Winter road & sidewalk maintenance
This winter season, Barrie has already received almost 7 feet of snow – that’s a year’s worth of snow, and it’s only January. Thank you for your patience as winter crews continue their work across the city.
The City works to keep roads as clear as possible, with snow plowing across three route types: priority, secondary, and residential. How it works:
- Priority and secondary routes: Busiest roads cleared first and maintained around the
clock when needed, after 5 cm of snowfall. - Residential streets: All neighbourhood streets plowed regularly, less often than major
routes, after 8 cm of snowfall. - Priority sidewalks: Cleared at ~5 cm of snowfall, and maintained to a snow-packed
condition. - Secondary sidewalks: Cleared at ~8 cm of snowfall, and maintained to a snow-packed
condition.
Snow may pile up at the end of driveways (“windrows”). The City does not remove windrows; residents are responsible for clearing them. Some GTA communities provide windrow service, but Barrie gets much more snow. Other Ontario cities with similar snowfall amounts to Barrie do not offer this service. As well, estimates show it would cost more than $12 million every year, plus $8.5 million in new equipment, to offer windrow clearing.
For snow clearing updates, plowing priorities, and winter parking rules, visit barrie.ca/snow.
Provincial recycling changes now in effect 
Residents are reminded that residential recycling is NOT managed by the City of Barrie. Circular Materials is responsible for residential recycling under the provincial Blue Box Regulation, with their own contract with Emterra. Their contract is unrelated to the City of Barrie’s separate contract with Emterra for organics, garbage, and yard waste collection.
As of January 1, Ontario residents can recycle more materials than ever before and recycle the same materials no matter where they live in the province. Materials now accepted include: paper coffee cups, flexible plastic packaging (coffee bags, chip bags, snack wrappers, etc.), paper egg cartons, and paper plates.
For recycling schedules, accepted materials, and tips, visit CircularMaterials.ca/barrie.
Winter curbside collection reminder: Clear a flat spot beside or at the end of your driveway (not on, in or within 2 ft of a snowbank) to place waste items. Place them out of the path for snow removal equipment, and ensure cart lids are closed.
Christmas trees collected weekly in January 
Place Christmas trees curbside by 7 a.m. (4:30 a.m. in the downtown BIA) on your regular curbside collection day. Trees must be free of plastic wrap/bags, decorations, stands, and not placed on top of, or stuck into, snowbanks. Christmas trees will be collected before end of day Friday. Trees that are larger than 6 feet must be cut in half to fit in the collection truck. Residents can also drop off Christmas trees at the landfill for free.
New carbon monoxide alarm requirements now in effect
As of January 1, changes to the Ontario Fire Code require additional carbon monoxide alarms
in houses and multi-unit residences with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces or attached garages. A CO alarm is required on every storey of your home and outside each sleeping area. These updates are being made across the province to improve household safety and prevent incidents caused by carbon monoxide exposure.
Barrie Fire encourages you to install the required alarms as soon as possible. In an owner-occupied residence, this is the homeowner’s responsibility. In a rental, this is the landlord’s responsibility.
For more information, visit barrie.ca/CarbonMonoxideAlarms.
Apply for Barrie’s Arts & Culture Investment Program 
The City of Barrie is accepting applications for its annual Arts and Culture Investment Program, which provides funding to not-for-profit arts and culture organizations. Eligible organizations include those in performing arts (theatre, dance, music), visual arts, arts service, new media, or heritage, who are based in Barrie.
The deadline to apply is Monday, January 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
For funding details and to apply, visit barrie.ca/ACIP.
City summer job opportunities for students 
Explore summer job opportunities with Barrie and make an impact! Every day, City staff make a positive impact in the community by delivering essential services that enhance the lives of residents. If you’re looking to start your summer job search, Team Barrie is where you belong!
There are a number of summer student job opportunities: municipal law enforcement officer; parks, forestry, and horticulture labourers; and summer camp leader positions.
Visit barrie.ca/jobs to browse current opportunities.
Presented by The City of Barrie
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of The City of Barrie and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of iPolitics.
