Barrie Archives - CompassNews

Barrie pushes future job growth as unemployment rate rises

Stephen J. Donkers — Wed, 27 May 2026 22:34:15 +0000

Unemployment may be high now, but city leaders are hoping future job growth will bring that number down.

Barrie was tied for the highest unemployment rate among major Canadian cities in April, according to new labour force data released by Statistics Canada.

The city’s unemployment rate climbed to 9.2 per cent in April, up from 8.5 per cent in March. Barrie recorded an estimated 13,200 unemployed residents, while overall employment dipped slightly.

Across Canada, the unemployment rate rose to 6.9 per cent in April, as more people searched for work.

Despite the latest numbers, Mayor Alex Nuttall expressed optimism, saying the city is positioning itself for long-term employment growth through new industrial and employment lands.

“We’ve been clear from day one that Barrie needs jobs. For too long, too many residents have been stuck on the highway commuting to work,” he said.

On Jan. 1, 2026, Barrie officially annexed 1,216 hectares from Springwater Township and 457 hectares from Oro-Medonte Township, for a total of 1,673 hectares.

In December 2025, the provincial government passed Bill 76, the Barrie–Oro-Medonte– Springwater Boundary Adjustment Act, 2025.

The city intends for the new lands to help accommodate as many as 8,000 new homes while also unlocking new infrastructure and employment lands.

“Through Bill 76, the city has new employment lands that will be transformational for Barrie’s future, and I want to thank Premier Doug Ford and the provincial government for recognizing the importance of creating jobs in growing communities like ours,” Nuttall said.

Nuttall added that he expects the lands to make the city more attractive to business in the coming years.

“These lands will help attract major employers, industrial investment, and thousands of new jobs to Barrie,” he said.

“Council has pushed hard to ensure we are ready to compete for investment, because when companies are looking to expand, we want them choosing Barrie. This is about creating opportunity – better jobs, shorter commutes and a stronger local economy where residents can live and work right here in the City of Barrie.”

Other Ontario cities posting high unemployment rates included London, Windsor, Oshawa and Toronto.

The post Barrie pushes future job growth as unemployment rate rises appeared first on CompassNews.

More affordable housing planned for Barrie

Stephen J. Donkers — Mon, 25 May 2026 17:25:48 +0000

Another 69 affordable housing units are coming to Barrie.

Mayor Alex Nuttall announced on May 21 that two new apartment rental developments will bring a total of 341 rental units to the city.

A 12-storey apartment building at 53 Coulter St. will mean 188 units, including 38 affordable units. Another development – an eight-storey apartment building at 375 Yonge St. – will add 153 units, including 31 affordable units.

Nuttall, who made the announcement at the Coulter Street site, said improving housing affordability remains a top priority for the city.

“Across our community and across the province, we continue to hear from residents who are struggling to find housing that fits their budget,” he said.

“That’s why we’re increasing supply and improving affordability, and it remains one of the city’s top priorities.”

Nuttall said council will continue working to bring more affordable housing options to Barrie.

“Our focus remains on ensuring we’re building the housing people need in the places where growth is already happening, while maintaining the viability required to actually deliver these projects,” he said.

“At the end of the day, it’s about results. More housing means more affordability and steady progress toward a stronger, more affordable Barrie.”

The projects are part of Barrie’s development charge waiver program, which temporarily reduces fees for developers building affordable housing. The program began earlier this year and applications close this spring.

Sam Di Pasquale of YYZed Project Management, which is overseeing the developments, praised the city’s approach.

“The city has taken a practical, solutions-focused approach that helps keep projects moving instead of getting stalled in process,” he said.

“In today’s environment, that collaboration matters.”

Earlier in May, the city announced another affordable housing project in Barrie’s north end at 52 Lakeside Ter. The 12-storey apartment building will include 185 market-rent units and 46 affordable units.

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This Week in Barrie: Week of May 25

City Of Barrie — Mon, 25 May 2026 14:03:18 +0000

Don’t miss one of the last chances to see the Snowbirds in their Tutor jets at the Barrie Airshow

The Barrie Airshow, presented by Pratt Homes, returns to Kempenfelt Bay on June 13 and 14, offering one of the final opportunities to see the iconic Snowbirds in their Tutor jets! With plans announced to pause Snowbirds performances after the 2026 flying season, this summer’s Barrie Airshow offers a rare opportunity to experience one of Canada’s most iconic aerial teams before they step away for several years. New for 2026, Barrie’s first ever twilight airshow on Saturday evening with a fireworks finale. A free screening of Top Gun: Maverick at Meridian Place will kick off the weekend on Friday night, June 12.

