This design is an adaption of the original provided by CurveBall Design, and was created by Town of Huntsville staff for illustrative purposes only. Final artwork is pending.
Today, February 24, an overwhelming majority of Huntsville councillors agreed to move forward with a Unity Circle in downtown Huntsville to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in Huntsville.
The design has been modified to include an accessibility component, and input was provided by the Town’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, Muskoka Pride, Hope Arises Project Inc., and the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 232.
Despite sometimes being maligned for the project, particularly on social media, councillors Helena Renwick and Scott Morrison have been championing the project for some time.
“I’m so proud of this project, and I’m going to get called woke for it, but I’m proud of that because woke is just giving a crap about vulnerable people, so call me woke all you want,” said Morrison. “In these days, right now, we need this more than ever. Every person in this quadrant [their] rights are being stripped away in certain places around the world. We felt it right here in our community and the effect that can have on people.”
Town staff was asked to start fundraising for the project. The intent is to ensure the project has no impact on the tax base or a very minimal one.
All councillors agreed to move forward with the project, with the exception of Councillor Cory Clarke, who asked for a recorded vote and said he could not support it due to concerns related to vandalism.
Renwick said vandalism is never a good reason not to do something.
In the end, eight councillors voted to proceed with the project. Clarke voted against it.
The Unity Circle is planned for the road area where Dara Howell Way intersects with King Street.
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Educate me:
What exactly is a “unity circle”?
It was never covered in any of my schooling so I assume it is a newer construct of some kind.
There are several options:
A painting on the road or sidewalk?
A sign?
A place where a bunch of people can sit around and maybe make music, speeches or just meditate?
Maybe a logo folks can add to their web conversations?
Something to donate money to?
It would be nice to know what we are talking about here.
Just as a suggestion, you may wish to replace the cross in the upper left quadrant with a maple leaf, since Canadians of every religious denomination have fought for and in sadly too many instances given their lives for the Maple Leaf…including Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, and Indigenous Canadians.