Unity Square is a crosswalk painting project that seeks to recognize various communities in Huntsville, including veterans, Indigenous people and 2SLGBTIQ+. However, the initiative faced divided opinions at the council table.
BACKGROUND
In the Wednesday, Oct. 25 council meeting, Huntsville council approved the Unity Square concept, which proposes to paint three crosswalks at the King Street and Dara Howell Way intersection.
One crosswalk would have the rainbow flag representing the 2SLGBTIQ+ community, the second would have the seven feathers representing the Indigenous community and The Royal Canadian Legion would design the third one to honour veterans.
“We talked with the town about the crosswalk and everybody at our meeting was in favour. But we need input on a design because you can't just put poppies on the ground and have people walk on them. That's not proper,” said Betty Smith, Huntsville's Canadian Royal Legion's immediate past president.
“I did have a member bring in a drawing that he thought we could use, so we have people interested because it's a great idea. Once we're ready, we'll take it to our command and they will say yes or no.”
Smith added that the Legion receives support, such as the Remembrance Day service.
“But some people don't know what we're about,” she said. “We do great things, but we don't talk about it outside the people we know. So I think we're underrepresented in a way.”
ARE THERE COST-RELATED CONCERNS?
Council previously discussed a rainbow crosswalk, but high costs were a significant obstacle in developing the project. However, the Unity Square does not plan to use the tax levy.
“It'll be funded in a combination of three ways ... (first) we are getting funds from the local community, so I've been in touch with people, including business owners and individuals - they all have said yes,” said Coun. Scott Morrison.
The other two funding models will be the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT), which is the four per cent of what a tourist spends on a room stay in town, plus funds from the Huntsville Accommodation Tax Association - where Morrison is a member.
“I presented this initiative to the board and they were enthusiastic,” Morrison added. “Our goal is to raise as much as possible from the local community and we will try to attain whatever is left over from the two portions of the accommodation tax.”
Renwick and Morrison said people can contribute when the designs are ready to be implemented on the crosswalks. Each person who donates will be acknowledged.
IS THIS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE TOWN?
Although council approved the Unity Square concept, Coun. Cory Clarke asked for a recorded vote and was against the project. There are other priorities in town, he said.
“There are so many roads requiring repairs and areas needing sidewalks and walking paths that I didn't think it wise to move ahead with this project when we have so many outstanding issues that require staff time and funding,” Clarke wrote in an email. “The installation cost was always a concern to me, as well as the time our staff would need to spend to deal with vandalism that might occur.”
Clarke added that while the project is getting funds through the MAT, it would require staff efforts and tax money for future maintenance.
Renwick said that even though there are other items to take care of in town, this project will bring many positive outcomes.
“Every business can always use a boost. Anything we can come up with that adds a little bit of value to someone shopping downtown or being in our community is a bonus,” said Renwick. “We can fix the roads from now until eternity and we'll never get caught up. Sometimes, the council needs to go beyond. We want people to come here and feel safe.”