For updates, follow @barrieairshow on social media or visit barrie.ca/Airshow for more information.

Stay active with summer recreation programs

Registration for the City of Barrie’s summer recreation and culture programs opens for residents on June 2 at 8 a.m., followed by non-residents on June 9 at 8 a.m. Customers can currently browse offerings at play.barrie.ca and save them to their “Wish List” to conveniently find desired programs when registration opens. Residents can register online or in person at Allandale Recreation Centre, East Bayfield Community Centre, or Peggy Hill Team Community Centre.

Visit play.barrie.ca for details.

Celebrate summer with a free Kim Mitchell concert July 11

Multi-platinum, JUNO Award-winning Canadian rock icon Kim Mitchell will perform a free concert at Meridian Place on July 11. Residents and visitors are encouraged to make a full day of it downtown, starting with the Downtown Barrie Butter Tart Festival and ending with a free evening concert starting at 7:30 p.m. at Meridian Place.

For more information, visit barrie.ca/events.

Interested in Running for Office? Don’t Miss the Final Info Session on May 28

Nominations for the 2026 Municipal Election are now open. The City is hosting a final information session on May 28, 6 – 8 p.m. for anyone considering running for mayor, councillor, or school board trustee, or registering as a third-party advertiser. The session will be held in Council Chambers at City Hall (70 Collier Street), with the option to attend in person or via Zoom.

To learn more and for full details visit barrie.ca/election.

Licence 2 Ride for Barrie Youth: Your Summer Pass to Free Transit and Recreation

Applications are open for the City’s Licence 2 Ride (L2R) program, which is available for Barrie youth aged 12 to 17. The program includes free unlimited summer rides on Barrie Transit and free, select drop-in access at Peggy Hill Team Community Centre, Allandale Recreation Centre, and East Bayfield Community Centre.

Find out more and apply at barrie.ca/Licence2Ride.

Brightening Barriers returns with new art installations in downtown Barrie

For the sixth year, the City’s Brightening Barriers temporary public art exhibition is back, bringing original works of art to patios in Barrie’s downtown. With patio fencing serving as a canvas, Brightening Barriers offers an opportunity to turn “barriers” into a collective artistic experience. Residents and visitors are invited to explore downtown Barrie and support local businesses while appreciating the variety of artwork displayed. Artworks will be on display until October 2, 2026.

For more information and details on this year’s displays, visit barrie.ca/PublicArt.

Do you have your waterfront digital parking permit?

Resident waterfront digital parking permits have been extended to December 31, 2028. A waterfront parking permit, free for Barrie residents, allows you to park for free at select waterfront locations. Each digital permit is tied to a specific licence plate, so you do not need to bring anything with you or display anything when parking in select areas along Barrie’s beautiful waterfront.

Don’t have a permit yet? Visit barrie.ca/Waterfront Parking.

Reminder: Property tax bill due dates

Final 2026 tax bill installment due dates are June 30 and September 29, 2026. Final tax bills are issued each May. All payments must be received by the City on or before the due date to avoid late payment fees of 1.25% per month. Simplify your payments—join the Pre-Authorized Payment Plan and never worry about missing a due date!

Visit barrie.ca/PropertyTaxes for more information.

Attention local businesses: 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, 2026.

For more information and to view the 2025 summary report, visit investbarrie.ca/BEDS.

Planning for a Home Renovation or Backyard Project?

Come out to the Building Services Open House on June 4 at Peggy Hill Team Community Centre. It’s free and requires no registration. This is your opportunity to learn about building permits and building inspections from City staff and pick up building project resources related to home renovation projects.

Learn more about building in Barrie at barrie.ca/building.

MyRide: Real-time detour info during construction season

With MyRideBarrie.ca, you can look up real-time bus times, trip planning tools, route maps, and see transit notices/news. MyRide helps you plan your trip for an easier transit experience! During Barrie’s road construction season, it’s easy to see detours on the live map – a quick way to check if there are travel interruptions on your route.

Learn more at MyRideBarrie.ca.

Save time with the City’s Recycling Depot!

The Recycling Depot is located at the lower gate area of the City’s landfill site (272 Ferndale Drive North). This facility helps reduce wait times and makes dropping off select materials more efficient.

