“Orillia is a city filled with artistic talent, and we are very pleased to offer opportunities to highlight the diverse voices in our community,” said Mayor McIsaac. “Orillia is dedicated to creating spaces where every voice is valued and heard, and these two exhibitions stand as a testament to this commitment.”

The first call, presented in collaboration with Eliza Pinney, is open to all artists who are part of the all-abilities community. The exhibition, which does not ask artists to follow a specific theme, invites artists supported through organizations such as Karis and Empower Simcoe, as well as privately supported artists, to submit new or existing original works of art in any visual medium. All submissions that meet the size and subject matter requirements will be accepted and displayed at the Stack Gallery, located in the Orillia Recreation Centre.

The second call, presented in collaboration with the Orillia Native Women’s Group, invites Indigenous artists to take part in an exhibition titled Expressions of Identity. The exhibition will be displayed in the Indigenous display cabinet across from the aquatic centre in the lobby of the Orillia Recreation Centre. Artists are encouraged to reflect on what identity means to them through an Indigenous lens, exploring themes such as culture, family, teachings, lived experience, language, and connections to the land. Artwork will be selected in collaboration with representatives from the Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH), and the Orillia Native Women’s Group. Selections will be based on artistic merit, diversity of mediums, and contribution to the overall narrative of the exhibition.

Both calls are now open, with a submission deadline of October 31, 2025, at noon. Participation is free. The works will be on display from December 2025 through June 2026.

 Preference may be given to those who work or reside in the City of Orillia, Chippewas of Rama First Nation, or the Townships of Oro-Medonte, Severn, or Ramara. Artists can find full details and apply online at orillia.ca/PublicArt.

The post City Of Orillia Launches Two Calls To Artists For Public Art At The Orillia Recreation Centre appeared first on Muskoka411.

The aquatic area will reopen on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Maintenance will include draining and cleaning of the lap, leisure and therapy pools, cleaning under the moveable floor, and pool deck and leisure pool features maintenance. Annual maintenance is necessary to ensure the long-term functionality of the pools and associated equipment.

During the annual maintenance period all aquatic drop-in programming is paused. Fun Pass holders have been contacted and members who do not wish to utilize other amenities within the facility during the pool closure can request a membership pause.

The City of Orillia worked with the impacted user groups to find the most ideal time frame to perform the annual maintenance. In addition, the summer months see a decreased overall usage of the aquatic area.

The community is encouraged to engage with the other amenities the Orillia Recreation Centre has to offer, including the 5,000 sq. ft. fitness centre, the FIBA-sized gymnasium, the wide variety of drop-in and registered programs for all ages, sport drop-ins and leagues, and the walking/jogging track.

For questions or concerns about the aquatic area maintenance, please contact the Recreation, Youth and Culture Division at 705-325-4386 or email recreation@orillia.ca. For more information about the Orillia Recreation Centre, visit orillia.ca/orc.

The post Orillia Recreation Centre Annual Pool Maintenance Begins Aug. 17 appeared first on Muskoka411.

The investigation shows that unknown persons are entering change rooms and taking car keys from victims’ lockers.

To prevent yourself from being a victim, here are some helpful tips:
– Bring a lock and lock your locker.
– Do not leave valuables in plain view.
– Alternate your parking spots
– Park in well lit areas.
– Beware of surroundings

Officers value your contribution to building safe communities If you have information about suspected unlawful activity, please contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.crimestopperssdm.com.

The post Several Vehicles Stolen From Orillia Recreation Centre appeared first on Muskoka411.

The facility, located at 255 West St. S., opened in October 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, an official grand opening was not held at the time to comply with public health regulations.

“The Orillia Recreation Centre was a long-awaited and much-anticipated facility for our community. It has become a hub of activity and provides our community with sport, recreation and fitness opportunities for all ages and abilities,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “This facility is something the entire city can be extremely proud of and we are already seeing the positive impacts this facility is making in our community. I would like to thank everyone who had a part in making the vision of this community centre come to life.”

