Soak in the Unique
Charm of Downtown Orillia
The Downtown Orillia BIA is located just an hour from the Greater Toronto Area, off of Hwy 11. Nestled near Lake Couchiching and positioned at the gateway to cottage country, Downtown Orillia is a thriving shopping area rich in culture featuring special events and festivals all year long.
About Orillia
Orillia is less than 90 minutes from the Greater Toronto Area. Even though growth and progress have been strong in recent years, the Sunshine City has worked hard to retain the small-town charm that has captivated generations. There are many opportunities to experience the history of the Orillia area such as at the Stephen Leacock Museum and the Orillia Museum of Art & History. The artists of the area are famous for pottery, sculpture and painting.
The heritage of the area is also enriched by the traditions and art of the Indigenous Peoples. Plan to spend the day and visit Grants Woods and Scout Valley Trails (for nature lovers), Port of Orillia, historic Orillia Opera House, take a heritage walking tour and visit the beautiful art galleries of the Peter Street Arts District and throughout Downtown Orillia. A visit to the area is not complete without visiting Mariposa Market, the Trans Canada Trail, Casino Rama, and the Downtown Farmers’ Market every Saturday morning.
Orillia is also home to Ontario’s newest university. Lakehead University operates a growing presence in Orillia with two locations: one in the historic centre of the downtown and a main campus in West Orillia. Orillia is an enchanting place to visit, a great place to work, an ideal place to do business, and a wonderful place to live and raise a family.
Downtown Orillia BIA
The Downtown Orillia Business Improvement Area (DOBIA) is a member-based organization dedicated to supporting, enhancing, and advocating for Orillia’s downtown core. As a BIA, we work in partnership with local businesses, the City of Orillia, and community stakeholders to strengthen the downtown as a vibrant place to shop, work, visit, and gather.
BIAs are established under provincial legislation and funded through a levy paid by downtown property owners. This structure allows us to collectively invest in initiatives that support economic vitality, placemaking, promotion, and advocacy—benefiting the downtown as a whole.
DOBIA Staff
Downtown businesses are supported by the Orillia BIA Board in a number of ways. With a mandate that includes making Downtown Orillia a primary hub for business in the region, it offers a wide range of services, support and innovative marketing programs to assist downtown business owners.
The Board meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 23 Mississaga St W at 5:30pm.
Board of Directors
Doug Cooper
- Chair
- Provenance Wine Bar
Jennie-May Banks
- Vice Chair
- Couchiching Craft Brewing Co.
Michael Fredson
- Treasurer
- Manticore Books
Megan Murray
- Secretary
- Jack and Maddy
Jeff Gilbert
- Director
- Gilbert Guitars
Darcy MacDonell
- Director
- The Common Stove, PICNIC
Snack Bar, The Hog & Penny
Jenna French
- Director
- Rustica Pizza Vino
Ruth Howorth
- Director
- Champlain Waterfront Hotel
David Campbell
- Councillor
- City of Orillia, Councillor Representative
Downtown Gift Card
Want to support local businesses? Get yourself and your favourite person a Gift Card.
FAQ
What is a BIA?
A business improvement area (BIA) is a local board of council that operates within a specified commercial area or footprint.
It’s managed by an elected volunteer board of management comprised mainly of business and commercial property owners that operate within that area. One member of council gets appointed to sit on the BIA Board.
How is the BIA funded?
All commercial property owners within the specified area must pay an extra amount (called a levy) on their municipal commercial property taxes. This levy gets collected by the city and is given to the BIA for their budget.
The BIA is funded solely by its members (commercial property owners and their business tenants) and is not funded through general municipal taxation. Residents (even the ones who live within the BIA boundary) do not contribute to the BIA through their municipal taxes.
Who qualifies as a member of the BIA?
All of the commercial property owners and their business tenants within the specified area are automatically considered members of the BIA. Being a member of the BIA is not optional.
How do elections work in choosing the BIA Board of Management?
Similar to council, the BIA Board is elected for a term of four years. At the end of four years, a new Board is elected in the fall.
Board directors are elected by the members (property owners and their business tenants) at the annual general meeting of the BIA.
The BIA then submits the names of those people who were elected to council to be officially appointed. Council is not required to appoint someone who was elected to the Board.
Is the BIA a department of the city?
No. The BIA is considered a local board of council and operates independently from the city and similar to a non-profit organization. The BIA makes its own decisions, creates its own policies and procedures and is led by a board of elected volunteers.
Does the BIA oversee parking in the downtown?
No. The city is responsible for all parking in Orillia. However, through our close relationship with council, they often ask for our feedback and ideas on parking policy, parking fees and parking operations that may impact the downtown business community.
Who is responsible for plowing and salting downtown sidewalks?
The businesses and commercial property owners themselves are responsible for removal of ice and snow from the sidewalks in the downtown, but the BIA compliments their efforts through additional plowing and salting. This is outlined in the City of Orillia’s Municipal Code chapter 660.
What are some of the things that a BIA does?
- Promotes downtown as a tourism destination and community hub;
- Supports downtown businesses by keeping them informed on a variety of subjects related to downtown;
- Advocates for the collective best interests of downtown;
- Hosts downtown events, activations and promotions;
- Beautifies and manages the downtown public realm by enhancing the basic services provided by the city;
- Cultivates partnerships and relationships that benefit the downtown.
How does the BIA choose what activities or projects it takes on?
The BIA is managed by the elected board of management who provide direction to BIA staff in terms of what to do and what the BIA’s priorities are.
The BIA also creates a budget each year which should reflect the priorities that have been set for the BIA by the board.
What is council’s role in working with the BIA?
Council is responsible for approving the BIA budget and they have the last say on who can be a director on the BIA Board of Management.
Does the Downtown Orillia BIA still forgive one downtown parking ticket per year?
No. The parking ticket forgiveness program is run by the City of Orillia. To apply for forgiveness for a parking ticket, you need to use a special form provided at city hall. The BIA is not involved in this program.
Does the Downtown Orillia BIA still sell Downtown Dollars?
No. The BIA now sells the Sunshine City Downtown Orillia Gift Card instead. You can buy them any time at www.mydowntowngiftcards.ca.
You can still use any Downtown Dollars that you have at any downtown business that accepts them and the business will get reimbursed by the BIA.