City of Orillia

IN COLLABORATION WITH OOSTERBAAN STRATEGY AND TANTE CONSULTING

KLB Consulting, in collaboration with Oosterbaan Strategy and Tante Consulting, played a central role in developing the City of Orillia’s 5-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan (2025–2029). The goal of this initiative was to provide a clear and actionable roadmap to foster sustainable economic growth, support local businesses, and strengthen Orillia’s identity as a vibrant and competitive community. They collectively led the planning process with a focus on grounded, data-informed decision-making, drawing on the firm’s extensive experience in rural and small urban economic development.

The planning process was both comprehensive and community-focused. KLB led the background research phase, analyzing local labour market and demographic data, reviewing key municipal documents such as the Orillia Youth Strategy and Downtown Tomorrow Plan, and identifying relevant policy and planning trends. A central component of the work was deep community engagement, which ensured the final strategy reflected a wide range of local voices. This included a public survey with 549 responses from residents, businesses, and community organizations; interviews with over 60 key stakeholders and 40 local businesses; and two public meetings that brought together more than 30 community members for open dialogue and feedback.

To complement the local insights, there was also a competitive analysis of peer communities to identify successful models and emerging practices in economic development. These insights were synthesized into a strategic framework outlining a bold new vision, mission, and a set of measurable goals and objectives for Orillia’s future. The strategy also includes an implementation plan tailored to Orillia’s capacity, ensuring the City can move forward with confidence. Throughout the process, KLB worked closely with City staff and Council to integrate feedback and build internal ownership of the strategy, resulting in a community-driven, future-focused plan designed to support inclusive prosperity over the next five years.