Barrie
Barrie | ||
---|---|---|
City of Barrie | ||
Wards 10 wards
| ||
Government | ||
• Mayor | Alex Nuttall | |
• Council | Barrie City Council | |
• MPPS | List of MPPs | |
• MPs | List of MPs | |
Area | ||
• City (single-tier) | 99.01 km2 (38.23 sq mi) | |
• Urban | 171.53 km2 (66.23 sq mi) | |
• Metro | 898.02 km2 (346.73 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 252 m (827 ft) | |
Population | ||
• City (single-tier) | 147,829 | |
• Density | 1,493.1/km2 (3,867/sq mi) | |
• Urban | 172,657 | |
• Urban density | 918.27/km2 (2,378.3/sq mi) | |
• Metro | 212,667 | |
• Metro density | 219.4/km2 (568/sq mi) | |
• Ethnicity | Ethnic groups | |
GDP (Barrie CMA) | CA$7.4 billion (2016)[10] | |
GDP per capita (Barrie CMA) | CA$37,735 (2016) | |
Website | www.barrie.ca |
Barrie is a city in
The area was first settled during the War of 1812 as a supply depot for British forces, and Barrie was named after Sir Robert Barrie. The city has grown significantly in recent decades due to the emergence of the technology industry. It is connected to the Greater Golden Horseshoe by Ontario Highway 400 and GO Transit. Significant sectors of the city's diversified economy include education, healthcare, information technology and manufacturing.
History
Before 1900
Barrie is situated on the traditional land of the Wendat and Anishinaabeg peoples.[11] At its inception, Barrie was an establishment of houses and warehouses at the foot of the Nine Mile Portage from Kempenfelt Bay to Fort Willow, an indigenous transportation route that existed centuries before Europeans arrived in Simcoe County.[11] The portage linked Kempenfelt Bay through Willow Creek, connecting Lake Simcoe to the Nottawasaga River which flows into Georgian Bay off Lake Huron.
Barrie played an integral role in the War of 1812. During the war, the city became a supply depot for British forces and, in addition, the Nine Mile Portage was adopted by the British military as a key piece of their supply line which provided a strategic path for communication, personnel and vital supplies and equipment to and from Fort Willow and Georgian Bay/Lake Huron. Today, the Nine Mile Portage is marked by signs along roads in Barrie and in Springwater Township. The scenic path from Memorial Square to Fort Willow is accessible to visitors year-round.
In 1815,
The city was named in 1833 after
By 1869, Barrie became the county seat of Simcoe County, flourishing with a population of over 3,000 people. With this population increase came the establishment of prominent businesses and landmarks. In 1850, Edward Marks had established the Barrie Hotel (now called the Queen's Hotel), the oldest continuously running hotel in Barrie, James and Joseph Anderton established the Anderton Brewery in 1869, which would go on to be one of Barrie's largest employers for years, and Edmund Lally opened one of the Canadian Bank of Commerce's original branches in Barrie in 1867.
The period of 1870 to 1890 defined Barrie's downtown development with a series of raging fires that sequentially destroyed multiple landmarks, giving rise to the moniker that Barrie was "among the best burning towns in Canada."[21] Many local businesses like breweries, tanneries and sawmills depended on fire to operate, endangering the ramshackle assortment of wooden homes and buildings that made up the city centre.
One of the most destructive fires came in mid-1875 when the entire section north of Dunlop Street to Collier Street, bounded by Clapperton and Owen Streets, was reduced to ash, destroying around 20 local businesses.
20th century
In the next century, the modern streets and buildings of Barrie began to take form in a massive rebuilding process. Other landmarks to eventually burn down over the years include the Queen's Hotel (1915) and two of Barrie's largest and most prominent companies; the Sevigny Carriage Shop and the Anderton Brewery in 1916.[21]
During the
On September 7, 1977, a private aircraft, owned by Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd, dropped altitude to 500 feet (152 m) in dense fog and struck CKVR's 1,000-foot (305 m) transmitter tower, killing all five people aboard the plane and destroying the tower and antenna. The station's 225-foot (69 m) auxiliary tower was also destroyed with damage to the main studio building. CKVR returned to the air on September 19 at a reduced power of 40,000 watts until a new 1,000-foot (305 m) tower was built in 1978.
The 1980s and 1990s was a period of substantial growth for Barrie, with the population tripling in the span of 25 years. In 1981, the city had a population of 38,423; in 2006, Barrie had 128,430 residents living within city limits. The first larger scale developments would begin during this time, including high-density waterfront condos and the new Barrie City Hall which started construction in October 1985.[citation needed]
On May 31, 1985, Barrie was struck by a devastating F4 tornado that killed eight people. Over 600 homes were damaged or destroyed by the tornado, and of those roughly one-third were rendered uninhabitable. About 155 people were also injured during the storm, and the tornado remains today one of the most destructive and violent in Canadian history. The tornado caused $150 million (1985 CAD), equivalent to $326 million CAD as of 2022.
