Maggie Shaw – Change in Orillia

If you had a magic wand, is there one thing about Orillia that you would change?

Absolutely. The HRC property – formerly known as HRC – it is gorgeous.

There is so much great property there and so many big, beautiful buildings that really aren’t being utilized and could be to give back to the community in some way. Whether it be for the Arts, or for individuals that are in need of housing or jobs, something should be and could be done with that property to get it back into use. If you look at it from the water side it’s just all growing over and it’s so sad.. yeah, so much could be done with that property.

Okay flip a side of that question, is there one thing that you would never change?

The sense of community and how much they give back. The community members itself give back and celebrate one another, celebrate the Arts, celebrate First Nation Indigenous, theatre, you name it, it’s amazing. We are so blessed to be surrounded by the lakes we’re surrounded by, and the land that we’re surrounded by, and you walk downtown and you’re guaranteed to run into at least one person you know. And just that, “Hi, how are you?” – it’s priceless.