North Country Business, May 2006

By Matthew Sitler

With the production of quality, visual maps in sharp decline, be thankful there's Sam Soja and his wife Trisha.

The Muskoka business partners have taken it upon themselves to create a new 40" by 26" Map of Muskoka that is currently available in various stores throughout the district.

The map is a product of their Aquaterra Designs home-based business.

Both Sam and Trisha graduated from BMLSS (Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School) in 1996.

Like they tell North Country Business (NCB), nothing beats being able to point at a wall and say 'Look, this is where our cottage is' or, ' here is the creek we hiked along yesterday.'

Unlike most printed maps, their Muskoka Map does not contain any advertising.

Consumers can purchase a roll up laminated map for $27.95 or a wall-mounted plaqued version for $89.95.

Look closely at it, and a subtle, hill shade effect makes the landscape come alive.

Spatially accurate and detailed, the map's Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid system allows a person to read a coordinate from the map, punch it into a GPS receiver, and navigate to the desired, precise location.

Cottagers take note, this map will aid you in discovering Muskoka's natural beauty.

"I think it's something that a lot of cottagers will want to have on their wall" says Trisha Soja, (formerly Trisha Morrow of Port Carling). "It's a real conversation piece. If you're going up to someone's cottage, there's always something that you need to point out on a map."

Buyers will be able to find major and minor Muskoka roads, all lakes and even beaches by using it. When it's not in use, it looks great on a wall - almost like a piece of fine art.

"When you're up close to it, it shows a lot of detail, but we didn't want it to be overwhelming or cluttered," says Sam.

The Muskoka Map is currently available at the Muskoka Store, Muskoka Outfitters, the Indian River Trading Company in Port Carling and Muskoka Tourism.

Trisha holds a geology degree from the University of Waterloo and Sam a degree in International Development from the University of Guelph.

Additionally they both graduated from the GIS Cartographic Specialist program at Sir Sandford Fleming College. After heading the production department at Perly's Maps in Toronto for several years they are now working for the Environmental Sciences Group based out of Kingston, an organization that acts as the scientific advisor for environmental clean-ups in the Arctic.

For more information visit the Soja's website: www.Aquaterra-Designs.com.