barrie Archives - CompassNews

Seniors are a vibrant & interesting part of the community

Gwen Kavanagh — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:33:19 +0000

Submitted by: Gwen Kavanagh, the Barrie Seniors & Accessibility Advisory Committee

The 2021 census tells us that the population in Barrie at that time was 147,829, with those aged 55 and up at 43,205, just short of one-third of the population.

The baby boomer population, born between 1946 and 1964, is now mostly seniors, telling us the city of Barrie is now likely 30 per cent-plus seniors. This column will be devoted to reaching this demographic with news, events and happenings relevant to us.

We fight “ageism” much of the time, which is very frustrating, as many of us are vibrant, interesting members of the community, volunteering multiple hours per week in the community.

Some examples are:

Mature Minds Program: Tailored specifically for older adults and retirees looking to give back.
County of Simcoe Senior Services: Involves older adults in programs such as the Resident Ambassador initiative across locations like Georgian Village and Simcoe Village.
VON Canada: Seeks volunteers for adult day programs and SMART exercise and fall prevention classes in Barrie.
Hospice Simcoe: Provides flexible roles in client care, reception and community outreach.
IOOF Seniors Homes Inc.: Offers placements in fundraising, friendly visits, craft shops and program assistance.
Canadian Red Cross – Simcoe Muskoka: Frequently recruits volunteers for friendly visiting and senior support services.

Secondly, most seniors follow the news and we vote.

READ MORE: Dear Victoria: I think my parent needs more help. Where do I start?

I would encourage all eligible constituents to make the time and effort to vote, as turnout these last few years has been just over 40 per cent. That is a very dismal number, and it suggests we do not value our democracy and the rights we enjoy as Canadians.

I was happy to hear that the City of Barrie plans to allow us to vote by phone and online in the upcoming municipal elections, making it easier for some seniors and anyone with accessibility problems.

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Barrie businesses get $180,000 boost to navigate U.S. tariffs

Stephen J. Donkers — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:43:53 +0000

The Ontario government is investing $180,000 in Barrie to help local businesses navigate U.S. tariffs, expand into international markets and strengthen their resilience.

The funding was announced Aug. 28 at Black Controls Company Inc. in Barrie. Provided through the province’s $40-million Trade-Impacted Communities Program, the $180,000 investment will support a two-year Export Development Initiative led by Invest Barrie.

Businesses will receive export training, market development resources, trade expertise and support navigating tariffs and global trade disruptions.

A Trade Accelerator Program cohort should launch in fall 2026 in partnership with the Toronto Region Board of Trade, City of Orillia and the County of Simcoe. The partners hope this will help businesses improve export readiness, enter new markets and diversify trade relationships.

The initiative aims to reduce reliance on U.S. markets, strengthen local supply chains and improve business competitiveness.

Barrie–Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin said the investment is about ensuring local companies have the resources they need to adapt.

“We are leaving no business behind, and we are creating funds like the one today to ensure that we give every business a leg up,” she said.

“In the face of economic uncertainty, the $40 million TICP initiative is a tactical tool launched by the Government of Ontario last year to protect good-paying jobs and build resiliency, self-reliance in communities across Ontario.”

Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey said the funding will help Barrie-area businesses capitalize on new opportunities.

“We have such opportunity. In these uncertain times, when it comes to export markets, we need to make sure that we’re partnering in the right spaces,” he said.

“This is part of the Team Barrie approach to making sure that we’re protecting and helping our innovators, our risk-takers, the brilliant minds that we have in the area, either trained here or came here.”

Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall said the initiative builds on Invest Barrie’s existing work supporting local employers.

READ MORE: Defence manufacturing could bring thousands of jobs to Barrie, says Nuttall

“The Trade Accelerator Program will provide training, market development resources, and expertise, giving our local business owners access to support to help them grow their companies, explore those new markets, and build long-term success,” he said.

The TICP was announced as part of Ontario’s nearly $30-billion tariff relief and support plan. The province said it has received more than 80 applications from communities since the program launched.

