State Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, was among a contingent welcoming visitors and dignitaries from Canada to the Capitol Tuesday for a day of events aimed at "celebrating the relationship between New York State and the country."

Those visiting included Phyllis Yaffe, counsel general of Canada in New York and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Maxime Cormier, among others.

Visitors were honored during the day’s Senate session with an official resolution recognizing the nation, as well as the cultural and economic ties that exist between Canada and the United States.

“As the State Senator who represents the longest stretch of our state’s 450-mile shared Canadian border, I know how critically important—and unique—our relationship with Canada is," Ritchie said in a prepared statement. “Our friendship with Canada is something that benefits us all and I’m looking forward to us continuing to work together to strengthen our economic and cultural ties.”

In addition to joining state lawmakers for Tuesday’s Senate session, visitors from Canada also took part in a panel discussion on how the countries can work together to improve economies on both sides of the border.