The grand opening included a ribbon cutting ceremony and activities such as Wibit obstacle course swims, arcade games and bouncy castles, face painting, live music, a scavenger hunt and refreshments and food generously sponsored by Leadbetter Foods.

The Orillia Recreation Centre has become home to local sport organizations such as the Orillia Suns Volleyball Club, the Orillia Lakers and the Orillia Channel Cats, who were on hand at the grand opening event to celebrate the facility and the impact it has had on their organization.

“Swimming in the new aquatic centre has been incredibly rewarding for every age level that swims competitively. Between the 2.5-metre wide lanes, the moveable floor and the state-of-the-art timing system, the Channel Cats are now well positioned to officially set records in a 25-metre pool and, for the first time ever, offer Huronia Short Course Regional Championships with a home advantage,” said Meredith Thompson-Edwards of the Orillia Channel Cats.

The 132,801 sq. ft. facility was constructed between 2016 and 2020 and transformed a once vacant brownfield site into a modern, state-of-the-art recreation facility in the core of the city. The site was selected by Orillia Council in 2015 as part of the City’s commitment to facilitating the redevelopment of brownfield properties across Orillia. The redevelopment has been recognized nationally with a 2016 Brownie Award for the rehabilitation of the brownfield at 255 West St. S.

“The opening of the Orillia Recreation Centre was a significant milestone for the City and the largest municipal project in the city’s history. Staff from all departments participated and contributed to the facility’s vision, creation, and operations and I would like to thank them for their contributions. We are very proud to offer our community so many new programming options as a result of this fantastic facility,” said Gayle Jackson, Chief Administrative Officer.

The Orillia Recreation Centre welcomes approximately 2,000 people per day and features:

1. 25 m, eight-lane lap pool with a viewing area;
2. Therapeutic pool;
3. Leisure pool with play features;
4. Gymnasium with two FIBA-sized basketball courts and a viewing area;
5. Childcare room;
6. Multi-purpose room;
7. Fitness centre, including studio fitness rooms;
8. Walking/jogging track.

For more information about the Orillia Recreation Centre, please visit orillia.ca/orc.

The post Orillia Celebrates Impact Of Recreation Centre At Grand Opening Event appeared first on Muskoka411.

“The opening of the Orillia Recreation Centre was long-awaited and much anticipated; however, we opened quietly with no celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “The facility has become a hub of activity and provides our community with a vast array of health benefits through sport, recreation and fitness opportunities for all ages and abilities. We are proud to host a grand opening to showcase this incredible facility that was built for our community. Please join us to celebrate on August 19 with an evening full of fun activities.”

The grand opening will include a ribbon cutting ceremony and activities taking place throughout the facility, such as Wibit obstacle course swims for those seven years of age and older (swimwear required), arcade games and bouncy castles, face painting, live music by the Orillia Youth Centre, and a scavenger hunt. Refreshments and food have been generously sponsored by Leadbetter Foods.

Follow the City of Orillia on Facebook and Twitter for updates regarding this exciting event.

The Orillia Recreation Centre opened in October 2020 and features:

1. 25 m, eight-lane lap pool with a viewing area;
2. Therapeutic pool;
3. Leisure pool with play features;
4. Gymnasium with two FIBA-sized basketball courts and a viewing area;
5. Childcare room;
6. Multi-purpose room;
7. Fitness centre, including studio fitness rooms;
8. Walking/jogging track.

For more information about the Orillia Recreation Centre, please visit orillia.ca/orc.

The post Grand Opening For Orillia Recreation Centre Takes Place Aug. 19 appeared first on Muskoka411.

Currently, there are two Ivy Charging Park & Charge level 2 charging stations with four designated parking spaces to accommodate the four charging ports available. A flat rate of $2.00 per hour has been established for the service. The rate is in-line with municipal comparators and other charging station fees and will continue to be assessed and evaluated as use at the stations is monitored.

