Valley Ridge

Orillia is located in Simcoe County between Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe.  Just 135 kilometres north of Toronto, Orillia has over 31,000 residents according to Canada’s 2016 Census.  A bit of trivia –  archaeologists have uncovered evidence of fishing by the Huron and Iroquois peoples in the area over 4,000 years ago as well as sites used by Native Americans for hundreds of years for trading, hunting, and fishing.

Many tourists and boaters are attracted to the city each year because of its waterfront parks – Couchiching Beach Park, Centennial Park, Veteran’s Park, Tudhope Memorial Park and Kitchener Park – which host music festivals and concerts and also include outdoor skating rinks, miniature train rides, gardens, monuments, beaches, a touring ferry and splendid views for leisurely outings.  Orillia is a gateway to cottage country in Muskoka, Algonquin Provincial Park, and other natural attractions since it is on the famous Trent-Severn Waterway, a 386-kilometre system of lakes and rivers that stretches from Georgian Bay to Lake Ontario.   The Millennium Trail, a nearly 10 km paved link in the Trans Canada Trail, runs through Orillia connecting its parks, the Port of Orillia, heritage sites, such as the famed Stephen Leacock Museum, and horticultural delights.

Steps from the waterfront and Port of Orillia, downtown Orillia offers excellent shopping, dining, art galleries, live theatre and road shows at our historic Opera House, and cultural exhibits at the Museum of Art and History.  There is a weekend Farmers Market, and numerous festivals. Orillia, also known as the “Sunshine City” has been able to retain its small town charm since the city council has actively restricted the construction of large buildings downtown and seeks to maintain a certain “small town” look with regard to signs and decorations. For those seeking something different, Casino Rama, in nearby Rama, is one of Ontario’s premier entertainment destinations with a huge assortment of slot machines, gaming tables and a poker room.  It also has multiple fine dining restaurants and a 5000 seat concert venue which hosts shows years round by top performers.

Both French and English public education offered in Orillia through the three school boards (Simcoe County District School Board, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, and Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud). Orillia is also home to Lakehead University which includes one of Canada’s most environmentally-friendly buildings at its University Avenue location in West Orillia, as well as a campus of Georgian College, and the OPP training academy.