History of the Opera House

A Storied Stage: The History of the Orillia Opera House

The Orillia Opera House has been at the heart of our community for more than a century—but its story begins even earlier.

Back in 1867, not long after Orillia officially became a village, local leaders started talking about moving the farmers' market to a more central spot. Some residents were fine with just a simple shed and market stalls, but the Village Council had bigger plans: a new town hall—and a proper jail for the “rowdies” that came with being a busy lumber town.

After much debate, the first town hall opened in 1874. It served the community well for a few years, but by 1895, the town had outgrown it. The Council decided it was time for something more ambitious. The result was a grand new building designed by the Toronto architects Gordon & Halliwell: a combination town hall, council chamber, jail, market, and stunning 905-seat auditorium. It cost $25,000 to build and was proudly dubbed “the finest building for corporation purposes of any town in Ontario.” Locals quickly started calling it the Opera House, thanks to its elegant European-style wraparound balcony.

Sadly, disaster struck on July 6, 1915, when a fire destroyed much of the building—just as the final payments on its construction had been made. With World War I underway, Orillians were reluctant to spend too much on a rebuild. An initial plan for a $50,000 replacement was voted down. But a revised, more modest $35,000 version was approved the following year.

The Opera House reopened in 1917, redesigned by the firm Burke, Horwood & White. The new version had a deeper balcony, better stage, updated restrooms, and other modern improvements—but its iconic south tower wasn’t rebuilt.

Over the years, the building continued to evolve. In the 1920s through to the late '50s, the Opera House doubled as a movie theatre, becoming a Saturday afternoon favourite for local kids—for just 25 cents. In 1958, a new east entrance was added, and in the 1980s, major renovations brought in air conditioning, structural upgrades, and better lighting and accessibility.

The venue has hosted a dazzling variety of performers over the decades, from legendary musicians like Oscar Peterson, Glenn Gould, and Gordon Lightfoot, to beloved Canadian acts like K.D. Lang, Blue Rodeo, and Bruce Cockburn. It’s also been a home for school concerts, community theatre, and emerging talent.

In 1997, the Council Chamber moved to the newly renovated Tudhope building (now the Orillia City Centre), making room for a new 104-seat black box theatre, the Studio.  That same year, the main auditorium was officially renamed in honour of Orillia’s most famous musical son—Gordon Lightfoot—who performed here throughout his life, often donating the proceeds to charity.

Today, the Orillia Opera House continues to be a cultural hub, bringing local, national, and international talent to our community. From big-name concerts to our beloved summer theatre series, there's always something exciting happening on our stages.

Come be part of the story.