NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF ORILLIA
*************************
Orillia and area residents and local business owners are invited to complete an online survey as part of an economic impact study related to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) in advance of an anticipated new facility in the future.
The economic impact study will assist council in determining the impact on the downtown, should a new hospital be developed outside of the downtown core.
“A new hospital located in Orillia is essential for the future health and wellbeing of all Orillia and area residents,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “Where the hospital is located is important for the convenience of our residents and the economy of our City. The economic impact study will be critical to the hospital’s decision about where in the City a new hospital will be located. Our citizens need to consider whether they want their future hospital in the downtown area or outside the core.”
Consultants working for the city have developed and launched the survey, which will be open until Nov. 30, 2019.
The survey is positioned to collect responses from local residents, businesses, hospital staff and visitors. Information collected through the survey, along with analysis of direct and indirect hospital spending - such as wages and other hospital expenditures - will be used to develop the economic impact study, expected to be completed by the end of the year.
A review of other community experiences and case studies related to determining the locations of strategic major investments, such as hospitals, libraries, recreation centres etc., will be included as part of the exercise.
“The City and Soldiers’ Memorial are working closely together to ensure we are aligned on the best possible future for the hospital and the City, which is important as we move forward with this process,” said Mayor Clarke.
The survey is available at https://urbanmetrics.ca1.qualt
*************************