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| Win or lose, kids get a cheer. |
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| Kids local soccer field. |
There are a vast array of sports to participate in here - everything from school sports, organized sports, special sports programs and pick-up sports, for all age groups starting with toddlers, right up to seniors. If you like to participate, there's sure to be something here, and if you just enjoy watching (or supporting) local sports group, you shouldn't have a problem finding one (or more) that strike your fancy.
There is a new sports center on University Avenue; a double-pad indoor rink, and outdoor sports field used for several types of field sports. The Rotary Place Sports Center is always a busy place, and it doesn't matter what time of year it is - there is almost always something going on. It's location is fairly open, with lots of field space and grassy areas, and a good parking facility.
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| West Orillia Sports Complex, Rotary Place on University Avenue (©J. Gracey Stinson) |
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| Rink & Seating at Rotary Place, Orillia (©J. Gracey Stinson) |
There is also another rink at the south end of town: The Brian Orser Arena. It's an aging facility, but still maintained and used for ice sports. Did you recognize the name?
Orillia has produced many noted sports figures, including rowers, figure skaters, hockey and lacrosse notables. Many of the parks (
see the parks pages) have outdoor soccer fields, and baseball diamonds. Tudhope Park is the home of the Orillia Curling Club. The YMCA building on Peter Street has an indoor pool, and gym and track for enthusiasts to maintain their training through winter months. And just outside of town is the Rama rink ... the Rama Mask. (Also outside of town was the old Orr-Walton Hockey Camp.)
During winter months, several of the parks have outdoor skating rinks as well. Nearby, there are places for cross-country skiing, snowboarding, downhill skiing, bmx and dirt bike trails, and then there is the
Channel Cats swim team, and very popular
Rowing Club.
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| Figure Skating Princess |
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| Triathlon Prep. |
Personally, I am not much of a sports fan. I don't mind working out at a gym, or hiking and walking (even bicycling) but when it comes to things like baseball ... well, not so much. When I was first married, my husband participated in local sports, and I often wen along to support him (ball hockey, baseball, skiing, curling, even bowling (I don't mind bowling) if you consider that a sport), and then as my children grew up, they participated in local kids sports programs. My eldest daughter still participates in sports (
recently, a triathlon - we're so proud of her!). As my grandchildren grew, they began to participate in sports. Both of the boys and one of the girls have played in organized hockey teams. The eldest boy and youngest girl still participate. Both of the boys have been involved in organized Lacrosse too (the eldest is currently being scouted by a University in the US, and youngest still plays lacrosse). The eldest granddaughter is less involved in sports, but she spent several years in
training for competition figure skating, and took a dance program, and likes to run and work out at the "Y".
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| Orillia boys hockey. |
So, except for me, I'd say most of the family has been involved in one sport or another pretty much since we moved here. My kids had swimming lessons in the park through one of the summer programs, three of my grandchildren participated in summer soccer programs, and my eldest grandson played football at high school.
Several things have disappeared over the last few years. Orillia used to have a pretty busy 5-pin bowling alley on Memorial Avenue. That was bought out a few years ago, and then suddenly closed down. We no longer have a bowling alley, so I suppose the bowlers have had to go to Barrie to participate. And the most, and longest used rink was dismantled ... The Orillia Community Center. It used to be the home of the Orillia Terriers Jr. B. Hockey.
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| West Orillia Sports Complex (©J. Gracey Stinson |
