As firefighters continue to battle the downtown blaze near Peter and Mississaga streets, the Orillia Opera House, Fabstyle Hair Design, and Eclectic Cafe have opened their doors as warming centres for first responders and those impacted by the fire.
“What we've decided to do today is close our dining room for service but open it to any first responders or displaced people that are in downtown businesses as a warming centre,” said Eclectic Cafe owner Melanie Robinson.
She said the dining room will be closed for business until later today, instead opening as a warming centre offering free coffee, tea and food to impacted community members.
“Basically, it's whatever we can do as a community to come together and help people in need,” she said.
Stefany Schmidt, manager at Fabstyle Hair Design, said the salon is working with Eclectic Cafe to offer additional space for those affected to get out of the cold.
“We’re offering coffee and just a place for people to come warm up or sit or hang out,” Schmidt said.
With limited seating at Eclectic Cafe, the opera house is also opening its doors.
“Because she has limited seating, we have extra washrooms here for first responders and for people displaced, so they may need the washroom or a place just to sit and get warmed up and have a coffee,” said opera house theatre manager Emily Martin.
Martin said the opera house is setting up chairs in its green room for community members, who can come in “any time today.”
“We have lots of washrooms here, so whatever we can do to help,” she said.
