HERE TO STAY: From left, Debbie Kirwin, Libby Boucher, Bill Corrigan, Fran Coleman and John Kenny attend the official unveiling of the new tactile map at the Civic Centre. The map on the right is the centennial project of the Huntsville and Lake of Bays Rotary Club.

By Jennifer Wilson
The Weekender
    A tactile map is the latest addition to Huntsville's Civic Centre. Officially unveiled this week, the map is the centennial project of the Huntsville and Lake of Bays Rotary Club. It is designed to help those with visual impairments navigate through the complex. "It uses a combination of colour contrast, raised drawings, larger fonts and Braille," said Libby Boucher, Rotary Club Member.
    The project was chosen by the service club because of its ability to fulfill two important community needs. "It married helping the Civic Centre and people with accessibility issues," said Boucher. "The intent was to demonstrate to our community and tourists that we are an accessible place to live and visit."
    The map was constructed in Nova Scotia by Eye Catch Signs International and cost the club nearly $10,000. This amount, noted by Boucher, was a feasable fee because the club was formed just two years ago. "When we decided on the project, we were just in our first year of operating, so we knew we needed to find something that helped the community but was also affordable."
    Advocates for equal accessibility in the community are impressed with the project. "The Town of Huntsville is gaining a heck of a good reputation for dealing with accessibility issues," said John Kenny, a member of Huntsville's Accessibility Advisory Committee [AAC]. "A large part of that comes from the AAC but other things happen too such as the Paralympics that have brought the town into a most favourable view from outside communities about how accessible this town has become."