Orillia Business and Culture

06/10/2026

Be sure to submit before the deadline — this Friday at noon! 🎨

Apply for public art opportunities in Orillia. View current calls to artists and submit your work for exhibitions and community projects.

06/06/2026

🎶 Music in the Park returns to Orillia's waterfront this summer!

Enjoy 13 free concerts at the Rotary Aqua Theatre in Couchiching Beach Park, featuring everything from big band classics and movie soundtracks to rock, country, folk, pop, and family-friendly entertainment.

🎺 Sunday Evening Band Concert Series
• Sundays beginning June 28
• New music decade featured each week
• Finale celebrating favourite movie soundtracks
• Show up dressed for each featured era!

🎸 Lakeside Live Concert Series
• Saturdays beginning July 11
• Performances spanning rock, country, pop, funk, indie, and folk
• Youth showcase
• Kiddie concert
• Enjoy food trucks on select evenings and lawn games

All concerts run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy an evening of free live music by the waterfront all summer long.

Interested in supporting this signature summer event? Sponsorship opportunities are still available!

🎵 View the full schedule: orillia.ca/musicinthepark
👉Read the full release: orillia.ca/music

06/01/2026

Please join us at 11 am on Monday, June 8th for a Pride Flag Raising Ceremony!

The ceremony will be held outside of the Orillia Opera House at 20 Mississaga Steet West, Orillia.

Hope to see you there!

06/01/2026

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada. The City of Orillia recognizes and honours Indigenous Peoples for their important contributions in shaping the place we call home. Take time to learn about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis, but also find moments for reflection on the ongoing impacts of colonization and how we can all contribute to reconciliation.

Have an event you’d like to promote? Individuals and organizations offering experiential activities to the public, such as workshops, classes, festivals, and other events, are encouraged to submit the events to our community calendar at Orillia.ca/Calendar

Learn more about Indigenous History Month: canada.ca/national-indigenous-history-month

05/28/2026

Artists, this is your sign… literally! 🎨 The deadline has been extended for our Community Garden Signage Call for Artists. Don’t miss your chance to leave your creative mark across the city!

Apply for public art opportunities in Orillia. View current calls to artists and submit your work for exhibitions and community projects.

05/22/2026

📣 Orillia businesses: Help bring free live music to the waterfront this summer!

Following a successful first year that welcomed 1,500+ attendees to Couchiching Beach Park, the former Music & Makers concert series is returning this summer as the Lakeside Live concert series (bigger and better than ever).

We’re proud to welcome the Rotary Club of Orillia as the presenting sponsor and we’re inviting more local businesses to join us in supporting free community concerts on the waterfront.

🎶 About Lakeside Live:
• Saturday evenings in July & August
• Free concerts at Couchiching Beach Park
• Genres for all audiences (with a new kid-friendly concert added!)

🤝 Sponsorship opportunities available:
• Flexible tiers starting at only $250
• Great local visibility and recognition
• Support accessible arts and culture in Orillia

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Learn more at orillia.ca/musicinthepark.

This website uses cookies to enhance usability and provide you with a more personal experience. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Privacy Policy.

05/22/2026

What a great event celebrating women entrepreneurs at last Thursday’s EmpowerHER Pitch Showcase!

Over the past 10 weeks, the City of Orillia’s Economic Development Division has been proud to support the Further Faster: EmpowerHER program, bringing together women entrepreneurs from Orillia and Lake Country to strengthen their business plans, refine their pitches, build confidence, and connect with mentors and fellow business leaders.

A huge congratulations to all of the participants for the hard work, creativity, and passion you brought to the program. It was inspiring to see each of you share your stories and business ideas.

Special congratulations to award recipients:
🏆 Jenna Rossiter – Super Prize Winner
👏 Vanessa Calcos
👏 Amanda Moss

Thank you to our judges Rebecca Heffernan, Ruth Howorth, and Sarah Melody for your time, encouragement, and thoughtful feedback throughout the showcase.

We’d also like to thank our partners at Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre for delivering this program and helping create opportunities for women-led businesses in our community.

And a special shoutout to Lynda Chan for capturing so many great moments from the event through her photography!

The City of Orillia is proud to support initiatives like EmpowerHER that help foster entrepreneurship, innovation, and local business growth in our region. We look forward to seeing what this amazing cohort accomplishes next!

04/24/2026

The final locations of Orillia’s future Settlement Area Boundary Expansion will be discussed at the upcoming Council Committee meeting to be held on Monday, April 27th at 2:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber and livestreamed. Council Committee will be asked to make a recommendation on the locations of Orillia’s next municipal boundary expansion to accommodate growth for the next 20 – 30 years.

To review the staff report, please click here to see the Council agenda.

It is expected that Council will ratify the decision on the final locations of Orillia’s next municipal boundary expansion at the Council Meeting to be held on Monday, May 11, 2026.

If you would like to address Council, you can register for the Open Public Forum registering a minimum of four business hours prior to the commencement of the meeting and by completing the Open Public Forum Request Form. The Open Public Forum is limited to a maximum of 30 minutes and each speaker will only be given 3 minutes.

Please contact Jill Lewis, Senior Planner, at 705-418-3232 or [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.

02/18/2026

EmpowerHER is a transformative 10-week program that supports women-led businesses in Orillia and Lake Country.

Starting on March 12, and running weekly until May 14, this in-person business accelerator is ideal for current and aspiring entrepreneurs looking for expert support, fresh perspectives and new connections to help them grow their business.

Each 2-hour session is delivered at the beautiful Creative Nomad Studios in downtown Orillia. Over the course of the program you will collaborate with well-connected mentors and fellow entrepreneurs to deeply understand your customers’ needs, refine your business and financial plan, and compellingly communicate the value that you offer.

This hands-on and community-focused program concludes with a pitch showcase where over $5000 in cash and in-kind support will be awarded.

Registration: https://OrilliaEmpowerHER.eventbrite.ca

In addition to News Releases, we post public notices often... check here regularly for special meeting announcements and other pertinent community notices. Subscribe to Public Notices to receive new postings via email.

02/09/2026

Join Us for “Launch & Learn: Sustainable Business Basics for Entrepreneurs”! 🌱

Calling all small and local business owners!
Sustainability isn’t just for big corporations — it’s about making smart, practical choices that benefit your customers, your community, and your bottom line.

📅 March 4
🕐 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST
📍 Creative Nomad Studios, 23 Mississaga St W, Orillia
🙋 Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sustainable-business-basics-for-entrepreneurs-tickets-1982459734432?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Speaker: Lindsay Hampson - a sustainability consultant and business leader who works with small and mid-sized businesses across Canada and the United States. She is the Founder of ThisRock Inc., a consulting firm that helps businesses reduce environmental impact, meet customer expectations and turn sustainability into a practical business advantage.

This hands on workshop will break down real world sustainability practices you can put into action right away — from managing energy and waste to understanding which eco labels, certifications, and claims actually matter.

You’ll leave with:
✔ Clear next steps
✔ Practical ideas for your business
✔ A short, actionable sustainability plan

Perfect for businesses in retail, wellness, food service, hospitality, and service-based sectors.
Let’s build a greener, smarter, more resilient future for local business.

Reserve your free spot today!

In addition to News Releases, we post public notices often... check here regularly for special meeting announcements and other pertinent community notices. Subscribe to Public Notices to receive new postings via email.