Today, the City of Orillia’s Art in Public Places Committee (APPC) unveiled its newest public art commission “Crossroads, Connections and Intersections” thanks to $331,700 in support provided by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
The APPC was joined by Orillia Mayor Don McIsaac at the Orillia Recreation Centre for the unveiling of the sculpture “Endorphin,” by artist Camille Rajotte. The sculpture is one of nine works being installed across the city over the next several months.
“Today’s unveiling is an important milestone for the City of Orillia’s culture and tourism sectors,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). “The Government of Canada loves supporting projects like this with the Orillia Museum of Art & History so they can showcase the talents of Canadian artists and inspire creativity.”
The art is located across the city along the trail network, at road intersections and gateways to Orillia, making them accessible to explore by foot, bike or car. Each piece can be found in a different neighbourhood, near a cluster(s) of restaurants, accommodations, shops, and activities for people to explore.
“Orillia is a vibrant, growing city full of arts and cultural opportunities including public art,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “The ‘Crossroads, Connections and Intersections’ art commission adds to these opportunities, providing new destinations across the city for the public to explore. I would like to thank the Government of Canada for funding this exciting commission and the Art in Public Places Committee for all their efforts bringing this project to fruition.”
The collection “Crossroads, Connections and Intersections” was inspired by Orillia’s strategic location at the intersection of highways 11 and 12. Nestled along the shores of Lakes Couchiching and Simcoe in the heart of Orillia & Lake Country, it is further connected by the Trent-Severn Waterway.
“Orillia’s connections and intersections bring visitors and residents to our community, whether through outdoor activities, sport, higher education or family,” said Catherine Phillips, Chair of the APPC. “Similarly, art has the ability to connect people to new and past experiences and places. Located across the city, the installations chosen by local juries, invite residents and visitors to experience Orillia from an artistic lens and contribute to the discussions about the role of public art in city life.”
The collection includes the following artists, works and locations.
| Artist | Title of Work | Approximate Location |
| Kyle Thornley | Stories Converge | Fittons Road Trail Intersection |
| Camille Rajotte | Endorphin | Orillia Recreation Centre |
| Stephen Cruise | Hotel Echo Sierra | West Orillia Sports Complex, Stormwater Pond |
| Monica Wickeler | Sugar Maple Deer | James Street Trail Intersection |
| Rachel Babineau | T.B.D. | Atherley Road Trail Intersection |
| Nate Nettleton | Meandering Rainbow | Wilson Point Road trail intersection |
| Soon Cho | Biindigen/Welcome Mural | Water Filtration Plant, facing Lake Couchiching ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY WATER |
The unveiling at the Orillia Recreation Centre on Thursday, April 20, 2023, marks the first in a series of installations taking place over the next few months as the partners and artists continue to work through the logistics of the project. All of the works will be installed by June 30, 2023.
The artwork can be explored individually or as a collection and will also be developed into a digital self-guided tour, to be launched later this spring. Follow the City of Orillia on social media @CityOrillia on Facebook and @CityofOrillia on Twitter for updates or visit orillia.ca/publicart for details on the City’s public art program.