Downtown Visioning Unfolds

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Revitalizing Orillia's downtown and waterfront is about "recapturing the land," George Dark, a partner with Urban Strategies, said Tuesday.

"It's now time to really get a very imaginative and creative set of ideas together," Dark said.

More than 150 people took part in the first day of Orillia's weeklong design charrette public consultation process Tuesday.

The city hired consulting firm Urban Strategies to assist with the development of a downtown/waterfront revitalization plan.

Dark, an urban designer and landscape architect, encouraged Orillia to bring brownfield sites back to life.

"It's good business, but it's also a lot better for us as a society," he said.

It doesn't take much to attract people to an area, said Jeffrey Staates, of Phillips, Farevaag, Smallenberg.

"It only takes a bench or table to bring people back to a place and give it some meaning," he said.

Victor Ford of Victor Ford and Associates Inc. focused on active transportation and connections.

"Walking is a huge factor in health," he said. "We want to live longer and more healthy lives."

Ford suggested Orillia develop more active connections into the downtown.

"This is a real potential destination in terms of long-distance cycling," he said.

Orillia could create "complete streets" where people don't just drive, but walk, eat and linger, Ford said.

"The streets become a destination in themselves, not just something you want to rush through," he said. "Drivers go slower because they want to look at the shops."

Becoming a great city to visit is about developing "memorable experiences," said D'arcy McKittrick, partner at The Tourism Company.

"It's not the trail alone," he said. "It's the memorable experience, how you put them together to create those memorable experiences."

Cathy Jonasson, owner of Studiolab, spoke of branding and its importance of being true to the city.

"When you're trying to define who you are... you don't get to be all things to all people," she said. "You get to pick the one thing that makes you important."

Choosing an identity is difficult.

"Branding is not about going out and making a beautiful logo," she said. "It's about you telling us who you are and framing back to you what we hear..."

Orillians are encouraged to get involved in the design charrette as it continues throughout this week at Branch 34 of the Royal Canadian Legion on Mississaga Street East.

Today, participants will engage in planning sessions throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The session will be on aspects of the downtown and waterfront such as parks, trails, housing, culture and the economy.

Ideas will be represented in drawings and a model of the downtown. Beginning at 7 p.m., the outcomes of the discussions will be on display at a public open house.

A public session will not be held Thursday, as Urban Strategies will continue to explore and refine the community’s ideas.

A public open house will be held Friday from 3 to 7 p.m., when consultants will present the emerging design and potential projects for the downtown.

For more program details, visit www.downtowntomorrow.ca.