Almost four years ago, on October 31, 2022, Sylvia Cesaratto arrived in Florida as Consul General of Canada in Miami. Her term will end on September 11, 2026, and she agreed to speak with us.
Achievements to Be Proud Of
Ms. Cesaratto says, “It has been a great source of pride to represent Canada in Florida, and I am especially proud of what the consulate team does every day. Whether in big or small ways, it is truly a privilege to represent Canada and provide services to Canadians.”
Among her memorable moments, the Consul General had the honor of throwing out the first pitch at a game between the Marlins and the Blue Jays in Miami. She also spoke as a guest lecturer in a university class and received a certificate of appreciation from the Mayor of Miami-Dade County and the county commissioners. “We also welcomed four Canadian frigates—two in Miami, one in Key West, and one in Puerto Rico—something that hadn’t happened in Florida for a very long time.”
While traveling across the state, she met thousands of people: at least 250 one-on-one meetings per year, trade shows, conferences, and she served as a panelist to discuss Canadian perspectives.
She has also accompanied trade missions from Florida to Canada, including a recent one with state legislators.
Other unforgettable moments: “The launch of Artemis I, shortly after my arrival in 2022, and that of Artemis II this year with our dear Canadian astronaut, Jeremy Hansen. An important moment for space exploration, for the Canadian Space Agency, and for Canada—but an unforgettable and historic moment for the entire world.”
Complex and interesting—even exotic!
While Canada follows the United States very closely, “it wasn’t until I came to Florida that I realized just how complex the United States is. From one state to the next, things are very different in terms of culture and political landscape. Even within Florida, the state varies greatly from the north to the center to the south, which makes it fascinating. Those stationed in the United States realize just how exotic it is, that we have a lot to learn, and that it is by far our most important partner.”
While it certainly hasn’t been easy to represent Canada over the past two years, “it is these strong relationships—between legislators, businesspeople, and others—that have endured for a very long time and will survive the times we’re living in,” the Consul General explains.
The Generosity of the People We’ve Met
Florida is Sylvia Cesaratto’s fifth international posting, “and our time here has been marked by the generosity of the people we’ve met. I think we’ll stay in touch with many more people in Miami than we have in the past during our other postings.”
This warms her heart and also gives her a great deal of hope for weathering these times in which the bilateral relationships between Canada and the United States, and between Canada and Florida, have been impacted by the Trump administration’s trade policy. “And that’s important, because Florida remains a major global economy. If it were a country, it would be the 14th-largest economy in the world. Canada is number 10.”
Areas of collaboration that have seen the most progress
Ms. Cesaratto notes that Florida and Canada both have highly sophisticated economies: “We’re targeting high-end sectors, and we have fully integrated trade and value chains: aerospace, space, defense, and life sciences. There aren’t many countries in the world where Florida can find a counterpart on par with Canada.” There’s also artificial intelligence, where Canada has a head start, as well as quantum technology and energy—especially nuclear energy.
During Ms. Cesaratto’s tenure, “the Canada–Florida relationship has made significant progress on the defense front. Naval ship visits helped, but I also visited our colleagues in the Canadian Armed Forces at military bases in Florida and spoke with generals to highlight Canada’s presence as a partner to the United States. Even at the Consulate General’s office in Miami, the teams from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency have expanded.
Next Step
While it’s quite bittersweet to leave Florida, Ms. Cesaratto and her husband are happy to return to Ottawa: “We miss Canada and our family. I’ll be closer to my four children—three of whom are in Canada—and to my family in Montreal.” She’s also thinking about what’s next: “I’ve been a Canadian diplomat for over 30 years now, and I’ve spent 20 of those abroad. I want to stay connected, contribute, and make an impact.” She hopes to share the knowledge she’s gained from so many years abroad, while working in a field that she’s passionate about and finds fascinating (business communities) and volunteering for causes close to her heart (combating domestic violence and human trafficking)—and she plans to travel!
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