The Orillia District Chamber of Commerce and Service Ontario are happy in their new home.
Earlier this year, the two moved in to a section of the strip mall located at the corner of West Street South and Highway 12.
On Wednesday evening, the mayor joined local business leaders to cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the new location.
“It’s a much cleaner, brighter, and more efficient location,” said Allan Lafontaine, managing director of the chamber. “We don’t have to share it with bus passengers, we have lots of parking available right outside, and the city bus comes down here.”
He said he’s only heard positive feedback from the chamber customers.
Kristine Beazer, a Service Ontario supervisor, agreed.
“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from everyone,” she said. “The only thing people have complained about is getting more chairs in.”
The workstations are larger, so each operator has more room, noted Beazer. And there’s a lot more locked storage space.
“The Service Ontario kiosks were hidden, so there was a mystery around what was happening,” said Lafontaine. “You’d go in and you’d see 20 people waiting and you wouldn’t know who was waiting for Service Ontario and who was waiting for the bus. It would scare off people, because they would think about the long wait time.”
The move has also opened up the previous space for re-development, he added.
“With the waterfront development going on, it’s a good time,” said Lafontaine.
Mayor Steve Clarke cut the ribbon to officially inaugurate the space at a brief ceremony Wednesday evening.
“It’s a wonderful new location,” he said. “You’re at one of the busiest locations and with lots of parking space, so it should all work out well.”
