Township News
April/May2025

Council Meeting Schedule

Regularly scheduled Meetings of Council for the months of April and May 2025 will take place on the following dates: 

Council Meetings:
Wednesday, April 9th – 3:00 p.m. Public Session
Wednesday, April 23rd – 3:00 p.m. Public Session
Wednesday, May 14th – 3:00 p.m. Public Session
Wednesday, May 28th – 3:00 p.m. Public Session 

Development Services Committee Meetings:
Wednesday, April 2nd – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7th – 5:30 p.m.

 All meeting times are subject to change, and Special Meetings of Council may also be called on an as needed basis. For a complete schedule of 2025 Council meetings, please visit the Council Portal available through our website – bit.ly/3Gz6S1B.

Please Note:  Township Council Chambers are open to the public. To ensure safety of the public, members of Council, and staff, room capacity limits are in place. 

Virtual attendance is available, with Council meetings following a hybrid format and continued live-streaming. Members of the public are welcome to view Special Council and Development Services Committee Meetings via livestream on the Township’s YouTube channel. 

Public Participation in Electronic Meetings

The Township of Oro-Medonte’s Procedural By-law allows for electronic participation at Council meetings. Protocols have been established to advise how to participate in the public portions of these meetings.  Please visit Council | Township of Oro-Medonte for more information, including how to participate in Open Forum or request a deputation/presentation.

Live Streaming

Township of Oro-Medonte Council meetings are live streamed. To view meetings live, visit bit.ly/41PEpiX and subscribe to the Township’s YouTube channel – Township of Oro-Medonte.

Spring/Summer Recreation Programs and Registration

The Township is offering a variety of programs for pre-school, children, and adults. To learn about program offerings and registration information, please see – Spring/Summer Recreation Program Guide.

Summer Camp Programs and Registration

Registration for summer camp is open. To view camp program details and to register your child, please see page 14 of the Spring/Summer Recreation Program Guide.

New Community Centre

Please participate in the survey available at New Community Center Survey.

Digital Parking Permits

The Township has fully transitioned to digital parking permits for all Oro-Medonte residents and non-residents available through HonkMobile. To obtain your two (2) free digital parking permits, and to review a list of frequently asked questions, please visit Parking | Township of Oro-Medonte.

E-billing Option for Tax and Utility Account Bills

The Township is pleased to offer Oro-Medonte residents the option to receive tax and utility account bills by e-mail. To sign up for e-billing with delivery to your inbox, please visit Paperless E-Billing Sign-up Form – Township of Oro-Medonte. Please note delivery of e-bills will be provided to residents in early spring of 2025.

City of Barrie Boundary Expansion Request

To keep up-to-date regarding the City of Barrie’s boundary expansion request, please visit oro-medonte.ca/cbber. Reports and presentations prepared by Hemson consulting, background information including staff reports, public statements and media releases, and frequently asked questions are available for review. Additional/new information will be provided on this dedicated webpage – please check back often.

Open Air Burn Permits

In accordance with the Township’s Fees and Charges By-law No. 2024-094, please note there is a $10.00 fee for all Open Air Burn Permits. The fee may be paid online by visiting Burn Permits – Township of Oro-Medonte or in person at the Administration Centre. For information regarding open air burning, please visit  Open Air Burning | Township of Oro-Medonte. We appreciate your understanding and continued support.

The Township has initiated the preparation of a new Comprehensive Zoning By-law. The new By-law is required to implement policies of the new Official Plan adopted by the Township on October 5, 2022, and to provide updated zoning and development standards that reflect current policy and regulatory initiatives at the Provincial, County and Township level. To keep up-to-date, please visit Zoning By-law Review | Township of Oro-Medonte and follow the Township’s social media channels. Please submit questions or comments to zoningbylawreview@oro-medonte.ca.

Urban Stormwater Pond Safety Reminder

In the interest of public safety, a friendly reminder that access to areas for urban stormwater management is prohibited. These areas are often subject to dramatic and rapid changes in water levels during periods of rain and snow melt. Site conditions including muddy water, sudden drop offs, subsurface currents, and the potential for entanglement with vegetation and debris are possible. For additional information regarding urban stormwater management and safety precautions, please visit Urban Stormwater | Township of Oro-Medonte.

Age-Friendly Seniors Housing Grant Offered Through the County of Simcoe

The County of Simcoe’s Age-Friendly Seniors Housing Grant program is open for application submissions. This program provides $500,000 in annual funding to help support seniors with their efforts to continue living independently by implementing designs that are accessible, adaptable, and inclusive. For detailed information including the application form, please visit Apply for an Age-Friendly Seniors Housing Grant – Simcoe County. Please note the application deadline is May 31, 2025. 

