Huntsville General Committee approved the installation of the Unity Circle Design, in the December 11, 2024, meeting.

According to the staff report, Council already approved the concept for this community space at King Street and Dara Howell Way that supports “inclusivity, celebrates diverse communities, and educates visitors about important local and cultural values.”

Staff have been working with Councillors Helena Renwick and Scott Morrison, as well as community groups Hope Arises, Muskoka Pride, the Legion, and stakeholders on the design portion of the project.

The report describes the design as “a pie-shaped layout with four distinct sections, each celebrating members of our community, with a central crosswalk running through the middle to tie the space together.”

It adds that each section of the pie will represent the 2SLGBTQI+, Indigenous culture, veterans, and community diversity that “looks to bring people together in a harmonious, inclusive space.”

The project will cost approximately $4,000, from the approved $5,000, and will be funded through the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT).

Civil Engineering Technologist, Brandon Hall, explained that the circle “represents all this as a whole.” He added, “This tells me Huntsville’s strong and Huntsville’s united.”

He added that they will be tweaking the design to include accessibility.

He emphasized that there will be “no cost to the tax levy for the project.”

He also expressed that the project provides a lot of information, and he’s “learned a lot” so far. He said, “I’m probably the hardest to learn!”

Renwick advised that once they start painting, kids and artists are welcome to join in. She said, “It’s a community-led initiative.”

Morrison expressed excitement about the project. He said, “I thought it would be $80,000 for a crosswalk, now it’s a 10^th of that for a unity circle.”

Mayor, Nancy Alcock, appreciated that the cost isn’t coming from the levy, which “is really important,” and inquired about how maintenance costs will be covered.

Morrison indicated that their goal is to generate enough revenue to cover maintenance as well.

Councillor, Cory Clarke, was not in support of the project because of concerns about vandalism adding more time to staff. He said, “We already have an issue with vandalism in the Town and in this area in general.”

Staff advised that Council already approved the project, and that they’re confident because OPP will be in that area.

Next steps involve Renwick and Morrison initiating fundraising, donations (including materials), and volunteer labour from community businesses and groups to implement the project.