Between June 12–13, 1987, a sculpture called
21st century
On January 12, 2004, the former Molsons plant was found to be home to an illegal marijuana grow-op housing an estimated 30,000 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $30 million (~$46.4 million in 2023); at the time, it was the largest marijuana grow-op bust in Canada's history.
Barrie's
An explosion in the Royal Thai restaurant, housed in the landmark Wellington Hotel at the "Five Points" intersection in downtown Barrie, occurred at 11:20pm on December 6, 2007. The fire quickly spread to several neighbouring buildings and firefighters battled the blaze well into the following morning, requiring assistance from other Simcoe County fire services. Officials estimated the damages to be in the millions. The 100-year-old Wellington Hotel building collapsed later in the morning.[23][24] On February 17, 2008, two people were charged in connection with the fire after the Ontario Fire Marshal's office concluded the explosion and subsequent fire were the result of arson.[25]
In 2013, Barrie was twinned with the English town of Harrogate as a result of Sir Robert Barrie's close connection to it.[26]
On July 15, 2021, a tornado struck neighbourhoods in south Barrie, leaving several people injured and causing serious damage to property.[27] Environment Canada categorized it as an EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.[28]
Geography
Barrie is located in the central portion of southern Ontario, approximately 90 km (56 mi) north of
Barrie's historic downtown area is situated in a distinct curved or wrapped valley, surrounding the western edge of Kempenfelt Bay. Terrain is generally flat near the city's centre. Moving up the valley slopes toward the city's north and south ends, the terrain can be rather steep in some areas. The minimum elevation of Barrie is 175 metres (574 ft) around the shores of Kempenfelt Bay and the maximum elevation is 427 metres (1,401 ft) northwest of the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport.[29]
Barrie falls into Plant Hardiness Zone 5b. The city does not have any major rivers within its limits but does have numerous creeks and streams, most of which empty into Kempenfelt Bay.
Intraurban communities
- Allandale
- Ardagh Bluffs
- Craighurst
- Cundles
- Dalston
- Downtown
- Eastview
- Ferndale
- Holly
- Horseshoe Valley
- Letitia Heights
- Little Lake
- Minet's Point
- Painswick
- St. Paul's
- The Grove
Expansion
Barrie has been designated an Urban Growth Centre by the province of Ontario. As one of the fastest growing cities in Canada, this designation aims to mitigate urban sprawl and concentrate higher-density development in areas specified by the City of Barrie. Its population growth can be attributed to the emergence of the city as a bedroom community for Toronto. In 1991, Barrie had a population of 62,728 and by 2017, Barrie had an estimated population of 147,000. By 2031, the city's population is expected to exceed 200,000 people. The annexation allows Barrie to meet its future population needs without having to extend into the countryside north, east and west of the city. Intensification and infilling are simultaneously being undertaken in and near the downtown core to foster a more active urban environment within the city.
Climate
Barrie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Barrie has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb), with warm, humid summers, and cold, snowy winters. The coldest month is January with a mean temperature of −8.1 °C (17 °F), while the warmest month is July with a mean of 19.6 °C (67 °F).
Winters are cold with frequent snowfall, the January average high temperature being −3.2 °C (26 °F). Barrie is located in a snowbelt, a region that experiences regular lake-effect snow every year. Snow squalls are a common occurrence between November and January when the water is warmest on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. The city averages 286 centimetres (113 in) of snow annually, the brunt of which coming from lake-effect snow events. Alberta clippers and Colorado lows also generate ample snowfall in the region. Snow cover begins to build by the end of November, accumulating through December, and then lies through the end of February. March sees the spring thaw commence, with the snow cover being essentially gone by the beginning of April. Temperatures commonly drop to −20.0 °C (−4 °F) and occasionally drop to −30.0 °C (−22 °F) on the coldest nights of the year.
Summers in Barrie are warm and sometimes hot, humid, and long with pleasant summer-like temperatures persisting into October most years. The average temperature in July is 19.6 °C (67 °F). Thunderstorms are very common in the summer months in Barrie due to the city being in a convergence zone. Thunderstorms can occasionally be severe, bringing with them torrential rain, very strong winds and hail. Tornadoes are generally rare in the city however an F4 tornado did strike Barrie in 1985. Barrie's average frost-free period is from May 26 to September 16, allowing a growing season of 113 days.
