Simcoe County invests $15 million in the future of Lakehead Orillia

Lakehead University receives $15 million. Warden Basil Clarke and members of County of Simcoe Council joined Lakehead's president and vice-chancellor Dr. Gillian Siddall at Lakehead's Orillia campus.

The little university that could, can and will.

In planning for its future, Lakehead University is seeing the next generation of students entering a new building on its campus lawns.

Thanks to a $15 million investment over 10 years from Simcoe County, the Orillia campus will be expanding its footprint of the current university during the next decade.

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“Lakehead Orillia began with a charter class of 101 students and now we have a bustling campus with over 2,100 students pursuing their dreams,” said Dr. Gillian Siddall, president and vice-chancellor of Lakehead University.

“This incredibly generous support from our dedicated partner, the County of Simcoe, will allow our campus to grow to an estimated 3,500 students. Together, we are transforming the communities of Simcoe County by opening access to education that sets people up for a lifetime of success while driving economic prosperity for the region.”

The new investment of $1.5 million today, will begin the process of expansion. Simcoe County originally contributed $10 million in 2009 to help establish the area’s first university and will make annual installments of $1.5 million for the next 10 years.

In 2024, Lakehead University’s impact on the City of Orillia’s local economy was $328 million.

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When it comes to Lakehead education, 88% of Lakehead graduates are employed within six months of graduating, increasing to 97.4% within two years of degree completion. Over 90% of Lakehead graduates are employed in jobs directly related to their studies.

“This investment ignites the region’s next generation of innovators, building up our communities and empowering local talent to dream big and thrive in the communities they love.” said County of Simcoe Warden Basil Clarke.

An estimated 95% of Lakehead’s domestic student population faces barriers to attending university, such as financial need or being the first generation in a family to pursue post-secondary education.

Despite these barriers, Lakehead has the second-highest graduation rate among Ontario’s primarily undergraduate universities according to the Macleans’ Magazine 2025 annual university rankings.

“The County of Simcoe’s investment recognizes and validates the boundless social and economic value of university education,” said Dr. Siddall. “We are deeply grateful for this support and look forward to keeping the community updated as plans for our new building unfold and our fundraising efforts ramp up.”

Quick Facts:

• Expected number of new programs enabled by the new building: 10 new undergraduate, graduate, and other academic program credentials by 2032
• New campus amenities and space usage plans for the new building include: teaching spaces, Indigenous learning and gathering centre, student programming space, and a new centralized student services hub
• Enrolment capacity once the new building opens: 3,500 students up from today’s 2,100
• Number of industry and not-for-profit partnerships around the world: 116
• Lakehead undergraduates who gain practical experience through experiential learning: 100%
• Lakehead STEM undergraduates who participate in work-integrated co-ops and internships: 95%
• Lakehead Orillia students who are from Simcoe County: 50%