Township Social Media Channels

General Township information that might be of interest can be found by visiting and following the Township’s social media channels:

X/Twitter at
Twp. of Oro-Medonte (@TwpOroMedonte) / Twitter

Facebook at
Township of Oro-Medonte | Facebook

Instagram at
Township of Oro-Medonte (@oromedontetwp)

Upcoming Office Closures

In recognition of Good Friday and Easter Monday, the Township Administration Centre will close on Friday, April 18th and Monday, April 21st.  Regular business hours will resume at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22nd. 

The Township Administration Centre will also close on Monday, May 19th for Victoria Day with regular business hours resuming at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20th.

Township of Oro-Medonte News
148 Line 7 South, Oro-Medonte, Ontario LOL 2E0
Phone: (705) 487-2171
Fax: (705) 487-0133
Email: info@oro-medonte.ca

Open Letter from Mayor Greenlaw to the Oro-Medonte Community Regarding the City of Barrie’s Boundary Expansion Request

In early February, Mayor Greenlaw issued the following Open Letter regarding the City of Barrie’s boundary expansion request:
“Open Letter to the Community As you may be aware, Oro-Medonte is facing pressures regarding urban expansion in areas of the Township that border the City of Orillia and the City of Barrie. Understanding and addressing the impact of potential boundary expansions on our community continues to be a priority for Oro-Medonte Council and Township staff. As Mayor, I feel it is timely and important to provide an update based on the facts as we know them today. To assist you in understanding where we are at, the Township has prepared a detailed synopsis of the approach taken by the City of Orillia and City of Barrie, including important steps and findings of professional consultants reports and studies. Please take time to review this information. The City of Barrie’s request for a boundary expansion was made in 2023, and includes lands east of Penetanguishene Road, south of Gore Road, west of Line 1 South, north of the Shanty Bay rural settlement area, and environmentally protected wetlands to the east. The area comprises of approximately 772 hectares (1,907 acres) of land and consists of active farmland and environmentally sensitive features (please see map below.) Additional lands were also identified for expansion into Springwater Township. In response to the City of Barrie’s requested boundary expansion, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing assigned the Deputy Provincial Land and Development Facilitator to assist with discussions between the Township of Oro-Medonte, Township of Springwater, City of Barrie, and the County of Simcoe. A third-party study was commissioned to determine actual land needs. The results of the study were shared with area municipalities in early-December 2024. After reflecting on findings of the study, it is reasonable to conclude that the City of Barrie has ample industrial/employment land beyond 2051. The City of Barrie’s understanding and interpretation of the study does not align with this conclusion. Oro-Medonte Council is of the view that before any further work is done to look at boundary adjustments, it is critical that the four parties participating in the facilitation process agree on the findings of the Study. It is also imperative that all parties understand the circumstances that have led up to where the facilitation process currently stands. Our view based on the study’s conclusions is that the City of Barrie does not need additional employment lands, and is challenged with meeting their housing targets by 2031, based on current approved densities. The City needs to review development approvals within its boundaries, to determine how the City is going to meet its obligations. The focus moving forward will be on clarifying the City of Barrie’s residential/community land needs identified in the Phase 1 Study. Without this information, it is extremely difficult for the Township to understand the problem that is trying to be resolved. We will also seek confirmation that the lands in Oro-Medonte being sought for employment/industrial purposes should no longer form part of the review. Oro-Medonte recognizes that Barrie is the economic hub of our region, with all municipalities in Simcoe County contributing in some form.  We need to start thinking about what is in the best interest of all municipalities, so that we can all thrive, and make decisions that are transparent to the public we serve. I remain committed to working with all parties to find the best solution that is beneficial to Oro-Medonte, the Simcoe County region, and the Province of Ontario. Having said that, I am mindful of the cost to the taxpayer and will strive to keep these costs to a minimum moving forward. Mayor Randy Greenlaw Township of Oro-Medonte”

Additionally, in an effort to progress the facilitation process within a reasonable timeframe, Oro-Medonte Council unanimously passed a motion at the Wednesday, February 26, 2025 Council meeting, requesting support for an expedited approach for the purpose of achieving agreement. Council is of the view that the proposed revised approach will provide a more productive, transparent, and efficient path forward, ensuring the City of Barrie’s boundary adjustment request will be determined and closed within a six (6) month timeframe, or sooner.

The motion was forwarded to the City of Barrie, Township of Springwater, and County of Simcoe, with a request for each respective municipal Council to table the same motion. The Township of Oro-Medonte remains optimistic that our neighbouring municipalities will support the proposed amended facilitation process. To review the detailed motion, please see bit.ly/3XWsiPI.

For additional up-to-date information and background, including the detailed synopsis mentioned above pertaining to the approach taken by the City of Barrie and City of Orillia regarding expanding their municipal boundaries, please visit oro-medonte.ca/cbber.