Precipitation falls year round but is typically heaviest in the summer months due to thunderstorm activity. The driest months are February through April, receiving around 60.0 millimetres (2 in) of precipitation each month per annum. The wettest months are August and September, seeing upwards of 90.0 millimetres (4 in) of precipitation each month. November is also a wet month, receiving 88.9 millimetres (4 in) of precipitation in the form of both rain and snow. October interestingly remains relatively dry in comparison to the months preceding and succeeding it. Despite this however, October has the most precipitation days and rainy days out of every month with 15.6 and 15.5 respectively.
The coldest temperature ever recorded in Barrie was −38.9 °C (−38 °F) on January 8, 1886.[34] The hottest temperature ever recorded was 38.9 °C (102 °F) on July 5, 1911.[35]
Climate data for Barrie Water Pollution Control Centre and Barrie–Oro – 1991–2020[a] | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high humidex | — | — | 28 | 36 | 39 | 43 | 48 | 44 | 32 | 35 | 26 | — | 48 |
Record high °C (°F) | 15.0 (59.0) |
14.0 (57.2) |
26.5 (79.7) |
30.5 (86.9) |
35.0 (95.0) |
35.6 (96.1) |
38.9 (102.0) |
37.8 (100.0) |
35.6 (96.1) |
30.0 (86.0) |
25.6 (78.1) |
19.5 (67.1) |
38.9 (102.0) |
Mean maximum °C (°F) | 6.9 (44.4) |
6.9 (44.4) |
14.1 (57.4) |
22.9 (73.2) |
29.2 (84.6) |
30.8 (87.4) |
31.2 (88.2) |
30.7 (87.3) |
29.5 (85.1) |
24.4 (75.9) |
17 (63) |
10 (50) |
31.2 (88.2) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −3.2 (26.2) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
2.8 (37.0) |
10.6 (51.1) |
18.1 (64.6) |
23.4 (74.1) |
25.8 (78.4) |
24.9 (76.8) |
20.9 (69.6) |
13.4 (56.1) |
6.3 (43.3) |
0.0 (32.0) |
11.7 (53.1) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.8 (18.0) |
−7.3 (18.9) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
5.2 (41.4) |
12 (54) |
17.6 (63.7) |
20.1 (68.2) |
19.2 (66.6) |
15.1 (59.2) |
8.6 (47.5) |
2.4 (36.3) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
6.5 (43.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −12.3 (9.9) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
5.9 (42.6) |
11.8 (53.2) |
14.3 (57.7) |
13.4 (56.1) |
9.3 (48.7) |
3.8 (38.8) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
1.4 (34.6) |
Mean minimum °C (°F) | −27.4 (−17.3) |
−26.1 (−15.0) |
−20.3 (−4.5) |
−8.2 (17.2) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
4.5 (40.1) |
7.9 (46.2) |
6.6 (43.9) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
−12.9 (8.8) |
−20.7 (−5.3) |
−27.4 (−17.3) |
Record low °C (°F) | −38.9 (−38.0) |
−37.2 (−35.0) |
−34.5 (−30.1) |
−17.8 (0.0) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
−22 (−8) |
−36.7 (−34.1) |
−38.9 (−38.0) |
Record low wind chill | −41 | −44 | −37 | −20 | −7 | — | — | — | −4 | −10 | −37 | −42 | −44 |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 82.5 (3.25) |
61.8 (2.43) |
58.1 (2.29) |
62.2 (2.45) |
82.4 (3.24) |
84.8 (3.34) |
77.2 (3.04) |
89.9 (3.54) |
94.0 (3.70) |
77.5 (3.05) |
88.9 (3.50) |
73.6 (2.90) |
932.9 (36.73) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 16.6 (0.65) |
16.0 (0.63) |
29.2 (1.15) |
56.6 (2.23) |
82.3 (3.24) |
84.8 (3.34) |
77.2 (3.04) |
89.9 (3.54) |
94.0 (3.70) |
75.2 (2.96) |
66.0 (2.60) |
22.2 (0.87) |
710 (27.95) |
Average snowfall cm (inches) | 80.2 (31.6) |
58.3 (23.0) |
29.5 (11.6) |
13.4 (5.3) |
0.8 (0.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
3.2 (1.3) |
34.1 (13.4) |
66.3 (26.1) |
285.8 (112.6) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 14.9 | 12.3 | 11.6 | 12.2 | 12.9 | 11.4 | 11.1 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 15.6 | 15.4 | 13.8 | 156.3 |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 2.8 | 3.0 | 5.4 | 11.3 | 12.9 | 11.4 | 11.1 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 15.5 | 11.3 | 4.6 | 114.4 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 12.4 | 10.0 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 0.04 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.54 | 4.5 | 9.6 | 45.38 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
