Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers

Today, we extend our heartfelt thank you and congratulations to Angela Foley on an incredible 23 years of service as Managing Director of the GSGP Australia & New Zealand Trade Office. Angela was instrumental in launching the GSGP Trade Office in 2002, laying the foundation for trade success between Australia, New Zealand and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region. Under her leadership, the office has supported thousands of businesses from Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in expanding their global reach. ? She has been a tireless advocate for the region—helping companies navigate the Australian and New Zealand markets, attracting Australian investment to Pennsylvania, hosted countless trade missions and trade shows, spent weeks traveling across the Great Lakes region to meet and counsel companies, and championed industries that drive job creation and economic growth. ? Angela’s ability to pinpoint opportunities, build lasting connections, and guide businesses toward success has made a lasting impact. ? As Angela transitions into an advisory role at Foley, we celebrate her incredible contributions and the legacy she leaves behind. ? Congratulations, Angela! We will miss working with you.

There are over 350 lighthouses on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Which Great Lake has the most lighthouses? A)????Lake Erie B)????Lake Huron C)????Lake Michigan D)????Lake Ontario E)???? Lake Superior Check the comments to see if you guessed right! Lighthouses are prominent landmarks in coastal communities across the region. For centuries, these lighthouses have helped ships safely navigate the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Navigation technologies like GPS and radar beacons have modernized navigating the waters; however, more than 200 lighthouses remain operational today.

Friday Trade Focus: What’s the best part of your job? I get to work with global business development managers who have a lot of experience across many markets. I enjoy learning from their experiences while I help them expand in Japan. What is your favorite spot in your region/country? I love the Shinagawa area in Tokyo, where I'm based.. It looks like an international city around the key station but it also has an old town where you can find nice local restaurants and bars which provide high quality seafood, BBQ, craft beer, etc.?

Thanks to everyone who attended the Great Lakes USA/Cruise the Great Lakes annual meeting in Milwaukee this week.?This was a great opportunity for the region’s tourism leaders to come together to strategize about advancing cruising and international tourism to the region.? ? Thank you in particular to Cruise the Great Lakes Chair Anne Sayers and Great Lakes USA Chair Lauren Bennett McGinty, as well as our hosts at Visit Milwaukee including Peggy Williams-Smith and Tony Snell Rodriguez.?Thank you also to John Emmerich and Discovery World for hosting our press conference yesterday.?The event received significant media coverage from local and regional outlets, check out the FOX6 Milwaukee, WITI-TV coverage below!

Many thanks to Senator Laura Fine, Representative David Abbott, and Jess Lienhardt for inviting Peter Johnson an opportunity to educate the new members of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus on the work of the GSGP alongside Eric Brown and Jonathan Altenberg.

New technologies lead to more efficient means of transportation. In recent centuries, some of the earlier boats to navigate the Great Lakes were small row boats that carried smaller cargo like furs, textiles and bags of grain. A major advancement was the introduction of sails in 1679, which allowed ship sizes and cargo loads to grow. Iron ore, salt, lumber, and other natural resources began making their way through the Great Lakes system. Between the 1800s-1900s, fuel technologies rapidly expanded. From firewood-powered steam engines to diesel engines, ships quickly became more efficient at carrying large volumes of high value cargo. Today, hybrid electric, liquified natural gas, methane, and hydrogen are being explored as alternative fuels for the 1,000-foot lakers that carry hundreds of millions of tons of cargo valued at over $25 billion US through the Great Lakes St. Lawrence system.

Today, Zo? Munro was in Montréal, Québec, attending the "Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Corridor at the Time of CUSMA's Renegotiation" conference, hosted by GVCdtLab. With North American trade at a pivotal moment, this event provided a platform for industry leaders and experts to discuss the future of cross-border commerce, tariffs, and supply chains. #greatlakes

Parlez-vous fran?ais? Cette semaine David Naftzger, John Schmidt and Cailyn Andrews sont à Jonquiere pour practiquer leurs compétences en francais en préparation pour le Sommet du leadership a Ville de Québec en octobre.?Merci beaucoup à Esther Armaignac et émile Gagné-Pagé et la merveilleuse equipe au Centre linguistique du Cégep de Jonquière pour l'accueil. This week, David Naftzer, John Schmidt and Cailyn Andrews are in Jonquière practicing their French language skills in preparation for the Governors' and Premiers' Leadership Summit in Quebec City this October. Many thanks to Esther Armaignac and émile Gagné-Pagé and the wonderful education team at the Centre linguistique du Cégep de Jonquière for hosting us.

Cruising on the Great Lakes has seen a rise in popularity over the past few years, and Cathy Domanico, GSGP Tourism Director, has plans to continue that trend. Her goals are to build awareness of the Great Lakes for passenger cruising and promoting the region for its unique blend of activities for domestic and international tourism. See more of her plans in Seaway Review. https://lnkd.in/gVnTsYUm

Planes, trains, automobiles... and cruise ships? For nearly a century (1890s-1980s), passenger ships on the Great Lakes maintained one to twelve-day long itineraries between major ports such as Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, and Georgian Bay. Week-long itineraries were the most popular, offering passengers the opportunity to spend several hours sightseeing in various port cities. Onboard, rooms were quaint, and activities included deck games, children’s playgrounds, and dances in the ballroom with a live orchestra. Today, Great Lakes cruises offer an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime journey. Itineraries span from 7 to 17 days filled with excursions highlighting the rich history and culture of the Great Lakes region. Passengers experience personalized service, world-class dining, and dynamic onboard and onshore activities. Nearly all cruise itineraries visit multiple U.S. and Canadian ports, including destinations that can be logistically challenging to reach by plane or car such as the beautiful Mackinac Island, Michigan, and Frazer Bay, Ontario.