And the bird, or at least its production, is flying back north.

Two years ago, Blue Bird closed its Canada plant and moved its Micro Bird small school and commercial bus line to the company’s headquarters in Fort Valley, Ga. But production is moving back to Canada following the announcement of a joint agreement with Girardin Minibus to consolidate both bus lines.

“Girardin’s complete Type A bus line is a perfect complement to Blue Bird’s complete Type C and D bus product lines and ensures our dealers can offer our mutual customers the best in a complete family of Blue Bird school and activity bus products,” said Greg Bennett, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation, in a written statement.

While Blue Bird’s former Micro Bird facility was located in Brantford, Ontario, production will now move to Girardin’s headquarters in Drummondville, Quebec. The newly created organization is called Micro Bird, Inc., and has the exclusive rights to design and fabricate all Blue Bird Type A school buses, activity buses and commercial buses under the brand name Blue Bird Micro Bird by Girardin. Girardin will also remain a Canadian dealer for Blue Bird. This summer, during Girardin's 50th anniversary celebration, the company's unveiled the TX3, the Canadian version of Blue Bird's All American Type D transit.

Steve Girardin, president of Girardin Minibus, now holds the same title at Micro Bird, Inc.