Julie Crowley, High Commissioner for Canada in the Republic of Rwanda

Message

It is my great honour and privilege to serve as Canada’s first resident high commissioner in Rwanda, as well as ambassador-designate to Burundi.

Canada has long-standing and rich relations with Rwanda and Burundi, which are growing stronger through the vibrant people-to-people ties we enjoy.

Our dynamic team of talented and committed professionals, who represent a great diversity of backgrounds and experience, will strive to deepen Canada’s already strong ties with Rwanda and Burundi, to the mutual benefit of our countries.

Building on well-established partnerships, we will continue to advance common priorities centered on gender equality, environmental protection, inclusive and sustainable development, as well as shared prosperity, peace and stability.

I invite you to browse this website and our “Canada in Rwanda and Burundi” X—formerly Twitter—account to learn about our activities and services, including consular services to Canadians, support for Canadian companies interested in the Rwandan and Burundian markets, and opportunities for Rwandans and Burundians to study in Canada, among others. 

I am particularly excited to take on this role in countries so blessed with natural beauty, rich cultures and inspiring people. Together, we have much work to do, and I look forward to your ideas, comments and suggestions!

Biography

Julie Crowley (LLB, Laval University, 1998; Certificate [Journalism], Laval University, 1999; MA [Political Science], University of Quebec in Montréal, 2003) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2003. At Headquarters, she worked as legal adviser in environmental and oceans law from 2003 to 2005. She was also manager of corporate governance affairs from 2008 to 2010. Abroad, she worked extensively on African issues. She has had diplomatic assignments in Zambia, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Ethiopia; in the latter of these her responsibilities focused on Canada’s relations with the African Union. Since October 2019 and until most recently, Ms. Crowley was regional director of the International Development Research Centre’s Office for Central and West Africa, which is based in Senegal and has responsibilities for 24 countries.