Drop off these items at the depot for free:

NEW: Yard waste, residential only (maximum 4 bags)
Tires on or off the rim
Organics (items that go in the organics cart)
Blue and grey box recycling
Scrap metal
Textiles
Electronics – anything with a cord or a battery
Broken recycling or organics bins
Light bulbs
Batteries
Saturdays only: household hazardous waste (like paint or chemicals)

The depot is open seasonally Tuesday to Saturday, from 8:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.

Learn more about the Recycling Depot at barrie.ca/Landfill.

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.

The post This Week in Barrie: Week of May 25 appeared first on CompassNews.

Baycats open 2026 season with victory over Puig-led Toronto Maple Leafs

Marco Vigliotti — Thu, 21 May 2026 16:12:38 +0000

A new era of Barrie Baycats baseball has finally started.

The team is playing in the recently renamed Canadian Baseball League, which is now a fully professional circuit.

And that was on full display in the Baycats’ season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who fielded disgraced former MLB All-Star Yasiel Puig.

Puig, who is preparing for sentencing in the U.S. in a high-profile sports gambling case, was held hitless by the Baycats, who walked away with a dominant 6-1 win.

But the Baycats would stumble in Game 2 on the road against London, falling 4-2.

Next up is a home game tonight against Welland.

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City unveils sign at future performing arts and convention centre site

Stephen J. Donkers — Thu, 21 May 2026 15:32:08 +0000

Call it a sign of a major transformation in Barrie’s downtown.

A new sign now stands along Barrie’s waterfront, marking the future home of the city’s planned performing arts and convention centre.

Mayor Alex Nuttall joined several city councillors, Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte MP Doug Shipley, Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey and other dignitaries at 11 Simcoe St. to unveil the sign at the proposed waterfront site.

The project is planned for the current Sea Cadets property beside the Spirit Catcher sculpture and waterfront parking lot. The Sea Cadets are expected to relocate to a new facility next to the General John Hayter Southshore Community Centre, with construction scheduled to begin this summer.

Plans for the approximately 60,000-square-foot facility include a 600-seat main performance hall, a 200-seat rehearsal studio space, backstage areas, a coffee shop, a new restaurant and event facilities. The Spirit Catcher would also be relocated closer to Simcoe Street as part of the redevelopment.

City staff estimate the project will cost upwards of $85 million, although the final price tag will depend on the completed design and any additional space added to the facility.

Nuttall said the project represents a key investment in Barrie’s future.

“This project represents a major investment in the future of our city and reflects council’s commitment to supporting economic growth, tourism, culture and community development,” he said.

“The performing arts and convention centre will become a central destination for arts, entertainment, conventions, community events and cultural programming in the City of Barrie – it’s going to transform our waterfront.”

Downtown Coun. Craig Nixon said the project could help attract investment and visitors to the city’s core.

“Investments like this help encourage further private investment, support tourism, and create opportunities for community events, cultural programming and economic growth,” he said.

“This is about building a downtown that is active, welcoming and positioned for long-term success.”

A waterfront performing arts facility has been discussed in Barrie for decades through various proposals. Downey said the current council deserves credit for advancing the project.

“I do appreciate the collaboration because this council has a way of presenting a purpose, finding a path and actually doing it,” he said.

“For decades, we’ve heard about this project and it was never done.”

The Simcoe Street location was first proposed in 2024. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027, with completion targeted for late 2029.

City staff and council continue to pursue provincial and federal funding to help offset construction costs.

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New Barrie Sea Cadets waterfront facility breaks ground

Stephen J. Donkers — Thu, 21 May 2026 14:49:21 +0000

A long-awaited new waterfront home for Barrie’s Sea Cadets is one step closer to reality.

City officials and community leaders gathered on May 9 for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Barrie Sea Cadets facility and parade grounds next to the General John Hayter Southshore Community Centre at 205 Lakeshore Dr.

Construction on the project is expected to begin this summer.

Among those attending the ceremony were Mayor Alex Nuttall, Deputy Mayor Robert Thomson, councillors Clare Riepma, Craig Nixon and Jim Harris, former mayor Dave Aspden and Diane Chislett, branch president of the Navy League of Canada.

The project includes the new 600 square metre Sea Cadets facility estimated to cost $6.7 million, along with a ceremonial parade ground budgeted at $777,000.

Plans for the facility include training rooms, offices, boat storage space, washrooms and a walking path connecting the site to the waterfront.

The Sea Cadets are currently based at a facility on Simcoe Street near Bayfield Street in downtown Barrie.

Nuttall said discussions about relocating the facility began roughly 20 years ago during his first term on council as a councillor, when Aspden was mayor.