80.00 | 76.58 | 72.27 | 68.50 | 69.15 | 74.04 | 74.73 | 77.80 | 79.64 | 79.96 | 81.56 | 82.80 | 76.42 |
Average ultraviolet index | 1.09 | 1.45 | 1.82 | 2.82 | 4.18 | 4.73 | 5.40 | 4.90 | 3.50 | 2.10 | 1.60 | 1.20 | 2.90 |
Source: Temperature, and precipitation (rain/snow) from |
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1841 | 500 | — |
1871 | 3,398 | +579.6% |
1881 | 4,854 | +42.8% |
1891 | 5,550 | +14.3% |
1901 | 5,949 | +7.2% |
1911 | 6,420 | +7.9% |
1921 | 6,936 | +8.0% |
1931 | 7,776 | +12.1% |
1941 | 9,559 | +22.9% |
1951 | 12,514 | +30.9% |
1961 | 21,169 | +69.2% |
1971 | 27,676 | +30.7% |
1981 | 38,423 | +38.8% |
1991 | 62,728 | +63.3% |
2021 | 147,829 | +4.5% |
Note: 2011 census population corrected by Statistics Canada[6] |
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Barrie had a population of 147,829 living in 55,316 of its 57,276 total private dwellings, a change of 4.5% from its 2016 population of 141,434. With a land area of 99.01 km2 (38.23 sq mi), it had a population density of 1,493.1/km2 (3,867.0/sq mi) in 2021.[40]
At the
2021 | 2016 | 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|
Population | 147,829 (+4.5% from 2016) | 141,434 (3.9% from 2011) | 136,063 (5.9% from 2006) |
Land area | 99.01 km2 (38.23 sq mi) | 99.04 km2 (38.24 sq mi) | 77.39 km2 (29.88 sq mi) |
Population density | 1,493.1/km2 (3,867/sq mi) | 1,428.0/km2 (3,699/sq mi) | 1,758.1/km2 (4,553/sq mi) |
Median age | 39.2 (M: 37.6, F: 40.8) | 38.5 (M: 36.9, F: 40.0) | 37.2 (M: 36.0, F: 38.3) |
Private dwellings | 57,276 (total) 55,316 (occupied) | 54,227 (total) | 50,075 (total) |
Median household income | $93,000 | $113,575 | $80,928 |
Ethnicity
As of the 2021 census
Panethnic group |
2021[48] | 2016[49] | 2011[50] | 2006[51] | 2001[52] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
European[b] | 115,215 | 79.25% | 119,535 | 85.96% | 119,705 | 89.84% | 115,650 | 91.19% | 95,865 | 93.67% |
South Asian | 6,435 | 4.43% | 3,035 | 2.18% | 1,760 | 1.32% | 1,590 | 1.25% | 990 | 0.97% |
African
|
5,670 | 3.9% | 3,695 | 2.66% | 2,525 | 1.9% | 1,880 | 1.48% | 1,185 | 1.16% |
Indigenous | 5,320 | 3.66% | 5,255 | 3.78% | 3,440 | 2.58% | 2,660 | 2.1% | 1,520 | 1.49% |
East Asian[c] | 3,255 | 2.24% | 2,450 | 1.76% | 1,790 | 1.34% | 1,600 | 1.26% | 1,195 | 1.17% |
Southeast Asian[d] | 3,035 | 2.09% | 1,885 | 1.36% | 1,455 | 1.09% | 1,275 | 1.01% | 555 | 0.54% |
Latin American | 2,910 | 2% | 1,465 | 1.05% | 1,105 | 0.83% | 1,020 | 0.8% | 540 | 0.53% |
Middle Eastern[e] | 1,875 | 1.29% | 720 | 0.52% | 450 | 0.34% | 555 | 0.44% | 320 | 0.31% |
Other[f] | 1,660 | 1.14% | 1,020 | 0.73% | 1,015 | 0.76% | 585 | 0.46% | 180 | 0.18% |
Total responses | 145,385 | 98.35% | 139,060 | 98.32% | 133,240 | 98.18% | 126,830 | 98.75% | 102,345 | 98.68% |
Total population | 147,829 | 100% | 141,434 | 100% | 135,711 | 100% | 128,430 | 100% | 103,710 | 100% |
- Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.
Language
The city's French-speaking population was notable, with 9,710 people (6.6% of the total population) capable of speaking French. Some 84.4% of the population spoke mostly English at home.
Religion
According to the 2021 Census, Barrie was 52.5% Christian, down from 66.3% in 2011.[53] 23.6% of Barrie residents were Catholic, 15.9% were Protestants, 8.2% were Christians of unspecified denomination, and 1.5% were Christian Orthodox. Adherents to other denominations of Christianity and Christian-related traditions accounted for 3.4% of the population. 40.8% of Barrie residents were nonreligious/secular, up from 31.0% in 2011. All other religions and spiritual traditions combined make up 6.7% of residents. The largest non-Christian religions in Barrie are Islam (2.5%), Hinduism (1.5%), and Sikhism (0.8%).
