Study Tours
The City of Orillia is pleased to add to the outstanding OSUM Conference programming with 3 study tours and information on a self-guided tour of beautiful Orillia! The tours have been planned specifically for municipal leaders providing useful insight into the development of local initiatives.
Below is a list of the tours. All tours are free with transportation provided. Pre-registration is required and each tour has limited space.
To register please click on this link to choose your preferred study tour. Registration is based on first come first served basis. Free parking is available at each pick up site. Registration deadline is April 25 4pm.
Heritage Tour
Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Details: 35 spaces available
This is a guided tour and transit will be provided, sponsored by Hydro One. The pickup spot for the Heritage Tour is the Orillia Recreation Centre located at 255 West Street S, Orillia,L3V 5G9. In this tour, the attendees will step back in time and discover the hidden wonders of Orillia and the area.
The first stop will be the Stephen Leacock Museum - One day while sailing, Stephen Leacock discovered a piece of land with the remnants of a brewery on it and called it Old Brewery Bay. He purchased the property in 1908 and built the Leacock House in 1928. Leacock toured the world, but his paradise was here in Orillia where he shared the space with his family and friends. The next stop on the tour will be the Mnjikaning Fish Weirs National Historic Site- Tour one of the oldest human developments in Canada and learn more about the fishing weirs that date back to the time of the pyramids.
Arts & Culture Tour
Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Details: 40 Spaces Available
This is a guided walking tour sponsored by Hydro One. The starting point for the Arts & Culture Tour is the Orillia City Centre – Council Chambers located at 50 Andrew Street South, L3V 7T5. On this tour, the attendees will embark on a captivating journey through the arts & culture destinations in Orillia.
The tour will start at the newly refurbished Orillia Council Chambers. The Council Chamber was initially designed and constructed in the early 1990s and was upgraded in 2023 to improve accessibility to the facility.
The next stop will be Creative Nomad Studios, a coworking and event space in the heart of Downtown Orillia. The facility is the recipient of the Downtown Tomorrow Community Improvement Program grant. The grants were able to revitalize this building that had been vacant for over a decade to create a home for a new cultural hub that now houses an art gallery.
Orillia Museum of Art & History located in Orillia Arts District will be the next stop. Explore, inspire, and celebrate the rich art and history of the city as you walk through the exhibits in the museum.
As the tour concludes at the Orillia Opera House you will witness the focal point for the cultural life of the City of Orillia. Opened in 1895, the Orillia Opera House is the only professional quality performing arts venue in the town. Don’t forget to ask about the Opera House ghost as you tour the facility!
Planning and Development Tour
Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Details: 35 spaces available
This is a guided tour and transit will be provided, sponsored by Hydro One. The pickup spot for the Planning and Development Tour is the Rotary Place located at: Rotary Place 100 University Ave, Orillia, ON L3V 6H1.
When driving down University Avenue in West Orillia you will see the significant investment that Hydro One has made in Orillia with the construction of the Ontario Grid Control Centre.
Right next to this magnificent facility, you will witness the fully serviced employment lands perfect for industrial businesses at the Horne Business Park.
Located across from the Horne Business Park is Lakehead University’s Orillia campus. Started in 2006 with 101 students, it has now grown to more than 2,200 students. An interesting fact about the students studying at Lakehead is that more than half of the domestic students enrolled at Lakehead are first-generation graduates. Lakehead University continues to provide access to degree-level education closer to home in Orillia.
The last stop on the tour will be the Waterfront Redevelopment Project. The former municipally owned lands located around the waterfront were officially sold to FRAM Building Group (FRAM) in 2022. This now privately-owned land will be developed by FRAM to include townhomes, and mixed-use retail/green space.
Self – Guided Orillia Tour
Turn your phone into a live tour guide with Tripvia's free audio walking tour app. Fun tour guides point out things around you. Information about the self-guided tours can be found at the hotel reception or https://www.tripvia.tours/orillia-audio-walking-tours