“I was elected in 2006 as a councillor for Ward 10 and, at that point, Mayor Aspden had been elected mayor, and the two of us were placed on a committee to look at moving the facility somewhere better,” he said.

“We didn’t get it done back then, but there was a focus on it for a long time. What today represents is all those years of work from so many people.”

Nuttall said the project represents an investment in youth and community infrastructure.

“This project reflects our commitment to investing in community infrastructure that serves young people, supports volunteers and strengthens Barrie’s connection to both the waterfront and our youth,” he said.

Aspden told Compass News he was pleased to see the project finally moving ahead.

“It’s a good location for this. It’s nice to finally see a new facility coming,” he said.

“By the looks of it, it’s going to be a nice building. It’s exciting.”

Chislett said the groundbreaking marked a milestone after decades of advocacy for a new building.

“This is a historic moment for us – we’ve been waiting for over 30 years,” she said.

The relocation is tied to future plans for a new 45,000-square-foot performing arts centre on the current Sea Cadets property. Construction on the performing arts centre is expected to begin in spring 2027.

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City announces three new neighbourhood parks, improvements to two others

Stephen J. Donkers — Wed, 20 May 2026 21:24:21 +0000

Three new neighbourhood parks have been unveiled.

Mayor Alex Nuttall announced Phoenix Park, Nottingham Park and Gateway Park, along with the revitalization of East Bayfield Park and Eastview Community Park.

The three new parks are in Barrie’s rapidly growing southeast-end subdivisions, while the upgraded parks are situated in the city’s north end.

Nuttall said the projects are aimed at creating welcoming public spaces where residents can gather and stay active.

“Across Barrie, residents want safe, welcoming public spaces where kids can play, neighbours can gather, and families can enjoy the outdoors together,” he said.

“Whether it’s a new basketball court, a playground filled with young people, open green space for recreation, or shaded areas for families to connect, these parks are built for the people of Barrie.”

He added the city is focused not only on expanding park space but also reinvesting in parks already heavily used by families.

Phoenix Park and Nottingham Park will each include playgrounds, green space, shade structures and basketball courts. Gateway Park will feature a playground, shaded seating areas and activity space.

Construction on all three parks was completed in 2025. Revitalization work at East Bayfield Park was also completed in 2025.

Eastview Community Park has been transformed through a $1.1-million redevelopment project featuring upgraded tennis courts, new playground equipment, improved walking paths and a new half basketball court.

The revamped north-end park now also includes four pickleball courts, soccer fields and expanded play areas for children. An additional $25,000 contribution from Coun. Clare Riepma helped fund construction of the new basketball court.

Barrie has more than 100 neighbourhood parks spread throughout the city.

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This Week in Barrie: Week of May 18

City Of Barrie — Tue, 19 May 2026 11:29:30 +0000

Free transit, recreation and fun for Barrie youth with Licence 2 Ride

Find out more and apply at barrie.ca/Licence2Ride.

Have your say on the future of downtown waterfront parks

Pictured: Heritage Park Concept 1 — Revealed Geogology

The City is redeveloping Heritage Park (Phase 1) and Sam Cancilla Park and is inviting the community to share input on the designs.

Residents can review the proposed concepts and take the online survey until Sunday, May 24, 2026 at BuildingBarrie.ca/DowntownWaterfrontParks, for the chance to win a prize.

Thinking About Running for Office? Join an Information Session

Nominations for the 2026 Municipal Election are now open. The City is hosting two sessions for anyone considering running for mayor, councillor, or school board trustee, or registering as a third–party advertiser. Each session covers different topics, so attending both is recommended. The sessions will be held in Council Chambers at City Hall (70 Collier Street), with the option to attend in person or via Zoom.

Session One: May 11, 6 – 8 p.m.

Session Two: May 28, 6 – 8 p.m.

To learn more and for full details visit barrie.ca/election.

Attending the 2026 Barrie Airshow? Interested in aviation and aerospace? Join us at the 2026 Flight Path to Careers in Aviation and Aerospace!

As part of this year’s Airshow excitement, Invest Barrie will be hosting Flight Path to Careers in Aviation on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, from 4 to 7pm at the General John Hayter Southshore Community Centre. Find out what it takes to have a career in aviation and/or aerospace! Make connections with local/regional aviation and/or aerospace companies and organizations. Hear from real life commercial airline pilots as well as a former member of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. The event is open to the public.

For details visit Flight Path to Careers in Aviation & Aerospace.

