Orillia 180484 219691626 2008-06-16T12:58:55Z Mindmatrix 160367 133th -> 133rd {{Infobox Settlement |official_name = City of Orillia |nickname = The Sunshine City |image_skyline = orilliasign.jpg |image_flag = |image_seal = |image_map = ontario-orillia.PNG |map_caption = Map of [[Ontario]] with the location of Orillia as a red dot. |subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Province of Canada|Province]] |subdivision_type2 = [[List of Ontario census divisions|County]] |subdivision_name = [[Canada]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Ontario]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Simcoe County, Ontario|Simcoe County]] |established_title = Incorporation (Village) |established_date = [[1867]] |established_title1 = Incorporation (Town) |established_date1 = [[1875]] |established_title2 = Incorporation (City) |established_date2 = [[1969]] |leader_title = [[Mayor]] |leader_name = <nowiki>Ron Stevens</nowiki> |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |population_as_of = 2006 |population_note = Rank 133rd |population_total = 30259 |population_density_km2 = 1057.8 |timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]] |utc_offset = -5 |timezone_DST = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]] |utc_offset_DST = -5 |latitude = 49.27N |longitude = 110.49W |website = http://www.city.orillia.on.ca/ |footnotes = }} '''Orillia''', ([[Canada 2006 Census|2006]] population 30,259 ; [[Census Agglomeration|CA]] population 40,532 &mdash; 39th largest CA in terms of population<ref>http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=206&SR=1&S=1&O=D&RPP=111 Population count for Census Agglomerations in 2006</ref>) <!--([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]: {{IPA|???}})--> pronounced ōrĭl'ēə, is a [[city]] located in [[Simcoe County, Ontario|Simcoe County]] in south-central [[Ontario]], [[Canada]], on [[Lake Couchiching]]. It is about 135 kilometres north of Toronto. ==History and geography== The [[Village]] of Orillia was incorporated in 1867 (sharing the same birthyear as [[Canada]]), became a [[town]] in 1875, and was designated a [[city]] in 1969. The City of Orillia is located on the shores of two connected lakes: [[Lake Simcoe]] and [[Lake Couchiching]]. Both lakes are part of the [[Trent-Severn Waterway]]. Travel north on Lake Couchiching, then through three [[Canal lock|locks]] and the only marine railway in [[North America]] leads to [[Georgian Bay]] on [[Lake Huron]]. Travel south-east across Lake Simcoe, through many [[Canal lock|locks]] (including two of the highest hydraulic lift locks in the world) eventually leads to [[Lake Ontario]]. From either of these [[Great Lakes]] one can connect to the [[Saint Lawrence River|St. Lawrence]] and thence to the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. The human history of the region extends back several thousand years: in the "Narrows", a small waterway that connects [[Lake Couchiching]] and [[Lake Simcoe]], there is marine [[archaeological]] evidence of ancient [[fishing weir]]s used by [[Huron]] and [[Iroquois]] people to trap fish over 4,000 years ago. Also, there are several archaeological sites in the surrounding area that provide evidence of trading, fishing, and hunting camps that were visited for hundreds of years by [[Amerindians]]. Also of historical note, the famed French explorer [[Samuel de Champlain]] visited the area that would later become Orillia in the early 1600s. Ecole Samuel de Champlain, a local francophone elementary school, is named in his honour. A monument to Samuel de Champlain can also be found in Couchiching Park, and is a [[National Historic Site]]. In [[Stephen Leacock]]'s 1912 book ''[[Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town]]'', Orillia was used as the basis for the fictional town known as "Mariposa", although Leacock stated that the fictional town could really be any town. The book was based on Leacock's experiences in the town and the city has since the book's release attempted to mimic the fictional location in as many ways as possible. The [[Stephen Leacock Museum]], located in Orillia, is a National Historic Site. [[William E. Bell (author)|William E. Bell's]] [[1989]] novel ''Five Days of the Ghost'' was also set in Orillia, with many readers recognizing popular local spots, including the Guardian Angels Catholic Church, the [[Samuel de Champlain]] statue in [[Couchiching Park]] as well as [[Big Chief Island]] in the middle of [[Lake Couchiching]]. Orillia was the first municipality in North America to introduce [[daylight saving time]] and had the first municipal hydro electric transmission plant in North America. ===Name=== The first recorded use of the name to describe the region, which until then had no officially sanctioned designation, was in 1820 when the name was given in [[Toronto, Ontario|York]], [[Upper Canada]] by then [[Lieutenant-Governors of Ontario|Lieutenant-Governor]] Sir [[Peregrine Maitland]], Maitland was a veteran of the [[United Kingdom|British]] campaign against the [[First French Empire|French]] in [[Spain]], called the [[Peninsular War]], during the [[Napoleonic Wars]] where he served under the command of [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Wellington]]. While there are no records clearly indicating the reason for the name Orillia, the most common explanation holds that the name originates in the [[Spanish language|Spanish]], "orilla," which can mean the shore of either a lake or river. The Spanish pronunciation sounds much like, "oreeya," and since the word itself is spelled almost identically to Orillia, without the second, "i," it has come to be commonly accepted as the source word for the city's name. Further backing the theory of a Spanish origin are the names of surrounding communities and landmarks, which include [[Oro-Medonte, Ontario|Oro]] for [[gold]], [[Mariposa, Ontario|Mariposa]] for [[butterfly]], and [[Mono, Ontario|Mono]] for [[monkey]]. Historical documents contain a second spelling of the name which was never officially recognised, Aurelia, which when pronounced sounds similar to the name and is considered a [[clerical error]].