Economy
The following are some of the city's major employers:
- Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
- Georgian College and the associated University Partnership Centre and Centre for Health and Wellness
- City of Barrie
- County of Simcoe
- Simcoe County District School Board
- TD Canada Trust and TD Waterhouse Regional Centre
- TD Canada Trust Technology and Operations Centre
- Scotiabank Regional Centre
- BMO Data Centre
- IBM Canada Leadership Data Centre
- The Source Distribution Centre
- Coca-Cola Bottling Company
- Canadian Mental Health Association – Simcoe
- Hydro One Ontario Grid Control Centre
Notwithstanding these major employers, Barrie has increasingly been perceived as a
Barrie has emerged as a growing tech-hub with several companies such as IBM and BMO constructing data centres in the city. Although not as prominent as cities like Markham or Waterloo in the tech industry, Barrie is considered one of the best high-tech centres in the country for small markets.[55]
Tourism
Tourism plays an important role in the local economy. Barrie's historic downtown and
In the summer months, the city boasts several beaches including Minet's Point Beach, Johnsons Beach, The Gables, Tyndale Beach, and Centennial Beach. Barrie is home to vibrant performing and fine arts scenes. There are a number of live performance companies including Theatre by the Bay, Talk Is Free Theatre and the Huronia Symphony. Grove Park Home is the practice hall for On-Stage Performance Group which performs in Arts and culture
Performing arts
There are two main performing arts venues in the city: the Five Points Theatre, and the Georgian Theatre. Originally, the Five Points Theatre was known as The Mady Centre For The Performing Arts, but it was renamed in January 2018. It is located in Barrie's downtown at the Five Points intersection and was completed in 2011. This modern facility is home to many professional and amateur cultural productions, film screenings, theatrical plays, concerts, dance recitals and other performances. It is also the main venue for Theatre by the Bay and the Talk Is Free Theatre Companies. The venue features a flexible stage area with lighting and sound for professional theatre, music, dance, and other presentations, an automated riser/seating system with capacity for 120-200 seats and a sprung performance floor.
The Georgian Theatre is a professional performing arts facility located in Barrie's north end on the campus of Georgian College. The theatre features a proscenium stage, sound, lights, fly gallery and seating for 427 on the main level, with three pods that can be used to increase the seating capacity to 690. The Theatre is used both for theatrical and non-theatrical activity, including conferences and seminars.
Galleries
The prominent MacLaren Art Centre is located in Barrie. This is an art gallery that inspired the "Art City" project, which has had many different large sculptures installed around the city. These can be found in parks and along the waterfront.
Barrie is also home to many independent galleries and studios. A concentration of independent galleries, studios and boutiques is located in Lakeshore Mews. This area is located behind the downtown's Dunlop Street. Lakeshore Mews artists also organize the annual "Arts ce Soir"; an all-night contemporary art event in celebration of visual, musical, theatrical and literary art.
In addition, a studio tour in the Barrie/Orillia area takes place on the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend every year. It is called the Images Studio Tour and has over 25 artists on average. Potters, jewellers, painters, textile artists and fashion designers make up a few of the disciplines of the talents on display.
Festivals
Barrie is home to Kempenfest; one of the largest outdoor arts and crafts celebrations in Ontario. This festival occurs annually over the August long weekend and features over 300 artisans, an antique show, food demonstrations, children's activities and live entertainment, including an indie-music stage.
Since 2021, Barrie has held Open Air Dunlop, in which Dunlop Street downtown is temporarily
Groups
Some of the main arts and culture groups in the city include:
- Barrie Art Club
- Barrie Concert Band[61]
- Barrie Film Festival
- Barrie Folk Society[62]
- Campus Gallery
- Caribbean Culture Institute
- Huronia Symphony Orchestra[63]
- Kempenfelt Community Players
- King Edward Choir[64]
- Lyrica Chamber Choir
- Simcoe Contemporary Dancers
- Talk Is Free Theatre
- Theatre By The Bay
- Kiwanis
Attractions
Barrie has numerous recreational venues and community centres throughout the city:
- Allandale Recreation Centre
- Barrie Community Sports Complex
- Barrie Public Library
- Dorian Parker Centre
- East Bayfield Community Centre
- Eastview Arena
- Holly Community Centre
- Lampman Park
- Lampman Lane Community Centre
- Parkview Community Centre
- Southshore Community Centre
- Victoria Village
- YMCA of Barrie
- Shak's World Community Centre[65]
Sports
Club | League | Venue | Established | Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|
Simcoe County Rovers
|
League1 Ontario | J.C. Massie Field | 2022 | 1 |
Barrie Colts | OHL Hockey | Sadlon Arena | 1995 | 1 |
Barrie Baycats | IBL Baseball | Vintage Throne Stadium | 2001 | 7 |
Georgian Grizzlies | OCAA | Georgian College | 1967 | |
Barrie Sharks | PWHL Hockey |
East Bayfield Community Centre | 2011 | 0 |
Barrie Rugby | ORU Rugby | Jim Hamilton Field | 1967 | 0 |
Barrie is also home to the Mariposa School of Skating, which has trained many world-class figure skaters, including Brian Orser, Elvis Stojko and Jeffrey Buttle.
