People in communities across Simcoe County will benefit from greater access to education for generations to come thanks to a transformative $15 million investment from the County of Simcoe.
Warden Basil Clarke and members of County of Simcoe Council joined Lakehead's President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Gillian Siddall for this transformational announcement that will seed the expansion of Lakehead's Orillia Campus.
Building on the County of Simcoe's first $10 million contribution in 2009 which helped establish Lakehead University's Orillia campus, this additional $15 million over 10 years beginning with a $1.5 million installment on January 23 will seed the expansion of Lakehead's Orillia campus with a new building to allow expanded programs and more opportunities for students to succeed.
"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."
In 2024, Lakehead University's impact on the City of Orillia's local economy was $328 million and $4.54 billion on Ontario's total GDP. Ranked Ontario's number one primarily undergraduate university by Maclean's Magazine, Lakehead has a track record of transforming communities by graduating highly skilled people ready for in-demand jobs. When it comes to the value of a Lakehead education, 88% of Lakehead grads 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.
"Today's $1.5 million investment kicks off our ambitious 10-year $15 million commitment to further expand post-secondary education at Lakehead University in Simcoe County," said Basil Clarke, County of Simcoe Warden. "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."
While academic planning for the new building is in development, Lakehead's approach is to work collaboratively with local industry, partners and stakeholders to identify in-demand fields requiring local talent to power economic growth in the region and ensure students are prepared to secure well-paying jobs after graduation.
The County's $15 million contribution is the first of many needed to realize this campus expansion. The university is undertaking a feasibility study to determine the fundraising goals for the new building.
Lakehead's case for expansion is rooted in deep relationships throughout the region and confirmed by data that tells an inspiring story about community transformation. Before Lakehead University was established in Simcoe County, post-secondary degree attainment rates were significantly lower than the provincial average. Since Lakehead arrived in 2006, there has been a 147% increase in university enrolment throughout the region - contributing to strengthening the economy, building up the local workforce and empowering people to be the architects of their lives.
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, and because of the exceptional level of support that Lakehead students receive including work-integrated learning, 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," added 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. We are so proud to be Simcoe County's university."
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%