<ref>Why Call it That? by Ross McDonald, published by the Orillia Historical Society. Page 2</ref> ==Demographics== According to the 2006 Canada Census, Orillia has a population of 30,259 living in an area of 28.61 square kilometres. The city has experienced moderate growth, with a population increase of over 1,000 residents (3.9 percent) since the 2001 census. ==Economy== Economic activity in Orillia is a mix of manufacturing, government services, customer service and tourism. The largest employer in the area is [[Casino Rama]], located in the nearby [[Indian reserve|reserve]] land of the [[Chippewas of Mnjikaning First Nation]]. Manufacturing operations in the city include [http://www.ccithermal.com CCI Thermal Technologies] (industrial heaters and heating components), [http://www.dorrolivereimco.com Dorr-Oliver Eimco] (industrial equipment), Kubota Metal Corporation (petrochemical industry components), [[Parker Hannifin]] (moulded rubber products), Pliant Corporation (components for the packaging industry), Smiths Aerospace Components (aerospace industry machining) and TI Group Automotive Systems (automotive components). Call centre Tele Tech Canada also employs approximately 850 people. Otaco seating, which operated from the early 1900s, announced it was closing its doors in September 2007. G.W.B. Rope & Twine, which was one of the foremost North American producers of braided rope from 1973-1985, was also the inventor of the automotive grocery or cargo restraint net. The net was introduced with the launch of the Ford Taurus at Christmas 1985, and shortly thereafter the company was sold and became Polytech Netting Industries, which employed several hundred people until moving to Mexico in 1996-7. "G.W.B. Rope and Twine's" Founders, Gordon W. Brown and family, launched "G&B Ropes" in 1990. (Their son Sean Brown worked with G&B Ropes until it transferred ownership around 1998. Sean Brown then assisted in the development of Orillia's newest rope-making business, Redpoint Ropes.) Large public-sector employers include the headquarters for the [[Ontario Provincial Police]], which is located in Orillia. The Huronia Regional Centre, formerly an asylum that later became an institution to house disabled people, was one of the areas largest employers for many decades, until the de-institutionalization movement of the 1980's and 1990's. ==Recreation and culture== Orillia is known as the "Sunshine City", taking the moniker from the ''Sunshine Sketches'' by Stephen Leacock. Many local businesses also use "Mariposa" in their names. The city council actively restricts the construction of large buildings downtown and seeks to maintain a certain "small town" look with regard to signs and decorations. Many tourists and boaters are [http://www.scenicorillia.com/orilliaattractions.php3 attracted to the city] each year because of its [http://www.scenicorillia.com/walkingpathmap.php3 waterfront park] and its position as a gateway to [http://www.ontarioslakecountry.com/index.asp Lake Country], cottage country in [[Muskoka]], [[Algonquin Provincial Park]], and other natural attractions. The city's waterfront has an extensive lakeshore boardwalk, a large park with two beaches, several playgrounds, an outdoor theatre, a touring ferry, and a children's' train. The city of Orillia also is home to a large number of retirement homes (currently 9, with 4 more under construction). As such, it is often characterized as a "retirement community", although less than 18% of the city's population is actually over 65 (see below). Orillia is home to an annual [http://www.orillia.com/perchfestival/ Perch Fishing Festival]. Perch are netted, tagged, and released into the local lake, to be caught for prize money. This event also includes a large social gathering consisting of a "perch fry". Other popular annual festivals include the Leacock Festival, Blues Festival, Jazz Festival,Scottish Festival, and Beatles Festival (newly added to the city in September 07) The Port of Orillia holds an annual "Christmas in June", which includes a boat decorating contest and turkey buffet, every June 24. Also, boat and cottage shows are held in June and August. Orillia is the original and current site of the popular [[Mariposa Folk Festival]]. ==Education== English public education in Orillia is provided via the [[Simcoe County District School Board]], which has nine elementary and three secondary schools in the city. The secondary schools are Orillia District Collegiate & Vocational Institute, Twin Lakes Secondary and [[Orillia Park Street Collegiate|Park Street Collegiate]] Institute. There is also an Alternative secondary school, known as OASIS. In