Impressions community exchange a win for downtown Orillia

Downtown Orillia- Residents of Orillia will have a chance to see their community through the eyes of first-time visitors as part of the Government of Ontario’s “First Impressions Community Exchange” this Thursday, December 5^th.

In late August a group of community representatives from Owen Sound ON, paid an announced visit to Downtown Orillia to offer an outsider’s perspective on the Sunshine City.  Orillia reciprocated by sending a similar delegation to Owen Sound in early October.

The exchange helps communities see themselves the way tourists, prospective businesses, relocating families, and non-local shoppers might see them.  Their first impressions of a community have a strong influence on their decisions to relocate or spend time in the community.

“When you live, shop and work in one place for a while, you sometimes take for granted the aspects that attract people to the community or on the other side of the coin, you may be unaware of the aspects that are unappealing,” said Lisa Thomson-Roop, Manager of the Downtown Orillia Management Board. 

“The report from Owen Sound will give us an objective assessment of our strengths and weaknesses.  From there we will develop a short term and long term strategy,” added Thomson-Roop.   “In fact, the downtown is already investigating some of the promotional ideas our team gathered on our visit.”

The Orillia team consisted of members of the Downtown Orillia Management Board including the City Council representative, members of the Orillia and Area Community Development Corporation and the City of Orillia’s Economic Development Department.

Results of the First Impressions Community Exchange will be presented on Thursday December 5 at 6:30pm in the Orillia Opera House Green Room.   

All are invited to attend.

For more information:

Lisa Thomson-Roop
Manager
Downtown Orillia Management Board
705.325.3261
lisa@downtownorillia.org
www.downtownorillia.org