Creativity took centre stage at the 2025 Barrie Arts Awards.
The annual awards were presented at the MacLaren Art Centre in downtown Barrie, where a large crowd gathered to celebrate local individuals and organizations contributing to the city’s arts and culture community.
Six awards were handed out: Most Promising Youth, Emerging Artist, Artist Beyond Barriers, Business Champion, Contribution to the Community and Excellence in the Arts.
Singer-songwriter Tia Nova, who won the Most Promising Youth award, said she appreciates how Barrie embraces creative artists.
“To receive this award tonight in a city that’s full of so much vibrant creativity and talent – this is so cool,” she said.
Nova told the audience that creative goals are worth pursuing.
“I’ve always followed, which is dreams are wishes that you hope to come true, but goals are what becomes reality.”
Professional dancer, model and choreographer Alayna Kellet won Artist Beyond Barriers. Kellet,
who is battling stage-four cervical cancer, said her cancer journey has shown her the importance of joy in art.
“One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is how important continuing to be joyful in art is when we deal with so tragedy and so much to spare,” she said.
“I’m sharing with other artists that we don’t have to stop creating when really hard times come.”
Business Champion award winner Brad Ferguson, founder and director of Upchuckle Education, thanked the community supports that helped him build his business.
“In Barrie, I’ve been blown away by supportive services – HVAC at Georgian College, Invest Barrie, everybody at the small business centre has been absolutely amazing. I couldn’t be anywhere without you guys,” he said.
Mayor Alex Nuttall spoke briefly before the awards were announced. After expressing support for the city’s arts community, he presented a short 3D-rendered video of the planned waterfront performing arts centre.
“I’m incredibly excited about the future here,” he said.
“It’s going to be an incredible addition to this city, and it’s going to be a place that not only is for performing, but we need to make sure that all aspects of our artist community are there.”
This past June, council approved the schematic design for the 45,000-square-foot facility along Simcoe Street at the bottom of Maple Avenue. It is expected to include large and small performance spaces, a restaurant and outdoor areas for visitors.
Other winners included Omar-Chris Canales-Cisneros for Emerging Artist, Uplift Black Artist Collective for Contribution to the Community, and the late Kim Brett for Excellence in the Arts. Brett’s husband, Jay-Cee, and son, Freeman, accepted the award on her behalf.
The ceremony also featured live performances by Uplift Black Artist Collective, Rogan Mei and Aanchal Nanavati, along with a video poem presentation by Ty the Poetess.
