The City of Orillia Commemorative Awards Committee is calling on residents to nominate deserving individuals for The Order of Orillia and the Orillia Hall of Fame, two prestigious awards recognizing community contributions and achievements.
Committee member Chuck Penny emphasized the importance of these awards in celebrating the spirit of volunteerism and excellence in the community.
“The Order of Orillia was established in 2000 to recognize individuals or families who contribute volunteer-wise in the community,” Penny explained. “There are so many people in the community that do so much and that’s what makes Orillia special.”
The Order of Orillia honours volunteers who have committed at least 10 years of service to the community. For youth volunteers, the requirement is six years.
“We’re looking for people actively involved in programs that are essential to the community,” said Penny. “These are initiatives that wouldn’t exist without volunteers.”
Penny encouraged residents to submit nominations, even if they believe someone else might have already nominated a candidate.
“Oftentimes everybody thinks someone else will nominate that one person,” he said. “We want to see a strong number of nominations so our committee has the tough job of selecting the recipients.”
Past recipients have been involved in areas such as healthcare, music, sports, and charitable organizations. Last year’s honouree, Rick Purcell, was recognized for his extensive service with groups like the Mariposa Folk Festival and Orillia Terriers junior hockey.
“It was nice that the city recognized what I do,” Purcell said. “A lot of people put their heart and soul into the city, and it’s important to acknowledge that.”
The committee is also seeking nominations for the Orillia Hall of Fame, which highlights individuals who have achieved provincial, national, or international recognition in their field while maintaining strong ties to the city.
“A lot of Hall of Fame inductees have done incredible work on a global scale, but still identify Orillia as their hometown,” said Penny. “We want to make sure we find those outstanding individuals who deserve this honour.”
Nominations for The Order of Orillia are open until March 30 and can be submitted via the City of Orillia website. Hall of Fame nominations are accepted year-round.
“These awards are about ensuring Orillia’s remarkable citizens get the recognition they deserve,” Penny said. “We want to continue to celebrate the people who make our community thrive.”