Government
Municipal
The current mayor of Barrie is Alex Nuttall, who was elected in October 2022, succeeding Jeff Lehman.
Provincial
Year | Liberal | Conservative | New Democratic | Green | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | 32% | 20,883 | 43% | 28,394 | 18% | 12,109 | 0% | 0 | |
2019 | 32% | 22,225 | 38% | 26,508 | 17% | 11,875 | 11% | 7,536 |
Year | PC | New Democratic | Liberal | Green | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | 43% | 19,444 | 14% | 6,524 | 32% | 14,216 | 5% | 2,467 | |
2018 | 44% | 25,181 | 31% | 17,805 | 14% | 7,986 | 10% | 5,914 |
Party | Members of Provincial Parliament | From | To | Riding | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Progressive Conservative | Andrea Khanjin | June 7, 2018 | present | Barrie—Innisfil | |
Progressive Conservative | Doug Downey | June 7, 2018 | present | Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte |
Federal
Party | Members of Parliament | From | To | Riding | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Brassard | October 19, 2015 | present | Barrie—Innisfil | |
Conservative | Doug Shipley | October 21, 2019 | present | Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte |
Military
Barrie has a long military history dating back to at least the Nine Mile Portage of the War of 1812. By the time of the
In 1885, four companies from the 35th Simcoe Foresters, including those from Barrie, along with four companies from the 12th York Battalion came together to form the York-Simcoe Battalion. This specially raised battalion served in
In 1914, the First World War broke out and many citizens of Barrie were quick to volunteer for service overseas with The Simcoe Foresters. Late the following year, the Regiment was tasked with raising two overseas battalions, the 157th Battalion (Simcoe Foresters), CEF and the 177th Battalion (Simcoe Foresters), CEF. In the spring of 1916, the Barrie and Collingwood companies of the 157th Battalion began clearing the land for the construction of a new military camp on the Simcoe Pines Plain — Camp Borden (now CFB Borden). This began Barrie's long friendship with the Base, hence the reason CFB Borden was used for Canada's Worst Driver 2 and Canada's Worst Driver 5.
With a re-organization of the Canadian Militia between the two world wars, The Simcoe Foresters, headquartered in Barrie, were amalgamated in 1936 with the Grey Regiment, headquartered at
Transportation
Airports
There are no major airports with scheduled flights near Barrie (the closest being Toronto Pearson International Airport, located in Mississauga). There are a few airports that are used for light aviation aircraft:
- Lake Simcoe Regional Airport
- Barrie/Little Lake Water Aerodrome
- Springwater (Barrie Airpark) Aerodrome
Roads
Barrie is served by Provincial
The portion of Highway 11 through Barrie is known as
Public transit
Public transport is provided by
Commuter rail
GO Transit connects the city to the Greater Toronto Area through daily train service along the Barrie line, with trains operating from the Allandale Waterfront GO Station and the Barrie South GO Station. This is primarily a commuter rail service to the GTA, with southbound trips to Toronto's Union Station in the morning rush hour and northbound trips in the evening rush hour. Limited weekend service to and from Toronto is also operated. Barrie was once a stop for the Northlander train but re-routing resulted in the termination of service. The former Barrie station serving the Northlander still exists north of the Allandale GO Station.
Intercity and commuter buses
In addition to train service,
Barrie once had been served by various private interurban bus lines such as Penetang-Midland Coach Lines and Greyhound Canada, which ran buses between Barrie and Toronto's Yorkdale Bus Terminal. Greyhound operated QuickLink commuter service from Barrie to Toronto seven days a week. In the past Gray Coach offered service from Toronto to Barrie; the route was later acquired by Greyhound. Greyhound Canada ended all service in Ontario on May 13, 2021.[68]
Barrie is also served by Simcoe County LINX, which provides services between municipalities within Simcoe County, including Orillia, Midland and Penetanguishine.[69]
Passenger rail
Historically, Barrie was served by scheduled passenger rail service. Allandale Station was a stop for the
Education
Barrie has two major English school boards that operate inside the city at a public level. The Simcoe County District School Board administers a public education in Barrie and Simcoe County, while the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board administers to the Catholic population and serves the Simcoe and Muskoka areas. It also has two French school boards, Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (formerly Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud), the Catholic board, and Conseil scolaire Viamonde (CSV, formerly Conseil Scolaire de District du Centre-Sud-Ouest), the secular board. There are also several private schools both for K-8 and K-12.
