Ontario Premier Doug Ford visited Sunnidale Park on Friday to survey the aftermath of a powerful ice storm that knocked out power to thousands of residents across the city.
Joined by Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall, Deputy Mayor Robert Thomson, city councillors Sergio Morales, Craig Nixon, and Nigussie Nigussie, as well as local MPPs Doug Downey and Andrea Khanjin, the premier toured parts of the park that were heavily damaged.
The storm, which swept through central Ontario in the last weekend of March, toppled trees, snapped power lines, and left thousands in the dark for days.
Ford thanked the many volunteers and municipal crews who have been working to clear debris and restore services.
“I want to thank all the volunteers — everyone who is pitching in — and also thank those coming in from other provinces, like New Brunswick and Quebec,” he said.
Ford said he could feel the “Ontario spirit” as he witnessed residents coming together to support one another.
“Ontario’s stronger than ever,” he said. “We all pitch in for our neighbours. The army came by to deliver meals, and the list goes on — that’s the Ontario spirit.”
Barrie was one of several stops for Premier Doug Ford on Friday as he and his staff spent the day touring areas across Simcoe County impacted by the storm. Nuttall said the premier’s visit to Sunnidale Park demonstrates his commitment to the region.
“You can tell he is a guy who cares and where his heart is,” he said.
Downey said it was important for Ford to witness the extent of the damage firsthand and hear directly from residents.
“He is thankful for the work everyone is doing—people helping people, talking with neighbours, and seeing organizations come to our area to help,” he said.
Karen Valentine, who lives across from Sunnidale Park, brought her daughters out on Friday to see Ford during his visit. She had the opportunity to speak with him briefly and described the visit as a positive experience.
“It just gives some of us inspiration and can lift you up a bit with everything we’ve had to deal with,” she said. “I was happy he walked over to say hello to me and my girls. I can tell he is a wholesome, family kind of guy.”
Barrie will receive support from other municipalities across the province to aid in the ongoing cleanup efforts. However, Nuttall noted that a full recovery will take time, as crews work to address the widespread damage caused by the storm.
“We have six to eight weeks of work ahead of us to get everything cleaned up,” he said. “Crews from all over Ontario are coming to help. We will work alongside our citizens to ensure it’s cleaned up, safe, and ready — so the beauty of Barrie is restored after all this damage.”