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Mayoral candidates’ visions for homelessness & affordability

Stephen J. Donkers — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:14:46 +0000

With the 2026 Barrie municipal election campaign ramping up, the candidates for mayor are outlining their priorities, with affordability, public safety, growth and homelessness emerging as key issues.

Incumbent Mayor Alex Nuttall is seeking a second term, while Tanya Saari, Kay Sayer and Russell Tighe are also running for the city’s top political office.

Nuttall told Compass News that affordability, public safety and traffic safety are the issues he hears most often while campaigning across Barrie.

“On affordability, people are feeling the pressure,” he said.

“We’ve worked hard to keep costs down at City Hall. We eliminated the 4 per cent rain tax increase and delivered one of the lowest tax increases in the province,” Nuttall said. “We also held City Operations increases at 0 per cent for four years. We kept infrastructure increases to 2 per cent, and I’ve reduced that to 1 per cent going forward.”

Homelessness and addiction are also central to the incumbent’s public safety platform.

Nuttall pointed to the city’s response to encampments, including declaring a state of emergency in September 2025, providing outreach support before removing tents and enforcing trespassing orders.

“We need to keep making sure people have an opportunity to get help while continuing to restore safety and order in our public spaces,” he said.

Nuttall said Barrie needs greater investment in rehabilitation services and changes to the Mental Health Act to allow for what he described as a compassionate form of intervention.

“There’s more work to do – it is not compassionate to leave someone overdosing on the side of the street,” he said.

“It is compassionate to get that person help and support for their addiction and mental and physical health. We also invested with the Province and County in the HART Hub to give people a pathway to treatment and recovery. We need to keep making sure people have an opportunity to get help while continuing to restore safety and order in our public spaces.”

“Moving people from one place to another isn’t the answer”

Saari, managing director of Redwood Communities and a local realtor, is making homelessness a key part of her campaign.

She has previously run for council twice and was the federal Liberal candidate for Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte in the 2021 federal election.

On the city’s ongoing state of emergency related to homelessness and encampments, Saari said she would first determine what it is accomplishing before deciding whether to continue or end it.

“I don’t think tents in our parks are the answer, but moving people from one place to another isn’t the answer either,” she said.

“If we want fewer encampments, we need to give people somewhere else to go. I want us putting more of our energy into long-term solutions that actually move people out of homelessness, particularly supportive housing.”

Saari also addressed whether she would support reconsidering a supervised consumption site in Barrie.

A proposed site at 11 Innisfil St. was cancelled in 2024 after applications had been made to Health Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Health.

“I don’t have a firm yes or no position on supervised consumption at this point,” she said.

“I want to understand the evidence, what’s worked and what hasn’t, and listen to the people working directly in addictions and mental health before taking a position. A lot has changed around supervised consumption sites in Ontario. The province has moved away from that model toward HART Hubs.”

Saari also identified growth and affordability as major challenges facing Barrie.

“I want us to take a hard look at what we’re spending, what we’ve already committed to, and what we can realistically afford over the next four years,” she said.

“The emergency is secrecy”

Sayer, who has been a Barrie resident since May 2026, focused her campaign responses on government transparency, taxation and what she described as provincial responsibility for municipal pressures.

On homelessness, Sayer said the focus should be broader than encampments.

“The emergency isn’t tents. The emergency is secrecy,” she said.

“Since the convoy, government froze accounts paid with our taxes because people disagreed. That must be addressed by (Premier) Ford and all mayors. Keep the emergency only if we use it to force transparency. Cancel the hiding.”

Sayer also called for greater transparency across municipal spending, a stronger focus on community organizations and a more unified approach from Ontario mayors in dealing with the provincial government.

The 2026 Barrie municipal election will take place Oct. 26.

Compass News contacted Tighe for comment but had received no response by publication time.

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Dear Victoria: I think my parent needs more help. Where do I start?

Aaron Lutes — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:43:11 +0000

Submitted by: Aaron Lutes, Director of Development, Victoria Village Inc.

Dear Victoria,

My mom is still living on her own and insists she is doing just fine. Lately, though, I have noticed little things that concern me. Nothing feels like a crisis mind you, but I think she may need some help. Where do I start?

