Ontario Winter Games kicking off with Opening Ceremony in Orillia tonight

Several road closures in place to allow for Centennial Park ceremony

Over a year of planning comes to a head tonight, as the City of Orillia kicks off the Ontario Winter Games.

The Opening Ceremony for the Games begins at 6:30 Thursday evening, at Orillia’s Centennial Park. The ceremony will feature acts such as Mnjikaning Kendaaswin Elementary School Choir, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34 Orillia Pipes and Drums and R&B pop band, the Free Label.

“We are truly honoured to host the Games” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “We had the benefit of hosting in 2018 and we certainly learned a lot from that very exciting and successful experience and we anticipate 2020 to be even bigger and better. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Orillia and the surrounding areas as we partner to host this provincial competition,”

The 2020 Ontario Winter Games will feature over 3,000 athletes from age 12 to 18 competing in 27 sporting events. A schedule of events can be found here.

Related: Orillia Artist Craig Mainprize chosen to create mural for 2020 Ontario Winter Games

In order to facilitate the Opening Ceremonies, the parking lots in Couchiching Beach Park, Centennial Park and at the Orillia Waterfront Centre from will be closed until Friday. The following roads will be closed from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27:

  • Bay Street from Borland Street East to Jarvis Street
  • Jarvis Street from Bay Street to Canice Street 
  • Canice Street from Jarvis Street to the Terry Fox Circle
  • Centennial Drive From Tecumseth Street to Lakeview Drive
  • Access to Canice Street from Brant Street East
  • Tecumseth Street from Parkview Avenue to Canice Street

This will also result in a temporary Orillia Transit detour on the Laclie Route on Feb. 27. The bus will not be travelling on Jarvis Street between Canice and Bay Street and from Bay Street between Jarvis and Borland Street East. Instead, the Laclie Route will turn onto Canice Street to Borland Street East to access Bay Street to resume the regular route.

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