What We Heard at the Food Strategy Open House

On June 12th 2025, residents from across Orillia and area came together to learn about our food system through a presentation: Food System & Food Futures and shared their perspectives on the future of our local food system. The comments, ideas, and insights collected across diverse groups—residents, educators, farmers, entrepreneurs, community organizations—highlighted common priorities: 

• Food Access & Affordability: Transportation, price, and limited availability are major barriers. There’s a strong desire for more accessible, affordable local food options. 

• Growing Local: Participants emphazied the need to protect farmland, and find ways to make farmland more accessible to those who want to farm. Others called for year-round growing infrastructure and support for smaller-scale farmers and producers who want to be able to process and sell their products locally. 

• Education & Skills: The community wants to see more community food education—hands-on workshops, Indigenous food teachings, and food skills programming that brings people together around growing and preparing local food. 

• Equity & Collaboration: Ensuring a seat at the table for all—especially youth, Indigenous communities, and people with lived experience—was named as essential. Ideas also included integrating food system work into broader planning strategies, like poverty reduction and community safety plans. 

• Action & Connection: People are ready for action. They want opportunities to connect, collaborate, and shape real change—not another report sitting on a shelf. 

Orillia Matters reported on the event in an article published on June 14, 2025.

We’re deeply grateful for the voices and vision shared. This input is directly informing the development of the Orillia & Area Food Strategy—stay tuned for further information and more opportunities to share input. 

Check out some photos captured at the event: 

How You Can Get Involved 

This work is led by The Sharing Place Food Centre, with support from the City of Orillia, and growing with the support of community partners across the region.  Join us!  

Your voice matters. Help shape the strategy by: 

• Filling out our short community survey to get connected and give input: