st. lawrence parks commission
St. Lawrence Parks Commission is an Ontario Crown agency operating six heritage attractions and recreational facilities — including Upper Canada Village, Fort Henry, Kingston Pen Tours, campgrounds, a golf course, and a marina — across 200 km of the St. Lawrence River, serving over 600,000 visitors annually.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1960
- HeadquartersMorrisburg, Canada
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What st. lawrence parks commission does
St. Lawrence Parks Commission (SLPC) is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario, established in 1960 and operating under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. Headquartered in Morrisburg, Ontario, SLPC manages a portfolio of six core attractions along a 200 km stretch of the St. Lawrence River covering 7,000 hectares from Kingston to the Quebec border. Its assets comprise three historical attractions — Upper Canada Village (an 1860s living history museum), Fort Henry (a National Historic Site and former military fort), and Kingston Pen Tours (Canada's oldest maximum-security prison tours) — alongside Parks of the St. Lawrence (campgrounds, beaches, and day-use parks), Upper Canada Golf Course (an 18-hole public course designed by Robbie Robinson), and Crysler Park Marina (250 seasonal slips plus transient capacity). The commission serves over 600,000 visitors annually and generates estimated regional economic spin-offs exceeding $80 million per year.
The commission's revenue is derived from a diversified mix of one-time admissions, annual season passes and memberships, overnight camping and marina dockage, golf green fees and memberships, facility rentals for weddings and corporate events, corporate sponsorships, and charitable donations. Pricing is anchored by the CPSL ONePass at $124+ (CAD), a comprehensive subscription bundling all major attractions and discounts across the portfolio, supplemented by individual attraction passes ($50+), a $99.99 parks day-use pass, seasonal camping, marina dockage, and golf memberships. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via the parks.on.ca website, on-site ticketing, Microsoft Bookings for guest relations and group sales, and a Travel Trade program for tour operators.
SLPC's go-to-market is structured around five customer segments: general public and tourists, school and educational groups, organized groups and corporate clients, campers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and golfers. The commission's competitive position rests on its statutory mandate, stewardship of irreplaceable National Historic Sites, and a contiguous geographic footprint that no competitor can replicate. It is currently undertaking an $82 million Ontario-government-funded infrastructure modernization (beaches, campgrounds) and expanding programming into Indigenous cultural heritage (First Nations Cultural Expo 2026), shoulder-season events, and winter trail use through the Ontario Trails Council.
st. lawrence parks commission firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- st. lawrence parks commission
- Legal name
- St. Lawrence Parks Commission
- Website
- https://parks.on.ca
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1960
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- St. Lawrence Parks Commission is an Ontario Crown agency operating six heritage attractions and recreational facilities — including Upper Canada Village, Fort Henry, Kingston Pen Tours, campgrounds, a golf course, and a marina — across 200 km of the St. Lawrence River, serving over 600,000 visitors annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
st. lawrence parks commission industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heritage Tourism and Public Recreation Services
- NAICS
- Historical Sites (712120), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Historical Sites (71212), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access) (THAAAAAH)
Keywords
Where st. lawrence parks commission is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Morrisburg
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
st. lawrence parks commission business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Attraction Admissions: Revenue from admissions to Upper Canada Village, Fort Henry, and Kingston Pen Tours including day programs and special events.
- Season Passes and Memberships: Sale of seasonal passes including CPSL ONePass ($124+), individual attraction passes, and camping/golf/marina seasonal memberships.
- Camping and Marina Fees: Revenue from overnight camping at 10+ campgrounds and dockage at Crysler Park Marina (250 slips).
- Golf Course Operations: Revenue from Upper Canada Golf Course green fees and memberships.
- Facility Rentals and Corporate Events: Revenue from renting facilities for weddings, corporate evenings, and private events at Fort Henry and Upper Canada Village.
- Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships providing brand visibility, advertising, and product sampling opportunities across SLPC's multiple operational units.
- Donations: Charitable donations and donation requests from community organizations, primarily in the form of attraction passes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Upper Canada Village Season Pass |
| Subscription | Annual | Fort Henry Season Pass |
| Subscription | Annual | Parks Day Use Pass |
| Subscription | Annual | CPSL ONePass |
| Subscription | Annual | Crysler Park Marina Seasonal Docking |
| Subscription | Annual | Upper Canada Golf Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Seasonal Camping |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
st. lawrence parks commission product offering
Product offeringCore offering
St. Lawrence Parks Commission operates and manages a portfolio of historical attractions and outdoor recreation facilities along a 200 km corridor of the St. Lawrence River in Eastern Ontario. The commission runs living history museums (Upper Canada Village, Fort Henry, Kingston Pen Tours), public campgrounds and beaches (Parks of the St. Lawrence), an 18-hole public golf course (Upper Canada Golf Course), and a 250-slip marina (Crysler Park Marina), selling admissions, season passes, rentals, and facility bookings.