High schools
- Barrie North Collegiate Institute
- Bear Creek Secondary School
- Eastview Secondary School
- École secondaire catholique Nouvelle-Alliance
- Innisdale Secondary School
- Maple Ridge Secondary School
- St. Joseph's High School
- St. Joan of Arc High School
- St. Peter's Catholic Secondary School
- École secondaire Roméo-Dallaire
- Unity Christian High School
Georgian College
Georgian College's main campus, with over 10,000 full-time students and approximately 25,000 part-time students, is located in Barrie.
Media
Online
Village Media operates BarrieToday.com.
There are both semi-weekly and monthly newspapers serving the City of Barrie. The Barrie Advance, published by Metroland Media Group, is a free newspaper established in 1983 and delivered weekly (on Thursdays) to every residence in the city as well as residents of Springwater Township and parts of Oro-Medonte. The newspaper contains local news, classifieds, advertisements and flyers. Barrie Business is a free newsprint publication covering local and regional business news. Published monthly and distributed to every business in the City of Barrie through Canada Post, it seeks to highlight and support Barrie's local business community and events. The Barrie Examiner, established in 1864, was one of Canada's oldest daily newspapers. It was distributed five days a week (Tuesday to Saturday) to paid subscribers and also delivered to the remainder of the market free on Thursdays. The Examiner was one of several Postmedia Network newspapers purchased by Torstar in a transaction between the two companies in 2017.[70] Following the acquisition, Torstar subsidiary Metroland Media Group announced the closure of the paper effective November 27, 2017.[71][72]
Television
CKVR-DT (currently part of the CTV 2 television system) is the only local television station in Barrie. It produces approximately 1.30 hours of local news on weekdays and 1 hour of local news on weekends.
Television stations and rebroadcasters based in the vicinity of Barrie Region are:
OTA virtual channel (PSIP) | OTA channel | Rogers Cable | Call Sign | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3.1 | UHF | 10 | CKVR-DT | CTV 2 | |
7.1 | 7 | 3 | CIII-DT | Global Television Network | |
– | – | 10 | – | Rogers TV | Community channel for Rogers Cable
subscribers |
Radio
Local radio stations serving Barrie and environs include:
- FM 93.1 – CHAY ("Fresh 93.1"), Top 40
- FM 95.7 – CFJB ("Rock 95"), active rock
- FM 100.3 – CJLF ("Life 100.3"), Christian radio
- FM 101.1 - Classic Hits
- FM 107.5 – Hot adult contemporary
Notable people
- Brent Burns (born 1985), professional ice hockey defenceman for the Carolina Hurricanes
- Mark Dilley (born 1969), racing driver
- Matthew Di Leo (born 1995), racing driver
- Mitchell Hooper (born 1995), strongman and winner of 2023 World's Strongest Man
- Rebecca Hornbrook (born 1975), atmospheric chemist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research
- Michael Hutchinson (born 1990), professional ice hockey goaltender
- Gordon Meeking (born 1890), retired NHL player
- Slava Pastuk (born 1990), music journalist and author of Bad Trips.
- Darrin Shannon (born 1969), retired NHL player
- Darryl Shannon (born 1968), retired NHL player
- Daniel Vandervoort (born 1994), CFL wide receiver
- Samantha Win (born 1991), actress and martial artist
See also
- Barrie Police Service
- Barrie Speedway
- Georgian Mall
- Sandy Hollow Landfill
Notes
- ^ Dates may vary. The extreme temperatures listed are from 1866 to present. The humidex data was taken from April 1994 to present. The relative humidity and wind chill data was taken from February 1994 to present. The UV index data was taken from January 2009 to present. Last updated July 6, 2019.
- ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
References
- ^ "Barrie". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
- Canada 2011 Census, Census Profiles. Statistics Canada. February 16, 2012. Archived from the originalon July 18, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- Canada 2011 Census, Census Profiles. Statistics Canada. February 16, 2012. Archived from the originalon July 18, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census Barrie, City [Census subdivision]". Statistics Canada. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities), (land areas, population density, national population rank and other data) 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data". Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population. March 13, 2007. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2007.
- ^ a b "Corrections and updates". Statistics Canada. August 13, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
- ^ "Community Highlights, City of Barrie". Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population. March 13, 2007. Archived from the original on January 6, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2007.
- ^ "Population Groups (28) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data". Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population. June 12, 2008. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2008.
- ^ "Barrie". Natural Resources Canada. October 6, 2016.