This is exactly the kind of question that has inspired Dear Victoria.

Aging doesn’t come with an instruction manual. Families can suddenly find themselves navigating unfamiliar questions about health, finances, caregiving and independence — and sometimes, our situation leaves us wondering who to ask.

The good news is that you don’t need to solve everything all at once.

Start with a conversation.

Instead of beginning with what your mom can’t do, ask how things are going. Is anything becoming more difficult? What would make her day easier? Most importantly, what does she want?

And we should all become more comfortable asking for and accepting help ourselves. Needing a hand doesn’t necessarily mean giving up independence. Often, the right support helps us maintain it.

Look beyond the obvious physical needs, too. Someone may be managing the house and meals perfectly well but gradually becoming more isolated. Fewer outings, less social interaction or losing connections with friends and the community can be just as important to notice.

Sometimes the answer is practical help. Sometimes, it’s simply more connection.

And when you don’t know what comes next, ask.

That’s what we are going to strive to do with Dear Victoria: take real questions about aging and bring them to the people in Barrie who can help answer them.

Some questions are expected to be serious. Others will be surprisingly ordinary.

All of them are worth asking.

So, Barrie: What would you like to ask Victoria?

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Barrie Fatburger marks first anniversary despite recent break-in

Stephen J. Donkers — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 23:20:37 +0000

A Barrie restaurant owner refused to let a difficult week derail his family’s plans to celebrate one year in business.

Fatburger, in Barrie’s north end, was broken into around 4:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 16, just days before the restaurant’s first anniversary celebration.

Owner Anand Mishra said staff discovered the break-in when they arrived around 9 a.m.

The thieves stole beverages, a cash drawer containing some money and five tablets used to take customer orders.

There was no major property damage and the suspect apparently gained entry by opening the front door lock. The incident was reported to Barrie police.

Mishra said he is grateful no one was harmed.

“Thankfully, nobody was inside the restaurant at the time, so no employees or customers were hurt,” he said.

But the break-in was only part of an especially difficult week for the Mishra family.

Later that same day, Mishra, his wife, Deepika, and their two young children were involved in a car accident. The family was not seriously injured.

Two days later, Mishra said he and his family still wanted to mark Fatburger Barrie’s first anniversary.

“We decided that, despite everything that had happened, we were still going to celebrate,” he said.

For Mishra and his family, the milestone represents far more than a business anniversary. He said the Barrie community has become a valuable part of their lives.

“The Barrie community has been extremely important to us,” he said.

“My family lives here, our children go to school here, we employ local people, and the money and effort we have invested into this restaurant is part of our family’s future,” he said. “Barrie is home now, and we hope Fatburger will continue to be part of this community for many years to come.”

Mishra said the local response over the past week has been touching.

“The support we received following the recent break-in especially showed us how strong the Barrie community can be,” he said.

“Thousands of people shared and interacted with our posts and tried to help. That kind of response means a lot when you are a small business owner.”

Mishra and his family moved to Canada from India in 2019, and first lived in British Columbia before settling in Barrie.

Fatburger Barrie is locally owned and operated and is currently the only Fatburger location in Ontario.

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Barrie celebrates opening of Lakehead University STEM Hub in downtown

Stephen J. Donkers — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 21:21:49 +0000

Barrie has officially entered a new era of post-secondary education.

Lakehead University and the City of Barrie celebrated the opening of the Lakehead University Barrie STEM Hub on Thursday, marking the establishment of the city’s first university campus.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the downtown facility brought together municipal, provincial and federal representatives, Lakehead officials and community leaders. This included Mayor Alex Nuttall, Deputy Mayor Robert Thomson, MPs John Brassard and Doug Shipley, MPPs Doug Downey and Andrea Khanjin, as well as members of Barrie city council.

The STEM Hub operates across two downtown locations at 24 Maple Ave., the former Barrie Transit Terminal, and 5 Ross St. The facilities comprise more than 26,000 square feet of laboratory and classroom space.

Students will receive hands-on education in engineering, mechatronics and computer science at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Lakehead University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Gillian Siddall says this is a huge step for both the university and the school.

