SaltToday

Citizen calls for change in Orillia amid 'growing decline in safety'

So, Smith's solution is to ban encampments while providing nowhere for the homeless to go, and also passing the buck to the provincial and federal governments instead of taking any responsibility for the the issues within her "own" town. Why exactly did we pay for her to go to all those courses about addressing homelessness???

- ElizabethMK

Citizen calls for change in Orillia amid 'growing decline in safety'

I totally agree with Adele Lemaire. As someone who uses the trails almost daily, they can be scary. The section from Forest Ave to downtown is exceptionally bad. The trash, hazardous waste and stench is terrible. You don’t know if you are going to be approached by these individuals so it leaves a very uneasy situation. Something definitely needs to be done.

- Sandy48

Citizen calls for change in Orillia amid 'growing decline in safety'

Smith said something I agree with, that you seemed to have overlooked that deals with managing the homeless population:"I would like to see council immediately explore a bylaw prohibiting camping anywhere within the City of Orillia without an approved permit or authorization ... this would provide bylaw officers with clearer authority to address encampments before they become larger public safety concerns," said Smith.

- CasualObserver

Citizen calls for change in Orillia amid 'growing decline in safety'

The longer that encampments are left to fester, the worse the problem becomes. Those who pay the taxes have the right to be safe in their own communities. The garbage and the needles that are left behind with impunity are not acceptable. The greater homelessness problem will not be solved by the city of Orillia. Take some guidance from Barrie, and protect the safety of the community, remove the encampments.

- R. Baxter

Citizen calls for change in Orillia amid 'growing decline in safety'

If they would quite shipping the homlessness from Toronto to Orillia LighttHouse Beackon we in Orillia wouldnt have this problem

- Wendl

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

I'm sorry Ms. Durnford, it's called history not nostalgia. If we erase history we will never learn from the mistakes made therein. Maybe you should study it a bit and not trivialize it. Champlain was an important figure in Canada's history and the monument is a work of art. We should be able to preserve important history in a culturally sensitive manner.

- DLBH

Citizen calls for change in Orillia amid 'growing decline in safety'

You can sugar coat it all you want but don't let your grandkids take a stroll through Couchiching beach park after 10 o'clock on a warm summer evening. I for one am for banning encampments in the city, especially on the warmer months. If by "we" you mean taxpayers paid for courses and addressing homelessness, then why don't we just implement what these courses suggest. What happened in Orillia also happened in Barrie and will happen again unless we tighten up and stop trying to be their mother and think giving them a place to live will change anything.

- whoknows

Demolition enters new phase at former HRC property

So sure they will be doing this for affordable housing and not for a new cop shop and training spa. The fact that we have had these many rooms sitting empty while people shelter in doorways, under bridges, beside on and off ramps, in the bushy areas, in the park boggles my mind. Bad things have happened in plenty of places but right now, we have a shortage of affordable units and an increasing homeless population... all those possible apartments gonzo. And who is paying for all this anyway? Who pays for the police budget? Our councillors? We are keenly aware this is at our expense and no amount of tokenization of former wards will hide the truth of the matter...

- R. Bard

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

The monument is part of Orillia's history and should be returned but only if it is reinstalled in its original form , including the first nation figures. The March brothers had never been to Canada and the first drawings they sent to the Hale working group in Orillia had the natives looking like african natives. Hale hired an artist and a few native's from Rama to draw images that were then sent of to England to complete the Monument. Any instalation of the Monument that is not totally original should not be allowed. I don't want my tax dollars being spent on someones new idea of what the monument should look like. That would not be part of our history. It should be totally original or nothing.

- Patrol

Citizen calls for change in Orillia amid 'growing decline in safety'

Oh? I love this false narrative. I have heard this online for a few years now. Who is "they" who are doing this shipping? Tell us all one verifiable fact to back up this claim. Otherwise, it remains a false narrative.

- no laughing matter

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

Why should the community give special weight to Krystal Brooks’ opinion on this? She was recently charged with mischief for spray-painting ‘Rama said No’ on the statue — that’s not exactly civil dialogue, it’s vandalism.

- Flax Seed

Councillor files human rights complaint against Ramara for bullying

With customary dignity, integrity and truth, I won't litigate here. I will note two things: 1. when a human rights complaint is brought, it should be treated with the seriousness it warrants 2. statements attributed to the Mayor in this article are disputed and belong in the proper forum.This is not “politics.”. It's sustained conduct toward me. The allegations include unequal treatment, reprisal, harassment and attempts to control, isolate and silence me in my elected role. It is the chronicle of what I've experienced.Significant space is given to the Township’s position rather than the allegations brought. Events/words are conflated. I spoke only of accessing assistance not timelines; my reference to “disagreeable” was specifically in the context of strong female leaders like Hazel McCallion; the males' actions are mixed up as are dates - not surprising since the chronology is limited to only 94 incidents. Full media release:https://www.facebook.com/sherribellward5

- Sherri Bell

'Great for tourism' Council floats idea of Orillia name sign

If you made the letters QUITE a bit smaller, it could go on the plinth where the Champlain Monument was!I'm joking, of course.Not sure that a sign is going to bring tourists in. I suppose if they're here already, they might go see it, but I doubt anyone's going to come specifically to see that.

- Joanie C

‘Protect Ontario’ ads cost one ministry nearly $10M last year

They are both obscene uses of our money. I will never vote for the PC party in Ontario again while they are pulling this nonsense.

- DLBH

Demolition enters new phase at former HRC property

Then why have a monument built as a “reminder”??🤔

- WhoWhatWhy

'Great for tourism' Council floats idea of Orillia name sign

What I don't understand is why NONE of Orillia's public parking lots are marked on Google Maps. Like most people I use my phone or my car's nav system to find my way, NOT signs. I often set a public parking lot as a destination when I'm traveling to a new place.If you want to attract more visitors, you need to show them where they can park BEFORE they arrive or even after they arrive. This means marking the parking lots on line.Like Barrie does. Why is Orillia so far behind on this? We don't need more "wayfinding" signs, we need better online information.

- Onlooker

Councillor files human rights complaint against Ramara for bullying

Ms Bell appears to enjoy creating conflict and/or getting attention. As always the taxpayer suffers.

- DLBH

Demolition enters new phase at former HRC property

That is were the new hospital should be located.

- Citizen Cane

'Incredible project': New Orillia hospital 'still a decade away'

Out of town is a terrible idea. They essentially already moved Orillia to Westridge. Annoying...

- usr_714321

'Great for tourism' Council floats idea of Orillia name sign

Yes, like perhaps a world-class art sculpture of a famous explorer? If it was big and beautiful it would bring tourists and townsfolk alike to come see it. What's that you say? Been there done that?

- David Hawke