Access to employment and social supports in Orillia is expanding thanks to a new partnership between Georgian College Career & Employment Community Services and the County of Simcoe, supported by EmployNext powered by Serco. Beginning April 1, 2026, Georgian College has co-located its Career & Employment Community Services within the County's Social and Community Services (SCS) office at 250 West Street North.
The West Street North site is already a central hub for social and human services, including the Ontario Disability Support Program and various community-based health and family supports. Adding Georgian College's employment services creates a more seamless, one-stop experience for residents seeking assistance with their job search, career planning or workforce re-entry.
This enhanced service is delivered with support from EmployNext powered by Serco, the Employment Ontario Service System Manager (SSM) for Simcoe County within the Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie (KWB) catchment area. In this role, EmployNext works at a system level to coordinate Employment Ontario services, support local service providers and strengthen alignment between employment, social, and community supports.
Georgian College and the County of Simcoe have collaborated for many years to support local job seekers across the region, including individuals receiving Ontario Works. Their partnership further strengthened during Ontario's Integrated Employment Services (IES) transformation in 2024, which focuses on improving coordination between employment services and social assistance to better support individuals on their path to employment.
This initiative highlights Georgian College's continued commitment to the community with an important role as a leading post-secondary institution and a workforce development partner. Through its Career & Employment Community Services, Georgian works alongside municipalities, employers and community organizations to support job seekers and strengthen local economies. Co-locating services will further streamline referrals, enhance coordination between teams and reduce barriers for individuals entering or re-entering the workforce. This integrated approach supports more efficient, person-centred service delivery while making it easier for residents to connect with the full range of supports they need.
About the County of Simcoe
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.
About Georgian College
At Georgian College, students are at the heart of everything we do. As a recognized leader in career-focused education and hands-on learning, Georgian is more than an education it's an experience! We offer more than 130 market-driven programs, including degrees, diplomas, certificates and apprenticeships. Georgian excels at applied, work-integrated learning, supported by small class sizes and comprehensive student services. Our dedication delivers results: Georgian consistently ranks among Ontario's top colleges for graduate employment at 90.3 per cent. We are also Canada's only Ashoka U Changemaker College recognized for leadership in social innovation and our broader institutional impact contributes significantly to economic growth and workforce development across the regions we serve.
About EmployNext
EmployNext powered by Serco is a publicly funded employment services system manager supported by the Government of Ontario and funded by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD). By working with service providers, community partners, and employers, EmployNext helps coordinate employment services and align them with local labour-market needs. The approach emphasizes collaboration, integration, and person-centred supports to reduce barriers and improve employment outcomes.
For more information
One Georgian Drive
Barrie Ontario
Canada L4M 3X9
www.georgiancollege.ca
