corporation and as a member of the boards of Lionsgate Entertainment, Blue Ant Media and Astral Media.