North Simcoe Victim Services is pleased to be able to support the victims of the total loss of the building on the corner of Peter St. S & Mississaga St, Orillia that was home to several hardworking small businesses. On January 21, 2025 the owners and employees of these businesses expected to put the key in the lock, turn on the lights and turn their sign to “open” to start another business day as usual, but then tragedy struck. This type of tragic circumstance falls within the usual of the types of calls that NSVS responds to throughout the year. Albeit a unique situation, it is important that these victims felt supported during their time of trauma.
In partnership with Orillia Area Community Development Corp (CDC), NSVS have set up a grant fund to help these victims to recover from this traumatic event. Through the generosity of several donors, we have funds available for the victims of the fire. The funding is available on a first come, first serve basis until the funds are fully allocated. An application is available through the CDC and will be dispersed by the CDC on behalf of the donors to the “Downtown Orillia Fire Fund”. Funds will be given that align with the parameters of the current NSVS programs, providing relief for household expenses, emergency accommodation and counselling. For more information of the types of expenses that align with the parameters of the NSVS grant funding, please email info@orilliacdc.com or call Lynn Thomas, development director 705 826 1671.
We wish to acknowledge the generous donors, Meridian Bank, Connexus Church, donors of the Valentines Day fundraiser through Eclectic Café organized by owners Melanie Robinson & Alana Tudhope, a visiting production company and several community members. We would also like to acknowledge the board and staff of the CDC and the DOBIA for their assistance in making this distribution of funds possible and for your compassionate support of these victims.
Kim Kneeshaw explained the types of calls usually responded to, “North Simcoe Victim Services are there for victims of many forms of tragic circumstances in their moment of trauma. We continue to send out our trained crisis responders to several different types of calls such as sudden death, intimate partner violence, assault, crime and circumstances such as motor vehicle collisions and tragic fires. These supports are given at no cost to the victim(s) upon response to the call for support, 365 days of the year”.
If you wish to give to NSVS ongoing operations to support victims of many tragic circumstances that North
Simcoe Victim Services serve, go to www.ns-vs.com or call 705 325 5578. NSVS office is located at 1
University Avenue, Orillia.
