The Orillia Ward 3 neighborhood is located on the West side of highway 11 and includes the West Ridge community. This neighborhood is a more modern residential area with townhomes and single detached homes making up most property types in this neighborhood.
Ward 3 is just a little over an hour from Toronto and can be easily accessed via the highway 400 to highway 11. For those who rely on public transportation, the City of Orillia does have a bus route that travels through this neighborhood to various parts of the city.
This neighborhood has seen continuous growth in commercial and residential developments in the last several years including new development the West Ridge Trailside by Dimanor Homes. This single-family home development is currently in the pre-construction phase and will be just around the corner from various amenities like schools, Lakehead University, and entertainment facilities.
It’s important to note that there are several public and catholic school options to choose from in this area. The Orchard Park Public School and Notre Dame Catholic School are just two elementary school options, while students in high school can attend either Twin Lakes Secondary School or Orillia Secondary School. In addition, ward 3 has two post-secondary institutions located within being the Lakehead University and Georgian College Orillia campuses.
For young and growing families looking to relocate to this neighborhood there are a several child care options local to Ward 3 such as West Ridge Early Education Centre and YMCA Child Care Notre Dame. The West Ridge Early Education Centre offers programs for infants from six weeks through kids of 12 years and focus on programs that foster lifelong learning, relationship building, and physical activity.
This neighborhood has plenty of access to green space and playgrounds like the West Ridge Park which has a playground and green space for families and kids to enjoy. Secondly, Couchiching Beach Park is just a 10-minute drive away and is a popular park during the summer for swimming and various events. It is 14.5 acres along with some sandy parts that are perfect to enjoy on a hot summer day.
For those who enjoy walking and hiking, the Scout Valley Lookout is a popular area to visit. There are three different trails to use that take you throughout the forested area. The lookout trail will lead you up the hill to the lookout that provides views of Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching.
The West Orillia Sports Complex is the city’s newest recreation facility which opened in 2010 and local to ward3. It has two ice pads, and 27 acres of sports fields, trails, greenspace, and a playground. The Orillia Figure Skating Club and Orillia Minor Hockey Association both operate out of this facility. The Orillia Figure Skating Club offers learn to skate classes for young children wanting to learn how to skate, while kids who would like to play hockey can join one of the many leagues offered by the hockey association.
Ward 3 has an abundance of amenities within the neighborhood like the Smartcentres Orillia. There are a couple of different options for grocery shopping here such as Walmart and Food Basics. Other retail shopping options include Winners and Homesense. If you’re looking for a great dining option within the neighborhood, Theo’s Eatery is a great option that serves Mediterranean and Italian dishes.
The Ward 3 neighborhood is a great location for families as it’s close to various amenities, as well as recreation for kids.
-The BDAR Team