Product overview
The St. Lawrence Parks Commission operates a portfolio of historical attractions and recreational facilities spanning 200 km along the St. Lawrence River from Kingston to the Quebec border. The attractions include Upper Canada Village (1860s living history museum), Fort Henry (19th-century military fort with Sunset Ceremonies), Kingston Pen Tours (maximum-security prison tours), the Parks of the St. Lawrence (campgrounds, beaches, and day-use areas), Upper Canada Golf Course (18-hole public course), and Crysler Park Marina (250-slip marina). These are complemented by membership products including the CPSL ONePass comprehensive season pass and individual attraction season passes, along with day-use passes for park access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Upper Canada Village A living history museum featuring authentic 1860s period buildings, costumed interpreters, and interactive activities that transport visitors to 19th-century rural Ontario life. Targeted at families, tourists, school groups, and heritage education visitors.
- Fort Henry A National Historic Site offering immersive 19th-century military life experiences including the Fort Henry Sunset Ceremony and Fort Henry Tattoo events. Targeted at tourists, school groups, and event attendees.
- Kingston Pen Tours Guided tours of Canada's oldest maximum-security prison, offering rare behind-the-scenes access to the historic Kingston Penitentiary. Targeted at tourists and group visitors.
- Parks of the St. Lawrence A network of campgrounds, beaches, and day-use parks spanning 200 km along the St. Lawrence River, offering outdoor recreation including overnight camping, swimming, picnicking, and trail access. Targeted at campers, families, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
- Upper Canada Golf Course An 18-hole public golf course spanning 6,922 yards in scenic Eastern Ontario, designed by Robbie Robinson in the early 1960s, offering tee times, memberships, tournaments, and events. Targeted at golfers and corporate event organizers.
- Crysler Park Marina A full-service marina with 250 seasonal slips and 45 transient boat slips accommodating vessels 25-40 feet, located in a deep bay on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. Targeted at recreational boaters.
- CPSL ONePass A comprehensive annual season pass offering unlimited visits to Upper Canada Village and Fort Henry, sunset ceremonies, Fort Fright, PumpkInferno, Village en Lumière, Dark Nights, one Kingston Pen Tours tour, miniature train rides, and discounts at golf, marina, and retail locations. Priced at $124+ tax. Targeted at frequent visitors and families.
- Facility Rentals and Weddings Rental of historic venues at Fort Henry and Upper Canada Village for weddings, corporate evenings, and private events. Targeted at event organizers, wedding planners, and corporate clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 600,000 annual visitors and $80M+ in economic spinoffs
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use st. lawrence parks commission
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
st. lawrence parks commission technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
st. lawrence parks commission partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Rise Up Studio AkwesasneminorPartnership for First Nations Cultural Expo 2026 at Upper Canada Village, celebrating Indigenous culture, traditions and community. Collaboration with cultural educator Kanerahti:io (DJ) White.
- Friends of the Crysler Farm BattlefieldminorCollaborative restoration project for the Crysler Farm Memorial (National Historic Site of Canada), in partnership with the battlefield friends committee.
- Elizabethtown Snowmobile Club (OFSC District 1)corePilot partnership between SLPC and Elizabethtown Snowmobile Club to create an OFSC snowmobile trail (E63 - 31 km) along the Thousand Islands Parkway Multi-Use Recreational Trail. ESC provides trail marking, maintenance, wardening, and grooming services during winter months. Requires all snowmobilers to hold OFSC permits and follow OFSC rules.
- Ontario Trails CouncilcoreMemorandum of Understanding signed for trails collaboration. Jointly established the Thousand Islands Parkway Trail Advisory Committee (TIPTAC) to support the multi-use recreational trail. Collaborative approach to resolve trail management challenges including winter use and snowmobile access.
- Township of Leeds and the Thousand IslandsminorMunicipal partner in the Thousand Islands Parkway Trail Advisory Committee and trail safety initiatives.
