UPDATE April 7, 2020: Recreation Centre, Front Street construction continues while other projects halted

A number of construction projects in the City of Orillia will proceed while many others are postponed following the Province’s new list of essential services, which came into effect on April 4, 2020.

After careful review of the revised essential service list and in consultation with the Province, the City is proceeding with the construction of a number of important projects such as the Orillia Recreation Centre, Front Street Reconstruction, and the Horne Business Park Expansion, along with critical water/wastewater projects, and facility and sidewalk maintenance projects deemed essential at this time.

“The City is committed to the health and safety of staff and the community, while also enabling the continuation of essential projects as approved by the Province in a safe manner. The construction projects proceeding are required to meet the critical needs of the city and will help jump-start our local economy when we come out on the other side of this,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “I want to commend staff for the work they have put into initiating these projects on behalf of Council, then having to evaluate and prioritize them twice based on the essential and non-essential restrictions laid out by the Province.”

The Orillia Recreation Centre is well over 90 per cent complete and will be the City’s designated emergency evacuation centre and therefore essential to continue. Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital is investigating a number of sites as potential locations for an alternative patient care site, should it be required in the future, and they have identified the new recreation centre as one of those locations. Currently, the City’s emergency evacuation centre is Rotary Place Arena. Atlas Construction, the contractor for the project, has implemented strict protocols to ensure the health and safety of workers on site and adherence to physical distancing measures.

Many construction projects planned for 2020 were put on hold because of COVID-19 and the new provincial essential services list including, but not limited to, the reconstruction of Bleeker Street, municipal parking lot upgrades, transit system improvements, Rotary Aqua Theatre improvements, the annual road resurfacing and non-essential building improvements at City-owned facilities.

City operations, such as spring clean-up and road maintenance, will also continue with appropriate physical distancing and health and safety measures in place.

The City will continue to work closely with all of its contractors to help ensure adherence to physical distancing and other COVID-19 prevention measures.

Remember, all residents must do the following to help stop the spread of COVID-19: 

• Practice social/physical distancing of at least two metres (six feet)
• Frequently wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Cough or sneeze into your arm
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Stay home if you are sick
• If you have any symptoms, self-monitor and self-isolate and contact a healthcare professional if symptoms persist
• If you have travelled recently, you must self-isolate for 14 days
• If you have, or suspect you have COVID-19, complete a self-assessment, contact your local healthcare provider or visit a local assessment centre. Do not visit your local doctor or emergency room.

For more information visit: orillia.ca/COVID-19 

For more information on the COVID-19 Assessment Centre in Orillia visit: osmh.on.ca/covid-19/ 

For COVID-19 updates from the SMDHU visit: http://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Promos/Novel-Coronavirus

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Mayor Steve Clarke
705-326-1177
mayor@orillia.ca

Brent Thomas
Orillia Fire Chief
705-325-5889
bthomas@orillia.ca

Gayle Jackson
Chief Administrative Officer
705-238-7501
gjackson@orillia.ca

Jennifer Ruff
Director of Business Development and Communications
705-238-9209
jruff@orillia.ca