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Update as of Jan. 9, 2026:
The Significant Weather Event declared on Jan. 3 has officially ended as of 7 a.m. Staff have been able to treat roads and sidewalks following multiple snow events. Thank you to our Roads, Waste Management, and Transit crews for their continued efforts during this time, and to residents for their patience and cooperation as conditions improved.
Crews will continue hauling snow from arterial roads as part of our road-widening operations. Please drive safely and watch for snow removal vehicles. Stay safe and drive with care!
Update as of Jan. 7, 2026:
⚠️The Significant Weather Event remains in effect.
City crews hauled 210 truckloads of snow from Downtown Orillia last night as part of our road-widening operations. Crews will continue downtown tonight before moving on to arterial roads. Please drive safely and watch for snow removal vehicles, your patience is greatly appreciated as City crews carry out this work.
Find daily snow removal updates at orillia.ca/WinterControl! Today crews have been focusing on residential roads, sidewalks, park trails and more.
For immediate release (Jan. 3, 2026) – The City of Orillia has declared a Significant Weather Event to alert the community that the recent accumulation of snow is impacting municipal winter maintenance operations and affecting the City’s ability to consistently meet minimum snow removal standards. A significant weather event can be declared under the Ontario Regulation 239/02, extending the requirements established in Ontario's Minimum Maintenance Standards (MMS) for Municipal Highways.
This is not a declaration of a State of Emergency.
This declaration is based on approximately 55cm of snow accumulation received in the City between January 1 and January 2, 2026.
At this time:
- City facilities remain open.
- Transit services are operating on their regular schedules.
- Waste collection is proceeding as scheduled.
Residents are requested to support snow clearing operations by:
- Avoiding on-street parking where possible.
- Not pushing snow onto the roadway or sidewalks when clearing driveways.
- Keeping areas around fire hydrants clear from snow.
A reminder that overnight parking restrictions remain in effect. The City appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation as crews work extended hours to respond to the weather event. Updates will be shared as conditions change.
City of Orillia winter control crews currently remain operational and are addressing conditions on main routes. As a result of this declaration, all road, sidewalk, and bicycle lane infrastructures are deemed to be in a state of repair until such time as the Significant Weather Event declaration is ended and municipally serviced roads, sidewalks, and bicycle lanes have been subsequently addressed for snow accumulation and/or ice formation.
Municipalities can declare a Significant Weather Event under the Municipal Act, 2001, O. Reg. 239/02, relating to the maintenance of municipal roads and sidewalks. All roadways in the municipality are deemed to be in a state of repair with respect to snow accumulation.
The City will provide updates at orillia.ca and on the City’s social media channels throughout the Significant Weather Event and once it is declared ended.
Angela Grenier
Manager of Communications
705-325-2108
agrenier@orillia.ca
Roger Young
General Manager, Environment and Infrastructure
705-325-7551
ryoung@orillia.ca
