NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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On Sept. 29, the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce (ODCC) will be hosting an innovative alternative to a traditional all-candidates debate.
The event, titled the Future of Orillia and Lake Country Prosperity Economic Summit, will take place at the Best Western Plus Mariposa Inn and Conference Centre from 5 until 8 p.m.
The economic summit is a chance for the business community of Orillia and Lake Country to come together to discuss priorities, concerns, and opportunities for the region as municipal elections approach.
Municipal candidates from the City of Orillia, and townships of Oro-Medonte, Ramara, and Severn have been invited to attend, as well as the current chief and council of Chippewas of Rama First Nation.
The core goal of the event is to provide a forum for members of the business community to voice their perspectives on municipal matters, while offering an opportunity for candidates to meet and speak one on one with local business leaders.
While this event is a significant departure from previous all-candidates events hosted by the chamber, organizers feel that the format will facilitate more meaningful engagement while maintaining a business focus.
The event will consist of a moderated session focused on gathering input from businesses followed by a networking period where business owners and representatives can meet and engage one on one with their municipal candidates. During the input-gathering session, participants will work as a group to identify and define the most important issues impacting local businesses in our region.
ODCC board member and president and CEO of Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Carmine Stumpo will moderate the session, and Lakehead University will collect and compile participant input electronically.
Based on the input collected, a SOAR (strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and results) analysis will be built to highlight the key municipal policy issues from the perspective of the Orillia and Lake Country business community. This analysis will be used to inform the ODCC’s advocacy policy heading into the new municipal council term.
The networking portion of the event will be informal, and while candidates will be permitted to distribute campaign materials, the focus will be on facilitating real conversations between candidates and members of the business community. There will be light refreshments provided, and a cash bar will be available.
All attendees, including municipal candidates, are required to purchase a ticket to attend. Tickets cost $30, plus HST, and are available at www.orillia.com/events/details/orillia-and-lake-country-economic-summit-and-meet-your-municipal-candidates-690?calendarMonth=2022-09-01.
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