Reminder: Property tax bill due dates

Visit barrie.ca/PropertyTaxes for more information.

Applications open for Doors Open Barrie 2026 site hosts

The City of Barrie is inviting owners and operators of heritage buildings, cultural sites, and unique spaces to participate in Doors Open Barrie, taking place on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Part of the province-wide Doors Open Ontario program, the event offers free public access to sites of interest for one day only and helps bring communities together through shared heritage experiences. Doors Open Barrie is hosted by the City of Barrie in partnership with the City’s Heritage Committee and the Ontario Heritage Trust.

For more information and to apply, please visit barrie.ca/DoorsOpen before the July 6 deadline.

Reminder – Report potholes!

City of Barrie crews are busy filling hundreds of potholes every day this spring. In 2025, over 12,900 potholes were repaired. To report a pothole, please provide specific location details using one of the following channels:

Visit ServiceBarrie.ca
Call Service Barrie at 705-726-4242
E-mail Service Barrie at ServiceBarrie@barrie.ca
Use the City’s mobile app

Pothole complaints are addressed on a priority and scheduling basis. By reporting potholes, you help ensure that they are repaired in a timely manner. Visit barrie.ca/potholes for more information.

Welcoming the Lakehead University Barrie STEM Hub — Fall 2026

The City is partnering with Lakehead University to bring a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) university hub to downtown Barrie. Set to open fall 2026, the Barrie STEM Hub’s two downtown locations will be only blocks apart at 24 Maple Avenue and 5 Ross Street, delivering programs in engineering and computer science at the under-graduate and graduate level, growing to approximately 800 students over the next several years. Together, these complementary facilities will enable students to learn locally for high-demand careers while supplying industry with skilled, job-ready talent—positioning Barrie as a competitive destination for investment, innovation, and future-focused growth. Bringing a university presence into the downtown will animate the core year-round: supporting local businesses, housing development, and a vibrant urban environment.

Learn more at lakeheadu.ca/barrie.

Explore opportunities at the Construction Job Fair on May 21

Invest Barrie and the Barrie Construction Association are hosting a Construction Job Fair on Thursday, May 21, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Allandale Recreation Centre (190 Bayview Drive). This free event connects job seekers with local employers who are actively hiring. No pre-registration is required—just bring copies of your resume and be ready for possible on-the-spot interviews.

Learn more at investbarrie.ca/ConstructionJobFair.

Save time with the City’s Recycling Depot!

Drop off these items at the depot for free:

NEW: Yard waste, residential only (maximum 4 bags)
Tires on or off the rim
Organics (items that go in the organics cart)
Blue and grey box recycling
Scrap metal
Textiles
Electronics – anything with a cord or a battery
Broken recycling or organics bins
Light bulbs
Batteries
Saturdays only: household hazardous waste (like paint or chemicals)

The depot is open seasonally Tuesday to Saturday, from 8:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m. Learn more about the Recycling Depot at barrie.ca/Landfill.

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.

The post This Week in Barrie: Week of May 18 appeared first on CompassNews.

Colts fall to Kitchener in sweep in OHL finals

Marco Vigliotti — Thu, 14 May 2026 18:16:17 +0000

The Barrie Colts’ season is over.

The team advanced to the OHL championship after downing the top seed in the East Brantford in a thrilling seven-game series.

But facing off against the Western champions Kitchener, Barrie was unable to get traction, losing four games straight to exit the postseason.

With the win, Kitchener advances to the Memorial Cup in Kelowna, where they will face off against the champions of the other major junior hockey leagues in Canada.

Despite the defeat, Barrie had one of the most successful seasons in franchise history, winning the East for the first time since 2012-13.

The post Colts fall to Kitchener in sweep in OHL finals appeared first on CompassNews.

This Week in Barrie: Week of May 11

City Of Barrie — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:24:01 +0000

Licence 2 Ride for Barrie Youth: Your Summer Pass to Transit, Fitness, and Fun!

Find out more and apply at barrie.ca/Licence2Ride.

City of Barrie celebrates FIFA World Cup with Regional Esports Tournament

The Game On! World Cup Esports Tournament will unite top qualifying players aged 14 to 24 from across Simcoe County for a FIFA / EA Sports FC showdown—featuring online play and a live, on-stage final experience. The event is presented in partnership with Bradford West Gwillimbury, Collingwood, Innisfil, Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Penetanguishene and Tiny Township and is hosted virtually by online interactive gaming entertainment company, We Got Game.

