CANTON — Community members, local officials, and regional partners gathered in Canton on Friday, Sept. 18, as Planned Parenthood of the North Country co-hosted an open house and official St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting at its local health center.

The event brought together residents and local stakeholders, including Sean Hennessey, North Country Regional Representative for the New York State Department of Labor, to spotlight the health center’s broad role in the region and mark the launch of an initiative to re-educate the public about its full range of care.

Chief Executive Officer Crystal Collette welcomed attendees alongside Chamber representatives and local staff, emphasizing that the health center serves people at every stage of life. Beyond reproductive healthcare, birth control, and STI testing, Collette highlighted services including menopause care and men’s health services, such as vasectomy care and routine treatment.

“Tell your friends that they can use us for care at any point in their life and take what you learned today about our services and share it with other folks in your circle,” Collette said.

Collette urged community members to bring their private health insurance when seeking care, noting that doing so strengthens Planned Parenthood’s ability to maintain and expand accessible services across the region without taking resources from others. She also commended the local Canton staff for their compassionate care and thanked staff member Nicole for proposing and organizing the event.

Organizers encouraged attendees and local leaders to help spread the word to family and friends about the full scope of services available right in Canton.