Local Tourism Leaders Highlight Collaborative Efforts Across St. Lawrence County

Local Partners Showcase Collaborative Approaches to Destination Development

CANTON, NY — Local tourism partners took center stage at the 2026 St. Lawrence County Tourism Dinner, sharing how collaboration across the arts, recreation, and heritage sectors is strengthening the county as a destination.

Hosted annually by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Team, this year's program focused on the theme, "Destination Development: Rooted in Collaborative Competition." Through real-world examples from tourism partners across the county, the program highlighted how partnerships are creating visitor experiences, supporting economic opportunity, and helping build places where people want to visit, live, work, and invest.

Opening the evening, STLC Director of Tourism Tiffani Amo and Destination Stewardship Consultant Josiah Brown challenged attendees to think beyond municipal boundaries and individual organizations, emphasizing that successful destinations are built through partnership and shared investment. 

Executive Director of SLC Arts, Erica Kelso, highlighted festivals, public art, and community arts programming as examples of how creative placemaking contributes to memorable visitor experiences. Kelso noted, "A mural may begin with an artist's vision, but it requires property owners willing to share their space, municipalities that recognize the value of public art, funders who invest in creative placemaking, schools and community organizations that engage participants, and residents who help shape the story being told."

St. Lawrence County Trails Coordinator, Deb Christy, shared the story behind the county's multi-use trail system, a project developed through more than two decades of collaboration among ATV and snowmobile clubs, sportsmen's groups, trail-side businesses, landowners, and government partners. She noted that these partnerships helped connect individual trail segments into a regional network that now extends into Franklin and Lewis counties, creating a visitor experience larger than any one community could offer alone. Those connections have expanded recreational opportunities while encouraging visitors to explore more communities throughout the region. As Christy observed, "Visitors don't see county lines the way governments do. They see experiences."

St. Lawrence County Historian, Nancy LaFaver, highlighted how America 250 initiatives are strengthening heritage tourism through collaboration. She pointed to Open Doors to History as an example of museums, historical societies, historians, and heritage sites working together to create countywide visitor experiences. "We are aligning our strengths, pooling our resources, and amplifying our messages," LaFaver said. Through coordinated programming, cross-promotion, and collaborative efforts, partners are helping transform individual historic sites into connected heritage experiences that encourage visitors to explore more of St. Lawrence County. 

While each presentation focused on a different sector, a consistent message emerged: collaboration strengthens destinations.

"We were proud to showcase partners who are helping shape the future of tourism here in St. Lawrence County," said Kathryn Puleo, Destination Manager for Visit St. Lawrence County. "The examples shared throughout the evening showed what can happen when organizations, businesses, and communities communicate, support one another, and actively look for opportunities to work together. hose partnerships don't just strengthen tourism; they create stronger businesses, stronger communities, and a stronger St. Lawrence County. "

Those interested in becoming more involved in St. Lawrence County's tourism industry are encouraged to contact Kathryn Puleo, Destination Manager, Visit St. Lawrence County, at kathryn@slcchamber.org to learn about partnership opportunities, industry updates, and ways to get connected with ongoing tourism initiatives. 

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Visit St. Lawrence County