Downtown Orillia will soon have its moment in the spotlight as the television series Precision begins filming in the area next Tuesday and Wednesday.
The production, which follows a group of elite teenage figure skaters navigating life and training for a world championship, has chosen Orillia as one of its key filming locations.
According to Deron Johnston, executive director of the Downtown Orillia BIA, the selection of Orillia as a filming site is no surprise.
“Who wouldn’t want to film in downtown Orillia?” Johnston said. “A location scout came here, liked what they saw, and the rest is history.”
Johnston believes the production will bring positive exposure to Orillia, generating excitement and a sense of community pride.
“It’s a cool thing,” he said. “Seeing our community in a television series and recognizing local businesses on screen is something that makes people proud.”
At least two downtown businesses will serve as filming locations. While Precision has its own catering services, crew members often make coffee runs and purchase snacks locally, meaning businesses will still see some economic benefit, noted Johnston.
“The production company also rents spaces for warming stations and downtime between scenes, so they’re definitely spending money in the area,” Johnston added.
Filming will take place on Mississaga Street between Peter Street South and Matchedash Street South. However, there will be no full road closures, and all businesses and sidewalks will remain open to the public.
“The OPP will be deployed to ensure steady vehicle flow, which is important for the realism of the scenes,” Johnston explained. “But aside from brief moments where people may be asked to avoid certain areas, there should be minimal disruption.”
While Orillia has hosted some filming projects in the past, Johnston noted this is one of the more prominent productions in recent memory.
“We’d love to see more of this,” he said. “Orillia and the surrounding Lake Country region are beautiful places with a welcoming community. We want to make it known that we’re open to film and TV productions.”
Johnston added that if Precision is successful, there is potential for the production to return for future seasons.
“This is just the first season, but if things go well, the production company has mentioned they may be back,” he said.
As Orillia prepares to welcome Precision next week, Johnston says the filming serves as an opportunity to showcase the city’s charm.
“Orillia has an amazing downtown,” he said. “If people see it in a TV show and recognize it, that’s a huge feather in our cap.”