Nominations open for Mayor’s Innovation Awards

Nominations for the 7th annual Mayor’s Innovation Awards are now open. These awards celebrate the year’s most creative solutions from businesses, individuals, and community groups in the City of Barrie.

Nominations are open to Barrie businesses, organizations, groups, and individuals from all sectors, stages, and sizes (with the exception of the Municipal Innovation award). Nominations will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges from across the region and the province. Winners are announced in November.

Nominations are open until June 30, 2025.

Learn more and submit at investbarrie.ca/InnovationAwards.

First property tax instalment of final bill due June 30, 2025

The first instalment of the final 2025 property tax bill is due on June 30, 2025. The final bill ​is issued each May has been mailed to all households. It is calculated using your assessed value and the Council-approved tax rates for the current year, less the interim bill amount.​

Never miss a due date – enroll in the Pre-Authorized Payment Plan for hassle-free payments.

For details, visit barrie.ca/PropertyTaxes.

Planning for a backyard fire? Here’s what you need to know!

The City of Barrie offers two types of permits for outdoor burning – Outdoor Solid Fuel-Burning Appliance (OSFBA) Permits for contained fires in approved appliances, and Open Air Burning Permits for rare, open fires like agricultural burns.

Both permits ensure safe and responsible burning for recreational purposes only.

Permits can be purchased online or in person, and tenants will need written permission from their landlord.

To learn more or apply for a permit, visit barrie.ca/BurnPermits.

Bayfield Street Transportation Improvements – Public Information Centre

The City of Barrie is hosting the third Public Information Centre (PIC) for the Bayfield Street Transportation Improvements project on Thursday, May 29 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the City Hall Rotunda, 70 Collier Street (rear entrance).

Drop in to learn about the preferred design solution, which includes added travel lanes, cycling infrastructure, improved pedestrian and transit facilities, and a raised median.

Project materials will be available online following the event.

To learn more and share your feedback, visit buildingbarrie.ca/BayfieldStudy.

Registration now open for 2025 Communities in Bloom campaign

The City of Barrie is inviting residents to take part in this year’s Communities in Bloom campaign by sharing photos of their gardening and beautification efforts. This year’s theme is edible gardens.

Residents, youth (aged 6 to 12), businesses, and community/school groups can participate in the following ways:

• plant container projects, flowers or vegetable gardens, fruit trees or plants
• create outdoor art projects that beautify our community
• tidy up local landscapes and boulevards

Photos of projects can be submitted via the Communities in Bloom form by June 20, 2025.

To learn more about this initiative, visit barrie.ca/CommunitiesInBloom.

Spring street sweeping continues

This year, staff began street sweeping in the south end of the city to accommodate the ongoing ice storm cleanup. Staff are now working in the Source Water Protection Area zones, as the downed trees and debris in the north are no longer impacting sweeping operations.

Spring street sweeping removes sand and debris left from winter road maintenance, improves water quality by reducing runoff pollutants, and enhances the appearance of city streets and parking lots.

To check your zone or get updates, visit barrie.ca/StreetSweeping.

Licence 2 Ride offers Barrie youth a summer of free transit and recreation access

Youth ages 12-17 can now apply for the City’s Licence 2 Ride (L2R) program, which provides free Barrie Transit rides and access to select recreation programs from July 1 to September 2, 2025.

Applications are open until June 30 and must be submitted in person at one of the following City Recreation Centres:

• Peggy Hill Team Community Centre
• East Bayfield Community Centre
• Allandale Recreation Centre

Learn more and get your application form at barrie.ca/Licence2Ride.

City invites local businesses to complete this year’s Business & Employer Data Survey

City of Barrie staff are now conducting the annual Business & Employer Data Survey through door-to-door visits in Barrie’s commercial and industrial areas. The survey helps update the City’s online business directory and informs economic development and planning efforts. Businesses can also complete the survey online at buildingbarrie.ca/BusinessDataSurvey by September 30.

To learn more about this initiative, visit investbarrie.ca/BEDS.

Presented by The City of Barrie

The post This Week in Barrie: Week of May 19 appeared first on CompassNews.