Building a Community – Leslie Fournier

Leslie Fournier initially came to Orillia thinking it would be a good place to begin her career as a teacher, specializing in French and physical education, while using her spare time to lead cycling tours across the world. However, with the arrival of her children, Leslie decided to focus on her community, and make a difference closer to home.

Letter sculptures from Streets Alive, a celebrated and impactful community arts project created by Leslie, permanently welcomes patrons to the Orillia Arts District, located downtown at the corner of Peter & Mississaga.

She soon became involved in the business sector downtown Orillia after noticing the sudden closure of two kids’ stores. She came up with a plan to fill the void that was left behind, and in the early 2000’s, she opened Jack & Maddy: A Kids’ Store, on Mississaga Street East, which she named after her children.

Who is Leslie Fournier? (captions available in both FR and EN). Enjoy this video with a transcript (En).

During a very successful ten-year run, Leslie had expanded her business to a second location near Collingwood, Ontario, and started to become more involved in Orillia’s arts community, ultimately leading to the popular Streets Alive! public art program.

Leslie Fournier – Streets Alive! (captions available in both FR and EN). Enjoy this video with a transcript (En).

Streets Alive! began as a way to attract more people to Orillia’s downtown through public art and commenced with the “Festival of Banners”, a public art installation of hand-painted banners displayed on Orillia’s street poles. Then in 2010, Streets Alive! transformed into a sculptural project titled “Guitars on Parade”, which ran in conjunction with the Mariposa Folk Festival’s 50th Anniversary.

Leslie Fournier – Change in Orillia (captions available in both FR and EN). Enjoy this video with a transcript (En).

Leslie’s visions have earned her Orillia’s ‘Citizen of the Year’ and ‘Business Woman of the Year’ awards. Using her own creativity and entrepreneurial skills, Leslie has contributed to the revitalization of Orillia’s tourism sector through engaging her own community.

We’re a very connected community
that supports each other.