Controversial statue, location of new hospital dominates Orillia council chambers

A controversial statue and a new location for a hospital were on the docket at city council

On the heels of the Samuel de Champlain monument being put back at Couchiching Beach Park on Thursday - Orillia chambers were full in anticipation of what mayor Don McIssac would say about putting the statue back in its original location.

Up for debate - increasing the budget by half a million dollars to proceed with installation of the statue as well as the design to be approved.

One delegation who spoke on the subject said the issue is a sensitive one in the city.

“It’s a divisive issue in the community. A lot of people want it back, some are dead set against it,” said Orillia resident Peter Fyfe. “It causes a lot of trauma for some people. I should say a significant number of people.”

The statue has been covered and fenced off since Thursday night.

“It also represents a very difficult history, colonial history, a history of, dislocation, displacement of Indigenous people. I think that’s at the heart of the issue,” said Fyfe.

Delegations wanted to see council delay the motions and after a lengthy closed door session some residents got their wish.

After some confusion, the report was withdrawn from council and will be presented again at a later date.

Where will a new hospital go in Orillia?

Another item on the agenda was the location of the new hospital.

Last year Lakehead University and the province announced a new hospital and Lakehead was the preferred site through an expression of interest.

Dr. Gillian Siddall, president and vice-chancellor of Lakehead University said its not uncommon for hospitals to be located

“We couldn’t be more delighted to imagine having the hospital right there with us on the campus,”

With some delegations supporting the idea.

A lot of our residents, Westridge is their home, and having a hospital in that area, it’s a shovel ready site,“ said Orillia resident Rob Kloostra. ”The province has already endorsed it and I think it’s just a good move."

The city had other plans and wants to endorse a location closer to the downtown core.

Orillia District Chamber of Commerce would prefer to see some data before the decision is made.

“Having the hospital is going to be an economic impact, it’s going to matter for 50 years,” said executive director Allan Lafontaine. “So that decision, whether it’s downtown or Westridge, we need to have an analysis to determine what’s best for the city.”

The motion was defeated and council will wait for the hospital to make their presentation before the city decides to endorse a specific location.