By CRAIG FREILICH

CANTON – A provider of orthotics and prosthetics is opening a new office in Canton.

Owner Roger Howard of Howard Orthotics and Prosthetics said he felt it was time to reach out farther into the North Country to help more people than he could with his Watertown shop alone.

“We are in a fairly rural setting in this region, and in order to meet the needs of people you have to reach a little further,” Howard said.

The new location, to be staffed by two people to start, is about 2,000 square feet at 6128 US Rt. 11 east of the village.

Howard said there is a crew of cleaners in the office today and it should be ready to open Tuesday.

Howard said he is proud to be opening a new store while about 4,000 other orthotics and prosthetics providers in the U.S. have closed up in the last year.

He said they offer off-the-shelf braces for things such as the knee and the back, “but our main focus is custom bracing and custom orthotics.”

He said while the two staffers in Canton, including a certified practitioner, will handle small minor repairs and adjustments on-site, more involved work will be done at the main fabrication center in Watertown.

Howard has been operating the Watertown location since 2003.

The Canton office will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment at (315) 714-2325.