National Public Works Week
By John Swartz
National Public Works Week is May 19 to 25 and the City of Orillia is inviting residents to learn more about the essential services the City’s environment and infrastructure services department provides at a special Public Works Week Open House event.
The event will take place on May 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Municipal Operations Centre, located at 20 James St. W. The event is free, but the City is encouraging attendees to bring a non-perishable food donation to help fill a sidewalk plow full of food to benefit The Sharing Place Food Centre.
The event will take place rain or shine. Attendees can check out some of the City’s large equipment and fire trucks. Light refreshments will be available and staff from various areas of the environment and infrastructure services department will be on hand to answer questions and provide information regarding Orillia operations.
There will be a variety of activities such as:
- Trivia, games and prizes
- Paint the Plow
- Name the Plow contest kick-off
- Gardening workshops
Tours of the James Street greenhouse, water filtration plant, and wastewater treatment centre will take place throughout the morning. Open House attendees can sign up for the tours in-person at the municipal operations centre during the event.
The City’s environment and infrastructure services department has 110 full-time staff and approximately 40 part-time/seasonal staff.
(Photos by Swartz – SUNonline/Orillia) Main: City of Orillia infrastructure services department keeping the roads in shape