Investing in the City of Orillia
Affordable Housing
As of June 30, 2021, approximately 2,443 affordable housing units have been created county-wide. The general target for the creation of affordable housing units identified in the Strategy for the City of Orillia is a total of 164 units. Despite the target being achieved for the city, the County recognizes that the need for affordable housing remains and that urban settings such as Orillia are considered a “draw” for households in nearby municipalities that need housing with close proximity to employment, community services and public transit. During the pandemic, the need for affordable housing has become even more apparent than ever.
Supporting our Shelters
The Lighthouse Community Services and The Lighthouse Supportive Housing serves Orillia’s vulnerable, offering a range of housing as well as emergency food and shelter, primary care, mental health and addiction services, and spiritual support for people who are experiencing a housing crisis. Their goal is to promote overall wellness for individuals and families and help alleviate chronic homelessness, addiction and poverty. The County provided three separate loans (two interest-free construction loans and one forgivable loan) of more than $5.9 million in total to support building this important community infrastructure. The County is also providing ongoing operating funds to the project using provincial homelessness funds.
Secondary Suites
The Secondary Suites Program provides funding of up to $30,000 per unit for the creation of a secondary or garden suite which is an effective means to increase the supply of affordable housing.
More information on this program and others in affordable housing can be found on our Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention Strategy webpage.
If you are a resident of Simcoe County and wish to learn more about accessing affordable housing supports, click here.
Building Affordable Rentals
Development of the County Orillia Campus project is currently underway. This $79- million project includes funding from the County of Simcoe, municipal partners, the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative. The multi-use development includes 130 mixed affordable residential units designed for seniors, families, and individuals as well as a number of community services, primarily on the ground level. The on-site service hub setting also presents partnership opportunities with community agencies to work directly with building residents, as well as community residents.
This project is made possible by the collaborative Simcoe County Housing Corporation. In line with the existing funding formula, the County of Simcoe will provide $55M towards the project. The City of Orillia’s contribution is estimated at $4.15M, with additional funding from other partners.
Helping Residents find financial and employment support
Ontario Works
Ontario Works is a program which provides financial and employment assistance to people in financial need. The County of Simcoe Ontario Works Department delivers this program to eligible residents of the County of Simcoe and the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. To find out more about Ontario Works, visit this page.
Finding Employment
Dozens of local companies across a wide array of sectors have earned reputations as the best in the world at what they do, how they do it and what they offer. Innovation is not just a word here; it is a way of life. Explore experiences and job opportunities right here in Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia!
Shelter Systems/Etc.
Through community partnerships and service provider contracts, the County of Simcoe has been able to achieve a more seamless and integrated service for individuals, youth, and families being impacted by homelessness in Simcoe County. Partnership initiatives continuously address the following core service delivery element:
- To move people from the street into emergency shelters
- To move people from emergency shelters into permanent accommodations
- To prevent homelessness by helping people who are at risk of losing permanent housing
Health and emerGENCY SERVICES
Paramedic Services
The County of Simcoe employs 367 full- and part-time paramedics that work on the road through a dynamic staffing system referred to as a fluid deployment plan, allowing paramedics to be deployed where they are needed the most at the time.
Anticipated call volume has increased by 5% to around 91,000 calls annually. The cost of Paramedic Services in the cities is shared with the County as a regional service. This structure provides value and efficiencies for the cities, our municipalities and ultimately taxpayers.
The proposed City of Orillia cost related to County of Simcoe Paramedic Services (capital and operational) to serve city residents is $1.9M for 2023. Other Emergency Response Services in the City of Orillia Budget include $8.0M for Fire Services and $8.5M for Police Services.
Orillia Paramedic Station
The County of Simcoe established a Paramedic Services long term strategic facility plan aimed at providing efficient and responsive paramedic services now and into the future. This plan outlines the need to establish a paramedic response presence in various areas across the county to meet the needs of local residents and visitors. As part of this plan, an eight bay, 9,680 square foot paramedic station opened in Orillia in 2017 and serves as a base for paramedics to support the immediate area and entire region. This means improved emergency response for all area residents. The station, in close proximity to the Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, is also large enough to support future growth, ensuring long-term value for residents.
