“Kicking Things Off Right: First-Ever Cornwall & SDG Tourism Summit Brings Learning and Lasting Connections”

Yesterday, April 9, I checked out the inaugural Cornwall & SDG Counties Tourism Summit, that took place at the Cornwall Civic Complex.

What a great way to celebrate “National Tourism Week”. Close to 100 people attended the Summit which was planned to ”Learn, Connect and Grow our Regional Tourism Industry”. A very structured event with presentations by Randi Barreiro, Marketing Specialist for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, followed by the Keynote Speaker, Andrew Siegwart, President and CEO of TIAO (Tourism Industry Association of Ontario). Kris McCarthy spoke about FanSaves, a company that he co-owns with Shannon Fergusson, Bonnie Ruddock spoke about RT09 and Matthew Ing, spoke about Kingston Film & Media. There was plenty of networking time plus this was the perfect place to launch the 2025 Cornwall, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Visitor Guide.

Thank you to the organization team for putting this event together. Seen in the header photo, from left to right: Shauna Baggs, Cornwall Tourism Supervisor, Sydney Smith, Cornwall Tourism Development Officer, Cory Hagen, SDG Acting Tourism Coordinator Planning and Economic Development, Karina Belanger, SDG Tourism Acting Manager of Economic Development and Hannah McDonnell, SDG Administrative Assistant Planning and Economic Development.

Before the Summit Shauna said, “We aim to create a dynamic learning environment where tourism professionals can exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and build lasting connections,” and continued, “Whether you’re a seasoned expert or new to the field, this summit provides valuable insights and practical tools to enhance your tourism initiatives. Let’s work together to elevate SDG and Cornwall as a premier destination.”

“This summit is a crucial step in advancing regional tourism through education and collaboration,” said Cory Hagen, SDG Counties Tourism. “We are eager to partner with Cornwall to develop a cohesive and compelling tourism product that benefits our entire community.”

I think this mission was accomplished as the main comment that I got from the attendees was that this is an event that was needed to bring many organizations together to work as a team towards the same goal – showcasing what Cornwall and the Counties have to offer.

The event concluded with a great team building exercise, thanks to Cory Hagen, which definitely got everyone thinking about all that our area has to offer.