recent decades, Orillia's secondary schools have had a strong reputation for producing excellent jazz bands and singers (i.e. Jazzmatazz), as well as original stage plays and musicals (such as Twin Lakes' Rock On High series, Wurlitzer, or Wildwood Summer) and excellent renditions of classic musicals. Park Street did such an excellent job with "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat", that cast members from Toronto's stage production of the same musical (featuring Donny Osmond) traveled to Orillia to see the high school rendition. *Many of these plays are performed at the famed Orillia Opera House, touted by some as having "the best acoustics north of Toronto". Publicly-funded Catholic English-language education is available via the [[Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board]] through four elementary schools and one secondary school, Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School. Finally, there is one Catholic French-language elementary school operated by the [[Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud]]. Private schools include the [http://www.orilliachristianschool.com Orillia Christian School], and Bethel Baptist's academy. While no post-secondary institutions are based in Orillia, two schools operate satellite campuses in the city. The Orillia campus of [[Georgian College]], based in [[Barrie, Ontario|Barrie]], offers applied arts and technology programmes to 1600 students. [[Lakehead University]] of [[Thunder Bay, Ontario|Thunder Bay]] opened a new campus in downtown Orillia in [[2006]]. There is also an Adult Learning Centre, where adults may upgrade to receive their high school diploma. ==Health care== The Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital is a 179-bed hospital located in the city. It is presently undergoing an expansion to 231 inpatient beds, scheduled to open in [[2008]]. The Province of Ontario also operates the Huronia Regional Centre, a home for people with severe developmental disabilities. This facility is scheduled to close in [[2009]]. The planned closure, which has attracted controversy from patient's families and public-sector unions, will see patients moved into a community setting. == Transit == [[Orillia Transit]] provides service on four routes throughout the city every day except Sundays and statutory holidays. All of these routes run on loops which depart and end at the downtown bus terminal on Peter St. at Mississaga St. ==Environmental issues== In 1989, representatives of Ogden Martin Ltd., of [[Mississauga, Ontario|Mississauga]], approached the City of Orillia regarding the construction of a massive recycling and [[incineration]] facility which was to be used for handling the trash of nearby cities and [[Toronto, Ontario|Toronto]]. This was to be one of three facilities used to deal with the garbage produced by the greater Toronto region. The plan to accept the incinerator was developed by city council with no public input, citing a potentially significant boost the local economy &mdash; not only in terms of jobs, but also in the resale of recycled materials, the energy generated by the facility and the duties charged to other cities involved. Some citizens reacted negatively to the closed-doors approach to the talks. Indeed, Orillia's then-mayor, John Palmer, noted on the day of the vote on the plan that Ogden Martin "''has asked council not to reveal any details until tonight.''"(''Orillia Packet & Times'', 4-9-90). Many residents were concerned about the environmental effect this would have on the region, leading to protests and public awareness programs by a network of concerned citizens calling themselves Stop Incineration Now. At a protest by a large number of high school students, then-mayor John Palmer famously noted that if he had been their teacher, "''I'd shoot every last one of you''", a quote that was shown on televised news and reported in Orillia and Toronto newspapers. When city council made no effort to involve the public in the discussions, anti-incineration activists polled over 2,000 residents on Ogden Martin's proposal, and found that 75% were against incineration, 10% for incineration, and 15% undecided. A [[petition]] was circulated against the incinerator and was signed by approximately 9,000 residents (out of a total population of only 24,000). A committee consisting of Orillia's 54 doctors generated a report, based on extensive research of published health data, that recommended a rejection of the incinerator proposal - 52 (and later, 53) of the doctors endorsed the report. Dr. Don Philpott, a member of the committee, noted that: "''People can be bamboozled into thinking that acceptable risk means no additional risk, but that is just not true...''" In retaliation for the call to reject the incinerator's installation, Ogden Martin [http://www.workonwaste.org/wn116.htm threatened to sue] the doctors of Orillia for defamation. The [[Ontario Medical Association]] (OMA) passed a resolution in support of the Orillia doctors, after which the threat of litigation was dropped. The provincial [[New Democratic Party]] (NDP) government under [[Premier]] [[Bob Rae]] had a strong agenda of environmental protection and quickly began to fight the initiative to build these incinerators. In September of 1992, and citing [http://perc.ca/PEN/1995-11/s-burke.html a number of reasons], the Ministry of Environment under the