Georgian College to Close Orillia, Muskoka Campuses in 2026: Employee Rights

What’s Happening at Georgian College?

Georgian College announced plans to close its Orillia and Muskoka campuses in 2026 — moving affected programs to Barrie.

“This is a difficult decision that we know will be felt deeply by our students, employees, and communities,” CEO Kevin Weaver said in a statement on Sept. 26.

“Recognizing these are challenging times and the sector is experiencing a labour disruption, I still felt it was important to advise our community of the decision…It’s the right decision for the long-term sustainability of the college and the success of our students.”

The bombshell announcement comes as the college pauses operations at its Collingwood campus indefinitely.

Union Response

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) issued a statement shortly after the news dropped — saying it was caught “off guard” by Georgian College’s decision.

“These closures will have devastating effects in Bracebridge and Orillia, shuttering opportunities in local communities, and forcing relocation to Georgian’s main Barrie campus,” the statement reads.

For the last two weeks, approximately 10,000 full-time support staff have been on the picket lines — fighting for better job security.

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Protect Your Career Today

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, we’ve successfully represented more than 50,000 Canadians since 2007 — recovering tens of millions of dollars for clients.

Our Barrie employment lawyers can secure stronger severance packages and resolve workplace disputes, often without getting the courts involved.

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Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and SHOULD NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.