- ^ "Table 36-10-0468-01 Gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices, by census metropolitan area (CMA) (x 1,000,000)". Statistics Canada. January 27, 2017. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Moreau, Nick (December 16, 2020). "Barrie". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- CIRNAC. March 7, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- CIRNAC. March 7, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- ^ "Volunteers help preserve Barrie's War of 1812 heritage". September 12, 2004.
- ^ "Simcoe County Court-House and Gaol". Ontario's Historical Plaques. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
- ^ Smith, Wm. H. (1846). Smith's Canadian Gazetteer - Statistical and General Information Respectin All Parts of The Upper Province, or Canada West. Toronto: H. & W. ROWSELL. p. 9.
- ^ "Heritage Barrie Walking Tour Directory" (PDF). Barrie.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
- ^ Sneath, Allen (2001). Brewed in Canada: The Untold Story of Canada's 300-Year-Old Brewing Industry. Dundern Press. p. 350.
- ^ "THEN AND NOW: By all accounts, Barrie's banking history dates back to early 1800s". BarrieToday.com. April 24, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
- ^ The Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory. H. McEvoy Editor and Compiler, Toronto : Robertson & Cook, Publishers, 1869
- ^ a b "Huge fires defined Barrie's downtown development". Simcoe.com-CA. December 7, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
- ^ "Barrie, Ont. to host Canadian edition of Live 8". Archived from the original on December 26, 2005. Retrieved September 14, 2006.
- ^ "Massive blaze destroys six buildings in Barrie". December 7, 2007. Archived from the original on December 9, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
- ^ "Fire destroys historic buildings in Barrie, Ont". December 7, 2007. Archived from the original on December 10, 2007.
- ^ "Pair charged in Barrie fire had ties to destroyed restaurant". Canoe.ca CNEWS. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "International Partnership Between City of Barrie, Canada and the Harrogate District". Harrogate Borough Council. Archived from the original on August 2, 2014.
- ^ "'Catastrophic' damage in Barrie, Ont., after tornado hits leaving several injured". CBC News. July 15, 2021.
- ^ Rodrigues, Gabby (July 16, 2021). "Environment Canada confirms EF-2 tornado with 210 km/h winds touched down in Barrie". Global News.
- ^ "Barrie topographic map, elevation, relief". En-ca.topographic-map.com.
- ^ "Growth Management". Barrie.ca. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- ^ "Barrie-Innisfil Boundary Adjustment Act, 2009" (PDF). the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 22, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ "Photographic image". Archived from the original (PNG) on February 14, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- ^ Environment Canada. October 31, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- Environment Canada. October 31, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- Environment Canada. October 31, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- Environment Canada. October 31, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- Environment Canada. October 31, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- ^ "List of Charts for Barrie". Weatherstats.ca. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ^ "Barrie Monthly Climate Averages". Worldweatheronline.com. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- 2021 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
- 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
- 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
- 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Census Profile-Barrie, City". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 26, 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 27, 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (November 27, 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (August 20, 2019). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (July 2, 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ "NHS Profile, Barrie, CY, Ontario, 2011". Statistics Canada. May 8, 2013.
- ^ "2016 Top 100 Employers : Simcoe County" (PDF). Edo.dimcoe.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- ^ Murray, Doug. "These Cities are Candidates to Become Canada's Next Tech Hub". Slice.ca. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- ^ "Supporting local stores, restaurants, culture and the unexpected in Downtown Barrie". Downtown Barrie Business Association (BIA)". Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ "Festivals & Events". Barrie.ca-CA. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ "Beaches". Barrie.ca. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ "Lessons & Rentals". Tourismbarrie.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ Cole, Nikki (April 15, 2023). "'Downtown belongs to all of us': Open Air Dunlop returns in June". BarrieToday.com. Village Media. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ "Barrie Concert Band". Barrieconcertband.org. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- ^ "Barrie Folk Society". Barriefolk.com. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ "Huronia Symphony Orchestra". Huroniasymphony.ca. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- ^ "King Edward Choir". Kingedwardchoir.ca. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- ^ "Welcome to Shak's World". Shaks World. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ "Official Voting Results Raw Data (poll by poll results in Barrie)". Elections Canada. April 7, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "Official Voting Results by polling station (poll by poll results in Barrie)". Election Ontario. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "Greyhound Canada Closes its Services in Canada". May 13, 2021. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021.
- ^ "Routes/Schedule – Transit". Simcoe.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ^ Kopun, Francine (November 27, 2017). "Torstar, Postmedia announce community and daily paper deal". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
- ^ "Postmedia and Torstar swap dozens of community papers, but will shut down most of them". CBC News. The Canadian Press. November 27, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
- ^ "Metroland Media to publish 4 daily papers purchased from Postmedia". Metroland Media Group. Torstar Corporation. November 27, 2017. Archived from the original on November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
The closure of the newspapers, which is effective immediately, will affect 46 full-time and part-time employees