Interactive fox story invites families to explore downtown Charlottetown

Ringo the Fox is terrified and lost in downtown Charlottetown.

While looking for his family, Ringoexplores different parts of the city's downtown and meets some interesting animal friends along the way.

Fox Story Walk

Downtown Charlottetown Inc. is inviting families totake the same journey with their childrenby following nine storypanelsspread across the downtown. Children can read Ringo's story and follow in his footsteps as he tries to find his family.

"It encourages families to get out of their car, to walk around our downtown, to explore, to look at our built heritage, to stop into shops, to drop in and have a coffee to say hello to neighbours. So, it is absolutely fitting with our mandate," said Dawn Alan, executive director of Downtown Charlottetown Inc.

Nine story panels downtown

The story portion of the project was written by P.E.I.'s father-son tandem David and Davey Weale.The panels also have a map of the downtown area with directions to the next panel as well as facts about foxes. Fox footprints on the map reveal the location of the storypanels,which helpsfamilies determine if the distance between panels is suitable walking distance for small children, Alan said.

Alan saidthe plan isto retain the Fox Story Walk as a permanent display downtown.

Ringothe fox gets lost

The journey begins with the first story panel at Founders Hall on Prince St. near Confederation Landing Park. This is where Ringo's family arrived in the city after crossing the Confederation Bridge. They left their previous home because they were being bothered by coyotes, Alan explained.

As the kit fox Ringo roams around the downtown trying to find his way back to his family, he stops and meets different animals along the way. The animals are represented by art pieces at the panel locations.

Ringo meets Eckhart

Some of Ringo's stops include the Voluntary Resource Centre, where hemeets some bees and inside the Confederation Centre for the Arts to meet the moose.

"Everybody loves the moose," said Alan.

Ringo also travels to Province House and encounters Eckhart the mouse before eventually finding his way back to Confederation Landing Park where Ringo and his family are reunited.

"There's always a happy ending," Alan said.

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