Long-Term Care (Trillium Manor)
Trillium Manor was purchased by the County of Simcoe in 1989, and provides care for up to 122 residents at any given time.
Supporting our hospitals
In 2018, County Council welcomed representatives from the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance (SCHA) on March 27, 2018 to make its 15-year pledge of $45 million to area hospitals official. This brings the County’s commitment over a 37-year period (from 1994-2031) to $107 million in long-term support.
Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH)
The County of Simcoe has been honoured to provide the Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) with over $11 million since 2003.
Connecting our communities and businesses
Road infrastructure
In 2021, the County completed road infrastructure capital projects including a culvert replacement contract on County Road 44 and a culvert replacement contract on County Road 45. As well, the County completed an operational project on the road rehabilitation of Old Barrie Road from 7th to 9th Lines and 11th to 13th Lines in Oro-Medonte.
LINX Transit Service
In August 2018, as part of the County’s Transit Implementation Plan, County Council approved a 5-year, $5-million plan to create LINX Transit Service, linking municipalities across the region and connecting residents to health services, jobs, education centres and retail hubs in other communities.
Routes 3 and 6 both connect residents from within the County’s member municipalities to the City of Orillia.
Lake Simcoe Regional Airport
As one of ten commercially significant regional airports selected by the Greater Toronto Airport Authority to form part of the Southern Ontario Airport Network, the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport is also well-placed to support economic development needs on a larger scale. The investment in the expansion of Lake Simcoe Regional Airport allows Simcoe County to help meet forecasted demands in air service across Southern Ontario and increases the competitiveness of our region, province and country.
investing in our future
Children Services
As the regional service provider for Children Services, the County provides and promotes affordable access to quality child care services that enhance opportunities for early childhood development. A few of the essential services we provide are:
Early Intervention Services
Services for infant and child development, including preschool aged children with special needs are funded in part by the County of Simcoe and delivered by community agencies throughout the service areas in Simcoe County. The Simcoe County Early Intervention Services system provides young children with special needs and their families with a wide range of services and supports to help them develop to their fullest potential.
Child Care Fee Subsidies
Financial assistance for child care fees is available to eligible families within Simcoe County. Eligibility is determined by a standard assessment based on income only.
Quality Licensed Child Care
As a parent, you want to choose the kind of care that will help your child learn and grow. You want your child to be safe and happy. We do too. That’s why the County of Simcoe is happy to oversee licensed child care centres, home child care agencies, and child care providers to ensure that you can trust in your child care providers.
Building Stronger Communities Together
Supporting our Seniors
he County of Simcoe is a rapidly growing region, investing in innovative strategies to foster positive aging and create more sustainable and healthy communities through Long-Term Care and Senior Services. The County’s vision for a state-of-the-art, “60+” adult lifestyle community offering an entire continuum of housing and services combined with a unique opportunity to age in place, became a reality when the Georgian Village campus opened its doors to its residents in 2013 in the Town of Penetanguishene, Ontario. This advanced “age-in-place model” is the future of housing for older adults that provides efficient, comprehensive and accessible services and amenities within a safe and welcoming community environment.
Supporting Thriving Immigration
Visit immigration.simcoe.ca to learn more about Simcoe County and to connect with your community. Explore the Simcoe County Immigration Portal to learn more about feeling welcome, living, working, learning and doing business in Simcoe County.
The Simcoe County Local Immigration Partnership are a community partnership focused on the development of settlement strategies for newcomers. During the worldwide pandemic, they have provided multilingual resources compiled by the National Settlement and Integration Council, COVID-19 information, resources, and fact sheets.
Welcoming visitors to our communities
Less than an hour north of Toronto, Simcoe County is located in the central portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. Stretching from the shores of Lake Simcoe in the east to Georgian Bay in the west. Come enjoy all of the adventures Simcoe County has to offer! A few of our many trails are listed below. Visit Experience Simcoe County for more details.