The downtown pedestrian mall reopens for the summer season today, and a new app has been launched to help those with vision loss navigate it safely.

BlindSquare is an iPhone app that has been launched by the city, in collaboration with CNIB Frontier Accessibility.

It uses GPS technology to estimate the proximity of things such as sidewalk curb cuts, parklets and public seating, it also provides detailed information to help people get around safely.

The app cost the city $9,000 in 2021 and this year for its preparation and launch and will cost $2,100 for its use in future years.

Deon Slaney has vision loss, and he says the use of such an app will have a positive impact on him.

He says he has never been comfortable with trying to find crosswalks and things of that nature, but the app can give him step-by-step directions, giving him more comfort when visiting the Pedestrian Mall.