OrilliaMatters

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Orillia pushes for share of $1.2B housing fund from province

1 day ago | orilliamatters.com | Gisele Winton Sarvis

Orillia is officially requesting a piece of the $1.2-billion Building Faster Fund from the provincial government. Council passed a motion June 23, after some debate, to approve Mayor Don McIsaac's June 24 letter to Rob Flack, minister of municipal affairs and housing, asking for housing targets and funding in the range of $3,600 to $4,350 per built home that comes along with it (in 2024).
Washago volunteer 'very humbled' to win Senior of the Year Award

2 days ago | orilliamatters.com | Gisele Winton Sarvis

Cathy Westcott, the energetic woman behind the annual Washago Canada Day and Santa Claus parades, has received the Ontario Senior of the Year Award from Severn Township for 2025. Four men who helped their community through the late-March ice storm and one woman who works tirelessly in support of local youth were honoured with Good Neighbour Awards at the township's council meeting Wednesday morning.
New 197-unit apartment complex gets green light on Barrie Road

2 days ago | orilliamatters.com | Gisele Winton Sarvis

City council has paved the way for the construction of an eight-storey apartment building on Barrie Road by Magma Development by amending a city zoning bylaw to permit the development. The building will have 197 apartments in a combination of bachelor, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with 20 per cent of them being barrier free.
How to 'future-proof policing' among chief concerns at conference

2 days ago | orilliamatters.com | Erika Engel

The chiefs and leaders of Ontario's police services gathered this week at Blue Mountain Resort to talk about the challenges – both known and unknown – to policing and public safety, and what to do about it. They've gathered for the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) annual conference, which runs June 23-25.
City steps up with funding for substance use navigator at OSMH

3 days ago | orilliamatters.com | Gisele Winton Sarvis

The new substance use navigator at Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (OSMH) is "literally saving lives," but her position is at risk due to funding issues. Registered nurse Jackie Junkin spends more than two hours with each person who comes into the emergency department with drug and alcohol addictions, helping them get the immediate and long-term help they need. "No staff in the emergency department has that time to spend with one patient. I'm dedicated to researching that patient ...
'Loved it!' Firefighters help local kids beat the heat (VIDEO)

3 days ago | orilliamatters.com | Andrew Philips

With the thermometer nearing 40 degrees Celsius over the past two days, north Simcoe firefighters did their part to help keep kids cool. At one Midland school, kindergarten kiddos at Bayview Public School laughed with glee as they ran under the spray from a Midland Fire Department truck. "My daughter came home talking about this and I had absolutely no clue what she was talking about," parent Amanda Martyniuk wrote on the fire department's social media page.
Tensions rise as local resident defies library communication ban

3 days ago | orilliamatters.com | Andrew Philips

A local man’s battle with the Midland Public Library shows little sign of letting up. Wayne Boon remains steadfast that the library isn’t behaving properly by banning him from book clubs and forbidding him from discussing his plight with library staff, board members or town councillors. “I didn’t sue anyone or ask for money,” he says.
Public urged to weigh in as Orillia faces $254M capital shortfall

3 days ago | orilliamatters.com | Gisele Winton Sarvis

The City of Orillia is preparing for its 2026 budget process, and while it's complex, the city welcomes public input into what projects residents would like to see accomplished next year and beyond. "We need to hear how you want the money spent ... We need people to contact us and to let us know how you feel about all this stuff," said Coun. David Campbell.
City council backs mayor amid hospital board seat controversy

4 days ago | orilliamatters.com | Gisele Winton Sarvis

Orillia's city council has thrown its support behind Mayor Don McIsaac's request to remain an ex-officio member of the Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital's (OSMH) board of directors. Council approved a motion Monday that allows the mayor to send a strongly-worded letter to the hospital's board, asking them to reconsider their decision which McIsaac says "alienates" key stakeholders.
Dunlop, Chambers must respect First Nations' rights or resign: local activist

4 days ago | orilliamatters.com | Andrew Philips

A local First Nations activist is calling on Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop and her federal counterpart Adam Chambers to respect Indigenous rights or resign. Beausoleil First Nation member Johnny Hawke set up twin online petitions Monday to protest recent legislative moves by the federal and provincial governments that were supported by Dunlop and Chambers.