Orillia, Lakeside municipality in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.
Orillia is a municipality in Simcoe County in the Canadian province of Ontario, positioned between Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching at an elevation of roughly 220 meters (720 feet). Many parks stretch along the waterfront, providing access to both lakes and green spaces in the town core.
French explorer Samuel de Champlain encountered a Huron-Wendat settlement in this area in 1615, marking early European contact. The modern municipality emerged in the 19th century as a trading center and later grew into an industrial town.
The Mariposa Folk Festival draws musicians and audiences together each year, holding the record as Canada's longest-running folk music event. The celebrations create a lively connection between the town and its musical tradition, which reaches back to the early seventies.
Public transit links residential neighborhoods with downtown, shopping centers, and schools through five routes. The waterfront and parks are easy to reach on foot, with different access points to both lakes.
The Stephen Leacock Museum preserves the home of the writer who portrayed the town as the fictional Mariposa in his stories. The author drew on everyday observations from his surroundings to craft humorous tales about small-town life.
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