Studies and Resources

The City of Orillia is home to a wide range of businesses, industries, and manufacturers, both large and small. The top five major employers in the Orillia area are:

• Casino Rama

• Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital

• Ontario Provincial Police General Headquarters

• Nordia 

• Kubota Metal Corporation

View a full list and description of Orillia's Major Employers.

To search for a specific business, use our Business Directory.

In 2012, Council adopted in principle, "Downtown Tomorrow: Linking Orillia's Core to the Water", otherwise known as the Downtown Tomorrow Plan. The Plan sets out a vision for a more vibrant and connected downtown core and waterfront. The study outlined 33 initiatives which would help achieve the seven overall goals of the Plan.

Initiative #14 of the Plan outlines the need to attract specialty retailers, by first completing an inventory of existing retail and available space, then developing a promotional package for targeted retailers.

The City of Orillia, in partnership with the Downtown Orillia Management Board (DOMB), are currently moving forward with this initiative by undertaking a Downtown Orillia Retail Mix Analysis. This study will outline which products and services currently exist, while identifying the types of businesses which should be sought through business attraction efforts.

On March 14, 2016, staff released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a project consultant, and in June 2016, UrbanMetrics Inc. were retained to undertake a Retail Mix Analysis.

City staff and community partners can then used this information to target specific businesses, while promoting the financial incentives available through the Downtown Tomorrow Community Improvement Plan (DTCIP).

Final DRAFT Retail Mix Analysis

Downtown Orillia Retail Mix Analysis - Staff report, dated November 28, 2016.

Downtown Orillia Retail Mix Analysis FINAL DRAFT - November 25, 2016.

Downtown Orillia Retail Mix Presentation to Council - December 5, 2016.

Community Engagement Workshop

A Community Engagement Workshop was held on Tuesday, September 20, 2016.

Community Engagement Workshop Presentation

Additional Resources

Map of the Downtown Orillia Retail Mix Analysis Study Area

2017 BMA Municipal Comparison Study 

The Municipal Competitiveness Study, was developed in 2001 by BMA Management Consulting as a consistent and measurable way to compare and rate a city's performance in various areas.  The database has since expanded to include close to 100 Ontario municipalities. 

Executive Summary

The City of Orillia boasts a number of competitive advantages over communities both across the region and the Province. This includes a number of financial advantages related to housing costs, industrial development charges and cost of living.

Orillia continues to participate in the BMA Municipal Comparison Study, which provides a comparison of 104 Ontario municipalities, citing; socio-economic factors, municipal tax rates, water and sewer rates, development charges, and building permit costs, all of which are key cost factors of new and expanding developments. 

Results of the 2017 BMA study can be viewed at the following links:

 2017 BMA Municipal Comparison Study - Part 1  
 2017 BMA Municipal Comparison Study - Part 2

For more information please contact edc@orillia.ca.