People living in Orillia can enjoy the best of suburban atmosphere and big-city facilities at the same time. The Greater Toronto Area is less than an hour and a half away from here. Although development and change in recent years are high, Sunshine City struggles to maintain the small city’s magic that has intrigued generations. Therefore, residents here can enjoy the best of both worlds. Two magnificent lakes surround this place, and this is why everyone here can enjoy plenty of outdoor recreational activities in all seasons.
Its hydro-electric power unit powers this city, and this may be one of the best and the most enticing feature of this place. The entire area runs on hydro-electric power, and you will never have to face any high utility bills or outages. The natural setting and the quaint houses still prevail in the city, and it presents a stunning atmosphere for the residents. You can go skiing, surfing, boating, canoeing, skating, rowing, or play tennis, baseball, and soccer in the well-maintained arenas.
You will also find crushed gravel and paved hiking trails here that will take you around the city’s major attractions while keeping your active. You can also find early 20th-century architecture in the main portions of the area, and the local authorities do their best to keep the structures in pristine condition. If you are looking for a harmonious balance of art, culture, and outdoor activities, this is the place for you. Keep reading and find out what Orillia has to offer at your disposal.
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What Are the Pros of Living in Orillia, Ontario?
The region is rich when it comes to scenic natural settings, beaches, and lakes. Lake Simcoe is one of the most beautiful lakes in the province, and this city is located between Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching. This doubles the fun and offers more crystal-clear beaches to the residents than any other city nearby. Let’s find out what makes this place stand out among the rest.
The Multi-Cultured and Versatile Downtown
One of the major issues with small cities is the lack of entertainment and dining opportunities in the downtown area. Well, this is not an issue for Orillia, as the downtown area offers a wide array of nightclubs, pubs, bars, top-notch restaurants, boutiques, and supermarts. Even though Walmart and other major shopping malls have reduced the number of family-owned shops, you will still find plenty of multi-cultured and family-owned places in the area. These offer everything at a reasonable price and offer a warm welcome like no other place.
The downtown area is also minutes away from the port, so you can get everything from the shops, take your boat out to the open waters, have a memorable day with your family, and make it back home in time for dinner. This ease of accessibility is outstanding, and you can plan all your fun activities and still go shopping at the same time. There are also entertainment and art venues in the downtown area to keep the vibe alive, and owners have started to revive the shopping areas with local products rather than chain-store items. This revival allows for more business opportunities, and you will get to experience more culture.
The Healthcare System
If you are a family man, and you are thinking of moving to Orillia, think no more. The Orillia Soldier’s Memorial Hospital has state-of-the-art medical equipment to address all the medical emergencies of the residents quickly, and it can accommodate up to 230 patients at the same time. The staff is well-trained, and the local authorities have recently begun developments to expand the hospital.
The hospital offers everything from rehab and physiotherapy centers to intensive care units. There are also geriatric services, pediatrics services, and all the other services that are expected of a large-sized hospital. The residents do not have to seek any medical attention outside the city limits, and this hospital offers an enhanced patient care system with digital portals and patient management units.
The Steady Real Estate Market
The steady real estate market here offers affordable housing to everyone. Most of the residential properties are mid-ranged, and families can easily find a place without spending a fortune. Getting a TLC home in the residential subdivision can serve as an investment for the future, and a lot of people opt for such properties for large families. If you want a property facing the lakes, you will have to spend more than usual, and these can cost somewhere near $1 million.
The Wide Spectrum of Recreational Activities
The city is also rich in terms of organized sports, recreational activities, social gathering events, and special sports programs for everyone. These programs are designed to engage everyone, from kids to senior citizens. The sports complex on University Avenue currently has a double-pad indoor rink and an outdoor sports field. The Rotary Place Sports Center also offers outdoor fields and indoor arenas for tennis, basketball, and skating.
The Orillia Community Center also offers indoor skating rinks. The most popular and preferred sports here are ice-hockey, figure skating, and curling. In fact, there are a few renowned figure skating champions here who have participated and won huge in national events.
The Top-Notch Educational Institutes
You can find everything here, from primary schools to high schools. Lakehead University also opened up a campus here in 2010, and it offers all the modern programs to the students. This building is designed as a “green building” and has different sections that run on green energy rather than the traditional fuel-based energy. There are also alternative educational institutes here for parents who want something more for their kids.
The Year-Round Events
Orillia is also home to lively festivals and events that keep the morale up throughout the year. Here are some of the famous music events that take place here every year:
- Orillia Jazz Fest
- The Orillia Spring Blues Festival
- The Mariposa Folk Festival
- Kiwanis Music Festival
- Orillia Beatles Celebration
You can catch an amazing concert, live music festival, celebration festivals, or revival festivals here. The residents are in love with musical festivals, which is why there are over six or seven such festivals throughout the year. There are other festivals here, such as:
- Orillia Dragon Boat Festival on Lake Simcoe
- Canada Day Celebrations
- Maple Syrup Festival in the Local Farmer’s Market
- Rotary Club Fun Fest for All Ages
What Are the Cons of Living in Orillia, Ontario?
The city may offer a wide spectrum of perks and benefits at your disposal, but you also have to understand that there are a few cons that might turn away potential future residents. Let’s see what negative elements ail Orillia.
The Scarcity of Jobs
There are no major business hubs here other than the downtown area. Moreover, the biggest employer in the city is Walmart, so you know the job industry is on the low for now. There are few job opportunities here, and the available ones will pay less than other cities. The residents have to search the nearby cities for jobs. This can often lead to a longer commute time as the nearby cities are already filled with their residents looking for jobs.
The Continuous Development Phase
Continuous development is a sign of good places. However, when developments keep on going without any signs of progress, it can indicate bad politicians. The same is the case here; there are a few areas that are under development for over a decade now. There seems to be no sign of progress, and even the roads are breaking apart due to heavy traffic during rush hours.
The politicians here keep on feeding the same statement to the residents, but no efforts have been made to revise the structure of major streets in the area. Your vehicle will give up in a few years after continuous interaction with broken roads.
What Do We Have to Say?
Orillia is a fun place that offers affordable housing opportunities, a steady real estate market, and plenty of fun festivals throughout the year. Moreover, the place is rich when it comes to natural scenic settings, and you can enjoy amazing trails, camping opportunities, hiking adventures, etc. If you are looking to be more active and get into sports, this is the place for you and your family. The different sports centers over the city offer plenty of indoor and outdoor recreational and sports activities for all age groups.
This place is perfect for retirees as they can enjoy special discounts on lodging, housing, and shopping. The versatile downtown area is also rich when it comes to multi-cultured and family-owned stores. You can bid farewell to corporate-owned chain stores and enjoy a homely environment while shopping in welcoming family-owned shops. To sum up, Orillia can be perfect for you if you already have a job in a nearby city and are looking to settle down in a small-town atmosphere with a low crime rate and plenty of fun activities to do on the weekends.