The local founder of a new navigation app wants to transform how people travel through rural Ontario.
Scenic Route 17 is set to launch on the App Store and Google Play April 21st, and Hilary O’Neill tells Oldies 107.7 that the idea for it came as she tried to find interesting stops off the beaten path during a long drive back home to Renfrew County from Kemptville.
The new app will give turn-by-turn directions and specialized recommendations in rural communities across Ontario that will help sightseers easily plan trips, find the best routes, as well as discover events and hidden gems they might not find on apps that only prioritize the quickest route.
It’s a promise that has people across the province intrigued, with over 100,000 people already on the wait list ahead of the launch later this month.
O’Neill says that she believes the app will be a boon for smaller communities, noting they also already have over 5,000 subscribed businesses who will have the ability to list their full descriptions, sales promotions and current events under their business on the app for tourists traveling in their area to access.
She adds that they will be working with municipalities and small businesses to keep all their information up-to-date, something that also caused her frustration on the fateful car ride that led to Scenic Route 17’s development.
(written by Kasey Egan)