The City of Orillia will celebrate the achievements of three extraordinary individuals at the upcoming Orillia Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, taking place Thursday, October 30 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Orillia City Centre (50 Andrew St. S.). The public is invited to attend the ceremony and a reception to follow.
This year’s inductees — Harriett “Hattie” Todd, Stephen Graham, and Dr. Richard Johnston — have each made significant contributions in their fields, earning recognition at the local, national, and international levels.
“These individuals embody excellence in their respective fields,” said Chuck Penny, Chair of the Commemorative Awards Selection Panel. “The community should be proud to recognize this year’s inductees and their outstanding contributions.”
Meet the 2025 Inductees
Harriett “Hattie” Todd – Trailblazer for Women’s Rights and Public Health
Todd broke barriers as Orillia’s first female high school teacher and elected official, championing causes from equal pay for female educators to adult education and school health programs. Her leadership extended through the Women’s Institute at local, provincial, national, and Commonwealth levels.
During WWII, Todd led fundraising efforts for the Red Cross, resulting in donations of an ambulance and two field hospitals for Simcoe County battalions. Her coordination during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic helped Orillia achieve one of the lowest infection and death rates in Canada.
Stephen Graham – Champion Athlete and Community Icon
A decorated athlete in the Orillia Special Olympics, Graham has competed in over 25 Provincial Games, 10 National Championships, and 3 World Winter Games, earning five gold, one silver, and one bronze medals internationally.
Graham’s accolades include being named Orillia Athlete of the Year, Special Olympics Canada Male Athlete of the Year, and receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal. He’s also been a torch bearer for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, 2015 Pan Am Games, and 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, and appeared in a Coca-Cola commercial during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Dr. Richard Johnston – Medical Leader and Community Builder
With a 45-year career in obstetrics and gynecology, Johnston has been a pillar of excellence at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, mentoring generations of physicians and raising the standard of care through initiatives like perinatal rounds and standardized hospital procedures now used nationwide.
Johnston’s leadership includes serving on the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and founding the Ontario Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He also co-founded community initiatives such as the Take a Vet to Dinner event and the Orillia Museum of Art and History annual fundraiser.
About the Orillia Hall of Fame
Established in 1964, the Orillia Hall of Fame Award honours individuals who have achieved provincial, national, or international recognition in their field. Past inductees include Gordon Lightfoot, Stephen Leacock, Rick Ley, and Elizabeth Wyn Wood.
For more information, visit orillia.ca/halloffame.
