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City council making strides: Cipolla

Rec centre, downtown revitalization were councillor's goals decades ago
2018-01-09 RalphCipollaHeadshot
Coun. Ralph Cipolla

Building a recreation centre and creating a more vibrant downtown core have been on Ralph Cipolla's to-do list for decades. Now, more than three years into city council's four-year term, the Ward 2 councillor feels he can almost check them off that list.

The recreation centre on West Street South is set to open this year, and that is "the biggest accomplishment" of this council's term, Cipolla believes.

"The highlight of my career is building a recreation centre for our children," Cipolla said, adding that was a priority of his when he was first elected about 40 years ago.

It was also around that time he set his sights on improving the downtown. He was on a committee in the 1970s that secured a million-dollar loan from the city to beautify downtown Orillia with new sidewalks, tree planting and more. The loan was paid back within a decade.

With a slight sense of deja vu, he and his current council colleagues again have all eyes on the downtown.

Council is in the midst of a comprehensive plan to better link the downtown and the waterfront — a plan he expects will help the city make inroads in terms of affordable housing.

"Affordable housing needs to be incorporated (in the plan)," Cipolla said.

He would like to see affordable housing included in some of the residential development in the downtown/waterfront area when the city gets around to issuing requests for proposals.

"There is going to be room for it," he said.

While he considers some of this council's major projects victories — including selling Orillia Power Distribution to Hydro One, and the latter's plan to set up an advanced technology hub in town — he feels council has missed the mark on others, such as transit.

"I wish we would have gone to hybrid buses so we can get into the 21st century in terms of transit," he said.

The city has acquired five new buses, and "they could've all been hybrid. We're not keeping up with the times."

With some loose ends to tie up, he is considering a run for re-election.

"I'd love to stay on for one more term. I'll give it serious consideration. I have to discuss it with my family," said Cipolla, who became a grandfather seven months ago.

If he does run again, it will likely be to retain his Ward 2 seat rather than take the mayor's chair.

Cipolla ran for mayor in 2010 and finished in third place, behind Tim Lauer and Angelo Orsi, a political newcomer who won the race.


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Nathan Taylor

About the Author: Nathan Taylor

Nathan Taylor is the desk editor for Village Media's central Ontario news desk in Simcoe County and Newmarket.
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