From June 7 through Sept. 27, 2021, foodies in Orillia and area shared photos of their favourite meals from local eateries on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag #OrilliaFoodiesUnite.

“When we launched the Orillia Foodies Unite! contest, local restaurants were limited in how they could serve patrons due to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines,” said Coun. Ted Emond, Chair of the ERTF. “The contest was meant to encourage our local residents to get out and support those restaurants, so we could continue to have our diverse range of culinary options here in Orillia. I’m thrilled to say the community answered that call with gusto.”

Nearly 300 entries were received for the Orillia Foodies Unite! contest, both from patrons and from participating businesses. Photos were shared across social media showcasing meals, treats, and snacks from restaurants across the city.

Photos of local fare throughout Orillia and Lake Country (Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Severn, Rama and Ramara) were eligible and applicants could post multiple entries by using the hashtag #OrilliaFoodiesUnite for a chance to win one of two shop local prize packs.

On Sept. 28, winners were drawn randomly for the shop local prize packs – one winner from participant entries and one winner from business entries.

Tahnee Mader of Orillia won the participant contest with a photo from her Instagram account. Mader explored a diverse range of menu options from restaurants around the area, including Tre Sorelle, Sanafir, Eclectic Café, Sweet Times Bake Shoppe, Osmow’s Shawarma, Café Seoulista, Hermie’s Diner, and Era 67, but the winning entry was of an ice cream obtained from Marble Slab Creamery, which opened in Orillia this summer.

“My new husband (married Sept. 11, 2021) and I bought our home in Orillia three years ago and since then we have become very Orillia-proud!” Mader said. “We love this city and the sense of community that it provides. It means a lot to us to have partaken in this contest and to have won. All my friends and family hear on a regular basis about how much I love and advocate for my city, the best city, Orillia.”

Mader received a shop local prize pack valued at more than $500, containing donations from the Orillia Area CDC, Orillia District Chamber of Commerce Perch Festival, Downtown Orillia, the Orillia Museum of Art and History, and the City of Orillia.

PICNIC Snack Bar in Orillia won the business contest with a photo from their Facebook page, showing the bar portion of the tapas and wine bar. PICNIC participated in the contest frequently, sharing nearly 30 pictures with the #OrilliaFoodiesUnite hashtag between June 7 and Sept. 27.

“The contest was a lot of fun and had a lot of interest from residents and tourists alike,” said Darcy MacDonell, co-owner of PICNIC. “It was a unique initiative for Orillia.”

PICNIC received the shop local prize pack for businesses, containing City of Orillia swag and a gift certificate donated from a local business.

The Orillia Foodies Unite! online contest was supported by marketing through social media advertisements, communications from area partners, coasters provided to local restaurants, a video, and beyond.

The contest ran alongside the ERTF’s corresponding city-wide See You on the Patio program and Shop Local marketing campaign.

More information on the Orillia Foodies Unite! online contest and the See You on the Patio program can be found at orillia.ca/patio.

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“As a self-proclaimed ‘foodie’ I know how fortunate we are to have such a diverse range of culinary options here in Orillia,” said Chair of the Economic Recovery Task Force, Coun. Ted Emond. “If we want to continue to have these options it’s important that we all support restaurants who are struggling right now due to the current dining restrictions.”

The restaurant sector has been hit particularly hard as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recent provincial reopening announcement means that indoor dining will continue to be restricted, likely until late summer. Many area restaurants rely upon the typically busy peak summer season to carry them through the winter months. As such, it’s particularly important to support restaurants over the coming months.

The ‘Orillia Foodies Unite’ online contest will run from June 7 through Sept. 27, 2021. Photos of food throughout Orillia and Lake Country (Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Severn, Rama and Ramara) are eligible and applicants may post multiple entries by using the hashtag #OrilliaFoodiesUnite. Post settings for the images entered must be set to “public” in order to be eligible.

Members of the City’s Economic Recovery Task Force have eagerly volunteered to kick off the contest by trying a few new dishes and posting their discoveries on the City’s social media accounts over the coming weeks.

“We have more than 100 dining opportunities in the City of Orillia alone, and I continue to be blown away by the delicious options available to us,” said Laura Thompson, Senior Manager of Business Development. “This contest is meant to get people excited about eating out again, and trying something new, whether that means ordering take-out and curbside pick-up, or visiting a new patio.”

The See You on the Patio program will launch on Friday, June 11 when outdoor dining is permitted to reopen. The program highlights restaurants throughout the city which offer open air dining, through a promotional campaign, animation program and summer street closure on Fridays in the downtown core starting on July 2. The City is currently assisting restaurants in establishing new patios through a new streamlined patio application, “how to” videos and a webpage which contains helpful guides and resources.

More information on the Orillia Foodies Unite online contest and the See You on the Patio program can be found at www.orillia.ca/patio.

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