Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall says the city will take a new approach to dealing with homeless encampments following the recent double homicide of two men.
Speaking to reporters Aug. 15 on a police-guarded section of Victoria Street, near a wooded area where an encampment had been located, Nuttall called the killings “shocking” and said the tragedy will change how the city responds to encampments.
On Aug. 14, the Barrie Police Service announced 52-year-old Robert Ladouceur had been charged in the deaths and dismemberment of 41-year-old David Cheesequay and 45-year-old William Robinson.
“There are no words to describe how unbearable this must be for the folks who were living in this encampment. This is something that has shocked the city,” Nuttall said.
He praised police for keeping the crime scene secure and carrying out their investigation, while emphasizing the city will overhaul its protocols on how encampments are managed.
“I want to commend the police services — they kept this place under wraps. They did their investigation, and I think as a city there’s a lot to take in here,” he said.
“Our approach going forward will follow provincial leadership in ensuring the health crisis is addressed. Public safety will remain our top priority.”
Nuttall added the city will put more focus on connecting people in encampments with support services, including those who were living in the Victoria Street site.
“We are focused on helping folks that are here – I can tell you the new standard in the city is going to be working towards zero encampments,” he said.
“We need to ensure our water is clean, our parks are safe, and that people in these encampments have places to go — a place to seek addiction support, mental health support, economic support and housing.”
The encampment in the wooded area had existed for about four years. Nuttall said while he and Barrie council have been working on the city’s homeless issue, it has been a broader team effort with the County of Simcoe and the Ontario government.
“We took a very direct change in culture and a direct change with this council. We’ve decided that encampments are not the best place for those who are unhoused to be within the city,” he said.
“We’ve been working with the county and the province of Ontario, particularly the provincial level, to get funding for increased shelter space and heart hubs for those struggling with addictions and mental health issues. We’ve seen a lot of positive movement going forward on that.”
In January 2025, Barrie was selected as one of 18 municipalities to open a Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub. A HART Hub provides support for those undergoing homelessness and addiction struggles. The initiative launched in Barrie this summer.
The County of Simcoe and the City of Barrie also reported progress in housing efforts, noting that nine of 12 unhoused individuals who were living in Berczy Park recently secured permanent homes.
Nuttall said Barrie should be a place where people always feel safe, and the city will continue ensuring that is the case.
“We want to ensure that this is a city that is always safe, clean and a good place for families to either grow up in or visit. That’s the mantra and that’s where we are moving towards.”
The police investigation into the double homicide is ongoing, with the encampment area remaining closed off to the public.