“As part of our commitment to a greener future, the City of Orillia is happy to offer two publicly accessible EV charging stations in the core of the city at the Orillia Recreation Centre. As identified through Council’s Strategic Plan and work on the City’s Climate Change Action Plan project, the City is committed to being a leader in addressing climate change,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “The location of the EV chargers offer proximity to convenient amenities such as the recreation centre, multi-use trails, and local shops and businesses. We are excited to offer this service to Orillia residents and we look forward to welcoming new EV drivers to our community.”

The City’s EV charging stations are being offered in partnership with Ivy Charging Network, a joint partnership between Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation with additional funding provided by Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program. Ivy’s new level 2 charging network, Park & Charge, provides municipalities and businesses the opportunity to bring charging to their communities for EV drivers who are not in a rush, backed by Ivy’s reliable EV network and customer service.

“We thank the City of Orillia for choosing Ivy to help them bring electric vehicle charging infrastructure to their community. By expanding our network to offer level 2 chargers, we will ensure that EV drivers today and, in the future, have a trusted network to get them where they need to go,” said Michael Kitchen, General Manager, Ivy Charging Network.

“We’re making electric vehicles more affordable and charging more accessible where Canadians live, work and play. Investing in more EV chargers, like the ones announced today in Ontario, will put more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a net-zero future and help achieve our climate goals,” said the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources.

The Orillia Recreation Centre’s EV charging stations can be found by downloading the Ivy app as well as through various websites and applications, such as PlugShare, that promote EV charging station infrastructure. For more information, please visit ivycharge.com.

The City is in the process of developing both a Corporate and Community Climate Change Action Plan, which are anticipated to come to Council this spring. These plans will build a long-term climate change action plan with the community – for the community. For more information, please visit orillia.ca/climatefuture.

The post EV Charging Stations Available At The Orillia Recreation Centre appeared first on Muskoka411.

The Committee is seeking artists to interpret the theme ‘Mechanics of Life’ either through new or existing original works of art.

“Public art plays a valuable role in a community’s storytelling. In fact, it defines who we were and who we are. The site of the Orillia Recreation Centre has a storied history as a major producer and employer within the City of Orillia,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “Through this new Call to Artists by the Art in Public Places Committee, we look forward to bringing a new exhibit to visitors of the Orillia Recreation Centre that is inspired by and honours the site’s evolution.”

Artists are invited to use the site’s history or functionality, past or present, to showcase the ‘Mechanic’s of Life’ theme. Artwork must be suitable for display in a public space.

The Call to Artists is open to everyone; however, preference will be given to local/regional artists. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 28, 2022.

Design considerations:

1. Collaborations of two or more artists are welcome.
2. Artwork must be original to the artist(s).
3. Larger horizontal and vertical pieces are preferred to create the visual effect presented in Figure1. Minimum sizing on any side is 24” (with frame).
4. Mediums must be 2D or 3D (video installations are not being accepted).
5. The artwork is accessible to the public and should not be made of hazardous and breakable materials or pieces.
6. Pieces are hung securely on braided cord along the 25’ rail system.

“This second call builds off of the gallery’s inaugural exhibit, ‘From Foundry to Future’,” said Catherine Phillips, Chair of the Art in Public Places Committee. “The words ‘mechanics’ and ‘life’ can be interpreted in many different ways as artists reflect on the mechanical and physical purposes of the site, including its current focus on health and wellness, along with its historical, industrial and geographical significance.”

Submission requirements are available at orillia.ca/publicart or by contacting Jacqueline Surette, Manager of Culture, at 705-325-4530 or jsurette@orillia.ca.

The Stack Gallery is located within the lobby of the new Orillia Recreation Centre next to the reception desk. The inaugural exhibit entitled ‘From Foundry to Future’ will be on display until February 2022. At this time, visitors to the facility are required to screen for COVID-19 and provide staff with proof of vaccination (subject to age or medical exemptions).

The post Call To Artists For Orillia Recreation Centre Gallery Space appeared first on Muskoka411.