For more information and to register by May 22 visit barrie.ca/GameOnWorldCup.

Considering a run for office? Attend an information session

Nominations for the 2026 Municipal Election are now open. The City is hosting two information sessions for anyone thinking about running for mayor, councillor, or school board trustee, or registering as a third-party advertiser. Each session covers different topics, so attending both is encouraged. Sessions will take place in Council Chambers at City Hall (70 Collier Street), with options to attend in person or via Zoom.

Session One: May 11, 6–8 p.m.

Session Two: May 28, 6–8 p.m.

For full details visit barrie.ca/election.

Save time with the City’s Recycling Depot!

The Recycling Depot is located at the lower gate area of the City’s landfill site (272 Ferndale Drive North). This facility helps reduce wait times and make dropping off select materials more efficient.

Drop off these items at the depot for free:

NEW:

Yard waste, residential only (maximum 4 bags)
Tires on or off the rim
Organics (items that go in the organics cart)
Blue and grey box recycling
Scrap metal
Textiles
Electronics – anything with a cord or a battery
Broken recycling or organics bins
Light bulbs
Batteries
Saturdays only: household hazardous waste (like paint or chemicals)

The depot is open seasonally Tuesday to Saturday, from 8:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.

Learn more about the Recycling Depot at barrie.ca/Landfill.

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

Businesses can also complete the survey online at buildingbarrie.ca/BusinessDataSurvey by September 30, 2026. For more information and to view the 2025 summary report, visit investbarrie.ca/BEDS.

Explore opportunities at the Construction Job Fair on May 21

Learn more and view the list of participating employers at investbarrie.ca/ConstructionJobFair.

Share your vision on the future of downtown waterfront parks

Pictured: Heritage Park Concept 1 — Revealed Geogology

The City is redeveloping Heritage Park (Phase 1) and Sam Cancilla Park and is inviting the community to share input on the designs. Residents can review the proposed concepts and take the online survey until Sunday, May 24, 2026 at BuildingBarrie.ca/DowntownWaterfrontParks, for the chance to win a prize. You can also drop in to one of the pop-up engagement events to learn more about the project.

For more information on the project, including details about the pop-up events, visit BuildingBarrie.ca/DowntownWaterfrontParks. (Pictured: Heritage Park Concept 1 — Revealed Geogology).

It’s pothole season and repairs are underway!

Spring is here and City of Barrie crews are busy filling potholes. So far this year, crews have filled over 2,200 potholes and hundreds more are getting filled every day. In 2025, over 12,900 potholes were repaired.

To report a pothole, please provide specific location details using one of the following channels:

Visit ServiceBarrie.ca
Call Service Barrie at 705-726-4242
E-mail Service Barrie at ServiceBarrie@barrie.ca
Use the City’s mobile app

Pothole complaints are addressed on a priority and scheduling basis. By reporting potholes, you help ensure that they are repaired in a timely manner. Visit barrie.ca/potholes for more information.

Temporary traffic calming measures could be coming to your neighbourhood!

Traffic calming uses physical measures designed to reduce speeding and encourage safe driving in neighbourhoods. Each spring and summer, seasonal, temporary traffic calming measures —such as speed cushions, flexible bollards, and planters—are installed, then removed in the fall.

To learn more and see the full list of 2026 locations, visit barrie.ca/SeasonalTrafficCalming.

Call for artists: Cabinets to Canvas traffic cabinet wraps

The City of Barrie and the Barrie Public Art Committee are inviting Ontario-based artists to submit designs for the Cabinets to Canvas program (formerly Artist Designed Traffic Cabinet Wraps). Part of the City’s Graffiti Abatement Program,, the initiative transforms traffic cabinets with vibrant, community-inspired artwork. Submit your proposal by Friday, May 22, 2026. Artists are also invited to a virtual information session on Tuesday, May 12, from 6–7 p.m. (registration required).

Learn more, review eligibility, and apply at barrie.ca/GraffitiAbatementArtwork.

Do you have your waterfront digital parking permit?

Don’t have a permit yet? Visit barrie.ca/Waterfront Parking.

Spring street sweeping is underway!

The annual spring street sweeping program cleans all City streets of sand deposited during winter road maintenance, and other debris. Spring sweeping always starts in the Source Water Protection Areas of the city (zones 1-9).

Visit barrie.ca/StreetSweeping for progress updates to learn where we’re headed next and view the map to determine your zone.

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.

The post This Week in Barrie: Week of May 11 appeared first on CompassNews.