Letter to the Community: Growing Together for Patients, Students, and the Communities We Serve

Letter to the Community: Growing Together for Patients, Students, and the Communities We Serve

To the residents of Orillia and surrounding communities,

Orillia stands at a defining moment in its history. We write to you today as leaders of two of Orillia’s anchor institutions, Lakehead University and Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH), united by a shared vision and ready to shape an exciting future together.

Individually, the futures of our organizations are strong. Together, they present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the long-term health, growth, and success of Orillia and Simcoe County by bringing education, healthcare, research, and community life together in service of the region.

Lakehead and OSMH are moving forward with major redevelopment initiatives to meet the needs of a rapidly growing region. OSMH has received provincial approval to proceed with planning for a new, state-of-the-art hospital, supported by a planning grant received last spring. At the same time, Lakehead is expanding its presence in Orillia through a new $45-million academic building, strengthening its role as a hub for education, research, and community engagement.

What makes this moment truly exceptional is the opportunity to grow together—strengthening both our organizations while creating lasting benefits for the communities we serve.

What Does This Mean?

After a comprehensive site evaluation process led by a renowned engineering and architecture firm, and overseen by a task force that included community stakeholders, the Lakehead Orillia campus was chosen as the preferred location for the new hospital. The site was selected because it is easy to access, has sufficient land for future development, and fits well with the City’s long-term growth plans.

Co-locating a new hospital together with an expanded university campus also creates unique and exciting opportunities to meet peoples needs:

• Modern and improved infrastructure to support increased patient volumes, capacity and programs
• Expanded access to core healthcare programs and services including critical care services and inpatient beds
• Shared resources and spaces that support learning, research, and community service
• Enhanced pathways for local students to pursue well-paying careers in emerging healthcare fields
• Stronger alignment with community needs, especially in addressing the region’s growing demand for healthcare professionals
• More hands-on training opportunities, including placements and co-ops, for students

Bringing OSMH and Lakehead together is also a significant investment in Orillia’s economic future.

Today, OSMH supports approximately 1,600 jobs and generates an estimated $175 million for the local economy. Based on an economic impact study commissioned by the City of Orillia, the new hospital is anticipated to increase this economic contribution by 50%, exceeding $260 million in today’s dollar. Combined with Lakehead’s existing $355 million annual economic contribution to Orillia, this partnership will be a significant driver of economic development, and has the potential to create one of the region’s most important public-sector innovation and employment hubs.

This vision represents more than new buildings.

It’s a strategic investment—hundreds of millions of dollars in combined infrastructure over the next decade—in Orillia, creating jobs and spin-off economy throughout the life of these projects.  The long-term integration of healthcare, education, research, and student life will help attract talent, stimulate investment, support local businesses, and strengthen Orillia’s economic resilience for decades to come.

By working together–municipal leaders, community members, the university, and the hospital–Orillia can seize this moment and take a bold step forward.

The future is bright for our patients, our students, and the communities we serve.

We invite you to learn more at our Community Information Session on Thursday, June 18 at Lakehead’s Orillia campus. Drop in between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to learn more about our shared vision.

Thank you for your continued support.