A former gym is going to work out for the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber will be moving to the unit where Curves used to be located in the plaza at 575 West St. S., near Highway 12.
“This is a great opportunity for the chamber to support Orillia in its core instead of going in a different direction,” said Nathan Brown, the chamber’s second vice-president.
“This end of town needs a bit of revitalization,” added chamber president Peggy Foley.
That revitalization is happening and will continue to happen, she noted, with the recreation centre being built down the street.
The chamber is excited about moving to a site that is more customer-friendly than its current location in the former train station on Front Street South. There won’t be much difference in the amount of space, but the layout will be an improvement.
“It’s quite open,” Foley said of the new space. “It’s kind of a blank slate.”
The chamber is working with a local architect on the design. The end result is expected to make things easier for customers of Service Ontario.
“It’s going to be a lot of work,” Foley said, noting Service Ontario has some strict requirements.
There will be separate entrances for the chamber and Service Ontario, and officials expect the new digs will make the process more efficient.
“Anybody who’s gone to get their licence sticker knows it can be frustrating,” chamber president-elect Dean Beers said of the amount of time it takes.
He also noted many cottagers and visitors need to access Service Ontario, and being so close to Highway 12 will be a benefit.
When the move will take place is not known, but the chamber’s lease extension on Front Street is up at the end of October, so it will be before then.
The third time’s a charm for the chamber: It initially wanted to buy the train station and, when that didn’t happen, it looked into moving into the legion, which would have been too expensive.
It’s a busy time of transition for the chamber, considering the move, the retirement of managing director Susan Lang and the hiring of her replacement, Allan Lafontaine.
“It’s a lot of change for the chamber in one year,” Beers said.
