Laura Dickson

Community Hero
— by Hillary Handy

Our Community Hero for this issue is Laura Dickson. You have seen her when you’re grabbing a bite to eat, but you have also seen her all around town because she is so active in our community.

Long before Laura Dickson became a successful Harvey’s franchise owner and a passionate community advocate in Orillia, she was a small-town girl in Brechin with big dreams and a strong work ethic—lessons she began learning as early as seven years old.

Growing up next to a horse farm, Laura desperately wanted riding lessons. When her family couldn’t afford them, the farm owner offered her a chance to work in exchange. That arrangement sparked her first job and a lifelong understanding of dedication, responsibility, and resilience. Over the next seven years, Laura not only earned her riding lessons but developed a foundational sense of purpose that would guide her through life.

As an adult, Laura settled in Orillia, where she raised her two children, Andrew and Cheyanne, as a single mother. Life wasn’t easy, especially juggling jobs in the hospitality industry around her kids’ schedules, but she made it work. In 2003, she landed a role as a breakfast cook at Harvey’s, despite never having made an over-easy egg.

That humble start led to a rapid rise: from cook to shift supervisor, then assistant manager, acting store manager, and finally, store manager. Laura’s talents didn’t go unnoticed. With the encouragement of a supportive area manager, she began taking on regional responsibilities, such as implementing new point-of-sale systems and training new staff. Eventually, her store was selected as a training location for the Harvey’s brand.

Then, an unexpected opportunity arrived. The VP of the Brand visited Laura and asked if she’d consider purchasing Harvey’s in Orillia.

“I was in shock. I said no right away. I thought: I don’t have the money, I’m raising two kids alone, and I’m not a restaurant owner—what do I know about that?” she reflected.

But with some encouragement from her family, especially her parents, Laura reconsidered. She returned to the VP with her answer: yes.

That was 15 years ago. Since then, Laura has never looked back.

Though there have been challenges, Laura calls the decision to become a franchise owner “the best one I could have made—for me and my kids.” She committed not just to running a successful business, but to being a positive force in the community that had helped her when she needed it most. She notes, “When my kids were little we had our struggles, we needed to rely on community support. Many of the organizations I support now have helped me, my kids, and my family so much over the years.”

Laura has partnered with numerous local organizations over the years and supported their fundraising efforts, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orillia, The Orillia Youth Centre, The Sharing Place Food Centre, Mariposa House Hospice, Orillia Hospice, and The Lighthouse. She has supported Kiwanis, County of Simcoe Housing, Open House Public Works and Legion Minor Ball, to name a few more local initiatives. Outside of fundraising, she has actively volunteered at agencies as well. She has served as the secretary on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers, Big Sisters and as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Orillia Winter Carnival.

Her most meaningful initiative came this year as she marked 15 years of community partnership with a month-long fundraiser and awareness campaign. What made this project unique was its immersive nature: each week, a different organization was featured inside the restaurant. They could set up a display, speak with guests, and raise awareness about their mission and services. The campaign raised nearly $10,000 in just one month with every dollar going right back into the community. In addition to that, the store offered a BOGO deal where 450 burgers were purchased and consequently, 450 burgers were donated back to these agencies.

Her commitment hasn’t gone unnoticed. Laura’s store has become a hub of local engagement. She’s expanded her impact by joining the Rotary Club and the Orillia Business Women’s Association. These groups have not only helped her form new relationships but have inspired even more ideas for community projects. Laura was recognized as the Franchisee of the Year in 2020 for Harvey’s, out of 250 locations across Canada. She was nominated as Orillia’s Business Woman of the Year in 2025. Laura was recently recognized at Rotary Club’s President’s Night for her involvement with our community and her work at Harvey’s. These accolades are a testament to her passion for supporting our community.

Even in her fundraising efforts, she is always thinking of others and tries to make things easy for both the guests at Harvey’s and the agencies being supported. She notes, “I know times are tough and people have less money to spend and giving it away sometimes isn’t possible.” To combat this, she tries to offer an in-store special so that guests can save a little bit of money while supporting an organization. That’s a win-win!

Laura reflects on her dreams for this region, “I hope our community – through people, partnerships, connections and love – will continue to grow, continue to be there to support each other when life knocks us down, when we need a bit of a pick me up, to help celebrate the wins, the good times and people in our community and continues to grow and get stronger. I am committed to doing my share and to encourage others to help along the way.”

Laura hopes Orillia continues to grow through kindness, connection, and a shared sense of purpose. This summer, she is hosting several community BBQs, outside the walls of Harvey’s, where she donates the food and supports various organizations’ events. She has plans to support the Music and Makers concert series and a Youth Night at the Rotary Aqua Theatre, as well as a Big Brothers Big Sisters BBQ at Tudhope Park. Looking ahead to the fall, Harvey’s will be fundraising for North Simcoe Victim Services as well as sponsoring the Ride for Refuge in October. Rounding out the year, she will support the Holiday Food Drive for The Sharing Place.

Laura’s calendar is busy, but there’s still room for more events. She comments, “I think the fundraisers that excite me the most are the ones I haven’t even planned yet…the possibilities are endless and they can become as big as your imagination can go!” And she’s committed to leading by example, one burger and one partnership at a time.

For your love of the community and active desire to do more to make our world a better place, Laura Dickson, you are our North Simcoe Life Community Hero for this issue! 

If you know someone great, let us know! Send us your nominations for our next Community Hero: info@northsimcoe.life.