NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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On Feb. 6, 2025, the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce (ODCC) will hold its 133rd Annual Dinner.
The event has traditionally been an opportunity for chamber members to come together to enjoy a meal and socialize while officially acknowledging the changeover in chamber presidency.
This year, Scott Walker, of O’Coin Walker & Associates of BMO Nesbitt Burns, will hand the presidential gavel over to Jan Holland, owner of Marina Del Rey. Holland has served on the ODCC board for five years, and for the past year has chaired the ODCC’s advocacy committee.
“One primary goal this year is to foster tight collaboration between us and the other chambers of commerce in the surrounding townships to have a stronger voice in advocacy. I feel it is an important priority to keep communications between the local business community and municipalities fluid to ensure that everyone’s interests are aligned,” says Holland regarding his objectives for the coming year.
“A lot of the present social issues surrounding us are based on systemic issues. In our advocacy committee, we continuously discuss how these are also becoming very prominent business concerns at the same time," said Holland.
"As much as working on a solution for the immediate needs, setting up our next generation for social success is just as important. The structure of organized sports should not be underestimated in the process. I truly believe that more needs to be done with options for year-round training facilities for our popular team leagues of all sports and keep them in town. I would like to explore options and determine how our local business community could assist in gaining momentum towards a creative solution," said Holland.
“In addition, there are key infrastructure improvements for Simcoe North that the ODCC will make a continued effort to advocate for. These include the Province of Ontario finally giving approval for a new hospital, and the relief from local roads, like the twinning of Highway 12 with direct destinations to other areas like Windsor, as critical minerals from northern Ontario need to find their way south.”
The 2025 chamber dinner will take place at Hawk Ridge Golf Club and will also feature special guest speaker Daniel Tisch, president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
As a special addition to this year’s event, the ODCC will be presenting a Lifetime Achievement Award to the Hon. Doug Lewis, a local business leader and former chamber president who also served as MP and held several positions in the federal cabinet.
Tickets for the Annual Dinner are available at www.orillia.com/events/details/chamber-annual-dinner-1489?calendarMonth=2025-02-01 or through the chamber office.
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