NDP government banned the development of new municipal solid waste incinerators and enacted stricter standards for existing incinerators. The Environment Minister at the time, [[Ruth Grier]], called incinerators "''a technological quick fix which creates new environmental problems without solving old ones.''" Incinerators are highly controversial generally, and [http://www.mindfully.org/Air/Connett-Waste-Incineration-24nov98.htm are known to generate toxic emissions] and to produce ash that may itself need to be quarantined as [[hazardous waste]]. The energy production value is also questionable, given the expenditure required for scrubbers and detoxification mechanisms. While it was claimed that the proposed incinerator would have produced only a small amount of [[carbon black]], which would have been sent into extreme elevations and eventually fallen in northern [[Quebec]], environmentalists' concerns were more focused on the emission of [[heavy metals]], [[dioxins]] and other [[carcinogens]], and other hazardous materials. Moreover, Ogden Martin's questionable environmental record suggests that the filtration of particulate matter would have been imperfect at best. Notably, in 1992 the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) cited Ogden Martin for [http://www.workonwaste.org/wn209.htm 6,000 violations] between 1989 and 1991 at its [[Indianapolis]] incinerator alone. The citizens' campaign ultimately led to a rejection of the plan by the city council and Toronto now ships much of its waste to the United States, although there have also been recent efforts to improve [[recycling]] and [[composting]] programs. Unfortunately, problems remain with the city's current approach to [[waste management]]. The city's [[landfill]] site is placed near the lakeshore on what was once a bog, with a stream running through it into Lake Simcoe. This has caused the water near the site to have an unpleasant odour. Movements to shut down the dump and create a new one in another location have been rejected due to the cost of such an effort, despite the environmental cost already being paid by the region. The Orillia landfill site also contains an on-site composting, sorting and recycling programme, although it remains the case that the composting site is even closer to the Simcoe waterfront than the other waste. ==Ontario Provincial Police Headquarters== [[Image:oppcentre.jpg|thumb|left|The OPP Headquarters]] As part of an initiative to decentralise its services, the provincial government relocated the headquarters of the [[Ontario Provincial Police]] to Orillia. The office was initially located in the Tudhope Building downtown (part of which is currently used as the Orillia City Hall) until the new building was opened in 1995. The headquarters, known as the Lincoln M. Alexander Building, is located on Memorial Avenue near the Huronia Regional Centre. The building houses the assorted bureaus and divisions that make up the general headquarters, as well as the Provincial Police Academy, OPP Museum and headquarters for the Central Region. The OPP also provides municipal policing to the City of Orillia under contract from a detachment located in the downtown core. The city's police force was disbanded when the policing contract began in 1996. ==Media== ===Radio=== * FM 105.9 - [[CICX-FM|CICX]] ("Kicx 106"), [[country music]] On [[April 10]], [[2008]], the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission|CRTC]] issued a call for applications for new radio programming services in Orillia. <ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2008/pb2008-30.htm CRTC Public Notice 2008-30]</ref> ===Newspapers=== *''[[Orillia Packet and Times]]'' *''[[Orillia Today]]'' ==Residents of note== * [[A. Charles Baillie]], Chancellor of [[Queen's University]] * [[James K. Bartleman]], diplomat and [[Lieutenant Governor of Ontario]] * [[William E. Bell (author)|William E. Bell]], author * [[Franklin Carmichael]], one of the [[Group of Seven (artists)|Group of Seven]] * [[Leslie Frost]], [[Premier of Ontario]] * [[Jake Gaudaur]], football player * Jake Gaudaur Sr.,world champion oarsman * [[Stephen Leacock]], humourist * [[Rick Ley]], hockey player * [[Gordon Lightfoot]], singer/songwriter * [[Robert W. Mackenzie]], politician * [[Ethan Moreau]], captain of the Edmonton Oilers, played Jr. hockey for the Orillia Terriers. * [[Brian Orser]], figure skater * [[Sam Steele|Sir Samuel Steele]], soldier and member of the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] * [[Marnie Woodrow]], novelist * [[Kim Mitchell]], musician ==Notes and references== <div class="references-small"> <references /> </div> ==External links== * [http://www.city.orillia.on.ca City of Orillia] {{Canadian City Geographic Location (8-way) | Northwest = [[Severn, Ontario|Severn]] | North = [[Severn, Ontario|Severn]] | Northeast = [[Ramara, Ontario|Ramara]] | West = [[Severn, Ontario|Severn]], [[Oro-Medonte, Ontario|Oro-Medonte]] | Centre = Orillia, Ontario | East = [[Lake Couchiching]] | Southwest = '''[[Barrie, Ontario|Barrie]]''' | South = [[Oro-Medonte, Ontario|Oro-Medonte]] <br> [[Lake Simcoe]] | Southeast = [[Lake Simcoe]] | image = Flag of Ontario.svg }} {{Subdivisions of Ontario}} {{coor title dm|44|36|N|79|25|W|region:CA_type:city}} [[Category:Cities in Ontario]] [[Category:Municipalities in Simcoe County, Ontario]] [[pl:Orillia (Ontario)]] [[pt:Orillia]] [[vo:Orillia]]