Ritchie Honors Our Neighbors to the North on 'Canada Day' at the Capitol

State Senator Patty Ritchie welcomed special guests from Canada to the Capitol Monday as New York Celebrates ‘Canada Day’.  The event featured a number of events designed to honor the special relationship that exists between New York State and our neighbors to the north.

Those making the trip across the border to Albany included Canada’s Deputy Consul General in New York, Khawar Nasim.  DCG Nasim recently joined the Consulate General of Canada in New York and this was his first visit to the capitol.

The New York State Senate honored its distinguished guests during Monday’s session with an official resolution recognizing Canada’s importance to New York, as well as the economic and cultural ties that exist between our neighbors to the north and the United States.

“Our relationship with Canada is one that benefits both nations, and the friendship we share is a feeling I experience—and appreciate—every time I visit our shared-border communities,” said Senator Ritchie.

“It’s a friendship that grows stronger every day and I’m looking forward to continuing the work we do together, to ensure we are helping each other grow stronger and be the best neighbors we possibly can.”

Last month, Senator Ritchie made the trip to Prescott, Ontario, Canada to join nearly 40 leaders from both sides of the New York-Canadian border for a special event she hosted to discuss ways the United States and Canada can work together to improve trade, tourism and relations between the two nations. She also founded the International Border Legislative Caucus to bring together leaders from all along the 450-mile long border.

(Attn. photo editors: Pictured in the above photo from left to right are Deputy Consul Juan-Consul Caroline Desrochers, Senator Patty Ritchie, Senior Advisor Rachael Homewood and Deputy Consul General Khawar Nasim)