- Front of Yonge TownshipminorMunicipal partner in trails collaboration, trail safety messaging, and winter use planning along Thousand Islands Parkway.
- South StormontminorLand transfer partnership to advance municipal waterfront development plan.
- Friends of the SanctuaryminorCollaboration to restore the Blue Heron Trail boardwalk at the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary.
- Ontario Ministry of TransportationminorObtained legislative exemption to allow snowmobile traffic to cross Highway 137, enabling OFSC trail creation.
- King's Printer for OntariominorCopyright holder for Ontario government materials displayed on SLPC websites.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
st. lawrence parks commission competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Sépaq: Québec's provincial parks and wildlife reserves operator running campgrounds, cabins, and outdoor recreation across Quebec. Comparable mandate and revenue model (camping, passes, outdoor activities) to SLPC's parks operations, but operates in the adjacent province.
Direct peers
- Niagara Parks Commission: An Ontario provincial Crown agency operating heritage sites (e.g., Table Rock), parks, golf, and attractions along the Niagara River corridor. Directly comparable structure, mandate, and revenue mix to SLPC, including admissions, camping, golf, and event programming.
- Ontario Parks: Ontario's provincial park system operating campgrounds, beaches, and day-use parks across the province. Overlaps directly with SLPC's Parks of the St. Lawrence operation, including similar camping, day-use passes, and beach amenities.
Emerging players
- Royal Botanical Gardens: Ontario's largest botanical garden with public gardens, nature sanctuaries, and educational programming. Comparable as a public-facing nature/heritage attraction operator in Ontario with admissions, memberships, and event-based revenue.
Others
- Canadian Museum of History: Federal museum institution offering exhibitions, educational programs, and special events in Gatineau. Comparable as a major Canadian heritage/education destination, though focused on museum exhibitions rather than outdoor historic sites.
- Tourism Eastern Ontario: Regional tourism marketing organization promoting Eastern Ontario destinations. Operates as a peer marketing channel that drives awareness to SLPC and competing attractions in the same corridor.
Broad incumbents
- Halifax Citadel National Historic Site: A Parks Canada-operated19th-century military fort in Halifax offering heritage programming, live interpreters, and ceremonial events. Directly comparable to Fort Henry's living history experience and sunset ceremony programming.
- Parks Canada: Federal agency operating national historic sites and national parks across Canada, including Fort Henry (which Parks Canada designates as a National Historic Site). Operates at a larger scale with similar historic site programming, visitor centers, and educational offerings.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
st. lawrence parks commission social profiles
Digital presencest. lawrence parks commission compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
st. lawrence parks commission financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
st. lawrence parks commission leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
st. lawrence parks commission subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
st. lawrence parks commission funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
st. lawrence parks commission M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about st. lawrence parks commission
What does st. lawrence parks commission do?
St. Lawrence Parks Commission operates and manages a portfolio of historical attractions and outdoor recreation facilities along a 200 km corridor of the St. Lawrence River in Eastern Ontario. The commission runs living history museums (Upper Canada Village, Fort Henry, Kingston Pen Tours), public campgrounds and beaches (Parks of the St. Lawrence), an 18-hole public golf course (Upper Canada Golf Course), and a 250-slip marina (Crysler Park Marina), selling admissions, season passes, rentals, and facility bookings.
Is st. lawrence parks commission a public or private company?
st. lawrence parks commission is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was st. lawrence parks commission founded?
st. lawrence parks commission was founded in 1960.
Where is st. lawrence parks commission based?
st. lawrence parks commission is headquartered in Morrisburg, Canada, in the North America region.
How does st. lawrence parks commission make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Attraction Admissions are the primary driver. The others are season Passes and Memberships, camping and Marina Fees, golf Course Operations, facility Rentals and Corporate Events, sponsorships and donations.
Who are st. lawrence parks commission's main competitors?
Sépaq is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Niagara Parks Commission and Ontario Parks. Royal Botanical Gardens is listed as an emerging player. Others are Canadian Museum of History and Tourism Eastern Ontario. Broad incumbents are Halifax Citadel National Historic Site and Parks Canada.
Does st. lawrence parks commission have an API?
No public API is recorded for st. lawrence parks commission.
What industry is st. lawrence parks commission in?
st. lawrence parks commission's product category is Heritage Tourism and Public Recreation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAMAH, Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration, with a secondary code of THAAAAAH, National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access). Its NAICS code is 712120 and its SIC code is 7900.