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Tour of Gord's Orillia

This self-guided tour will take you on a chronological trip through the life and local locations that influenced Gord’s upraising and music from birth to final resting place. As he grew up in downtown Orillia, much of the tour can be completed on foot as indicated by an asterisk*. Your suggested starting point is the Orillia Opera House. The other sites are best visited by car. You can locate any of the sites via GPS using the name or address.

  1. *Childhood home: 283 Harvey St
  2. *West Ward Public School, 26 Coldwater Rd E
  3. *St Paul’s United Church: 62 Peter St N
  4. *ODCVI Secondary School, 2 Borland St
  5. *Orillia Opera House, 20 Mississaga St W
  6. Marchmont Mill Pond: hamlet of Marchmont, Severn Twp., on the North River–peaceful location inspired Pussywillows & Cat-tails
  7. Mariposa Folk Festival, Tudhope Park, 450 Atherley Rd
  8. Golden Leaves Statue, Tudhope Park, 450 Atherley Rd
  9. *Gordon Lightfoot Bust: right outside the front door of the Opera House, 20 Mississaga St W
  10. *Orillia Museum of Art & History: 30 Peter St
  11. *Lightfoot Drive, Orillia Waterfront
  12. Lightfoot Family Gravesite: 320 Coldwater Rd
  13. *Lightfoot Trail: easy, flat 6 km walk/bike

*Childhood Home #1

283 Harvey St

Although no longer in the Lightfoot family, this private residence was the home of young Gordon. It is in private hands with a family living there, so kindly respect their privacy and do not disturb them by knocking on the door to see inside or do more than walk/drive by

*West Ward Public School #2

26 Coldwater Rd E

This is the original West Ward public school that Gord attended. It later changed to the Orillia Central School, and now slated for renovations into condominiums, so no access allowed to the property

*St. Paul's United Church #3

62 Peter St N

The church the Lightfoot family attended, and the location of Gord’s first solo performance at the age of 12…he won the Kiwanis Music Festival that year  in 1950!

*ODCVI Secondary School #4

2 Borland St West

Although recently torn down to make way for a Simcoe County Social Services hub, the site itself once housed the main secondary school for Orillia and was subject to many renovations and expansions over the years

Across West St from the former high school is the former CFOR Studios (now a dental office), where Gord spend much of his student time

*Orillia Opera House #5 & #9

20 Mississaga St West

The iconic Orillia Opera House features the Lightfoot Auditorium, and was the local home base for Gordon who played here numerous times throughout his life, when not making his annual sold-out, multi-day performances at Massey Hall, Toronto. hidden deep in the bowels of the Opera House are the mischievously-carved initials by young Gordie. If you are fortunate enough to see them, hint: they are on a wall column backstage

*Marchmont Mill Pond #6

2091 Marchmont Rd, Severn Township

In the picturesque hamlet of Marchmont (about 5 km from Orillia) is located the Marchmont Mill and the Mill pond formed by the Mill dam on the North River. The pond is quite large and when viewed from the Townline Road bridge to the west, you can see the extensive cattail wetland that inspired his famous Pussywillows & Cattails ballad. The water of the North River rushing over the millrace makes a great photo opportunity. Again, this is now a private residence so kindly respect their privacy and do not disturb them by knocking on the door to see inside or do more than walk/drive by. YouTube link to the song to take you there…

*Mariposa Folk Festival, Tudhope Park #7

450 Atherley Rd

This sprawling urban park is home to the iconic Mariposa Folk Festival held every year since it’s inception in August 1961. It remains Canada’s longest continuous running folk festival. It left Orillia after 3 years and relocated to Toronto in 1964. It finally returned to its roots in 2000 with Gordon headlining it’s return. He first performed here in 1962 as a solo act, but returned many times since both as a frequent performer with his band, either being on the schedule, or as a surprise act. He would often be seen unannounced in the audience enjoying the performers 

A recent addition is a pickle ball court beside the Lightfoot Trail which serves as the “Lightfoot Stage” during the festival 

*Golden Leaves Statue, Tudhope Park #8

450 Atherley Rd

At the very eastern point of Tudhope Park along Lake Couchiching is located the iconic  ‘Golden Leaves” statue by Timothy Schmalz commissioned in 2015 by Bratty Family Foundation and gifted to the City of Orillia. This is such a fitting location for this tribute celebrating his music. Take some time to understand the complexity of the statue and how it interprets his words in bronze. A few steps in either direction along the paved path are two smaller leaves paying tribute to two of his iconic songs: Black Day in July (YouTube link to hear the song), and the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. A third bronze leaf is at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Whitefish Point, Michigan. YouTube link to hear the song

*Orillia Museum of Art & History #10

30 Peter St

Just a few steps away from the Opera House is the Orillia Museum of Art & History featuring a permanent display of Lightfoot memorabilia

*Lightfoot Drive #11

Along the Orillia waterfront

In 2024, the City renamed the newly refurbished Centennial Drive to Lightfoot Drive in honor of Orillia’s native son. Along the nearly 1 km stretch of waterfront are light post banners with photos and words to many of the famous songs written by Gordon

Near the north end of the Drive is the former site of the PAV (now a empty field @ the corner of Jarvis and Bay Streets) where Gord often performed in the 1950’s

*Lightfoot Family Gravesite #12

St. Andrew’s and St. James Cemetery

320 Coldwater Rd. W.

Section 1 on left past the office

The Lightfoot family plot is the final resting place for Gordon. He has been laid down with his parents: Gordon and Jessie. Although Gord spent the majority of his life in Toronto, he chose to “have his final slumber” in his hometown as he so prolifically  wrote in his last song:  “Couchiching.” YouTube link to hear the song

*Lightfoot Millennium Trail #13

 From the Atherley Narrows to City limits @ Hwy 11 Tunnel along the Lake Couchiching waterfront

A free self-guided 1 to 1.5 hour GPS audio tour is available for download from TripVia Tours from the AppStore & Google play under Millennium Trail