“With the opening of the Barrie STEM Hub, we’re establishing the first university campus in Barrie – a history-making moment for the City of Barrie and for Lakehead University,” she said.

“At its heart, the STEM Hub is about creating opportunities for students. It’s about building stronger connections between education and industry and ensuring that talented young people have the opportunity to learn, stay, build careers and contribute to the communities around them.”

The first class of students will begin at the STEM Hub on Sept. 8, with the facility expected to eventually bring upwards of 800 students, researchers and employees into downtown Barrie.

Nuttall said the city has long recognized the importance of giving local students access to post-secondary education without having to leave the community.

“Over the last decade or over a decade ago, Barrie identified the need for university presence in our community in order to give our young people the opportunity to realize their dreams,” he said.

“As one of Ontario’s fastest growing cities, we recognize the importance of providing local access to post-secondary education and creating more opportunities for residents to learn, work and build their futures here at home. Today that vision is becoming a reality.”

Nuttall added that the STEM Hub is not just a new opportunity for students, calling it an investment in Barrie’s future.

“The Lakehead University-Barrie STEM Hub represents far more than a new educational facility,” he said.

“It’s an investment in talent, an investment in innovation and opportunity. It creates a pathway for students to pursue in-demand careers right here in Barrie while helping local employers access that skilled and talented workforce they need to grow and succeed.”

Downey said the project represents an important investment in skills development and the future of the community.

“This is very personal for all of us,” he said.

“This is at the intersection for the province about skills development, about science, technology, engineering and math. It’s about bringing the best of the best right here in the heart of Barrie.”

Thomson said the university presence will give students an opportunity to pursue their education close to home.

“The Barrie STEM Hub will create opportunities for students,” he said. “It builds community.”

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Skateboarding rolls into the Troubadour Festival in downtown Barrie

Stephen J. Donkers — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:22:12 +0000

Skateboards, smiles and a few kickflips brought a little extra energy to downtown Barrie.

The Barrie Skateboard Association (BSA) set up an afternoon of fun and community spirit at the Troubadour Festival on Saturday, giving children and families an opportunity to try skateboarding and learn from local riders.

The volunteer-led association held court during the free downtown festival, teaching kids of all ages the basics of skateboarding.

BSA president Corey Henderson said bringing more young people to the sport is at the heart of the organization’s work.

“Being able to introduce kids to this is rewarding and amazing,” he said.

“We’ve been making great progress in teaching kids all about skateboarding. They really get into it – we see them every week. They get to be active, and this gives them a chance to do something fun.”

The BSA was founded in 2023 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocating for local skateboarders and expanding opportunities for youth. The group also runs free skate programs at Queen’s Park in Barrie, providing equipment, instruction and mentorship for beginners.

READ MORE: Skateboard Association kickflips into giving back to community

BSA vice-president Ian McIntyre said skateboarding provides an accessible way for families to stay active while learning something new.

“Families can come and participate in this sport is such a healthy aspect for us. It’s something everyone can do to be active and learn something new,” he said.

Greater visibility for skateboarding

The association’s presence at Troubadour was also part of the festival’s expanded daytime programming, which included music, arts, entertainment, vendors and family activities throughout downtown.

Henderson said the response to the BSA’s programming has been encouraging.

“The Barrie community has really started to embrace what we’re bringing,” he said. “We are hearing people want more events, and everyone is getting on board for more.”

For McIntyre, bringing skateboarding into community events is another way to give the sport greater visibility in Barrie.

“I think skateboarding has been missing in the Barrie area,” he said.

“We really love the sport, and we wanted to find ways to bring more people into the skateboarding community and give it greater visibility in Barrie.”

The BSA is in talks with City of Barrie officials about developing a year-round indoor skateboarding facility that could also serve as a youth community hub. An official location has not yet been announced.

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Barrie Dragon Boat Festival brings community to the waterfront

Stephen J. Donkers — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:51:45 +0000

Paddles up, Barrie!

The city’s waterfront was buzzing on Saturday as paddlers, volunteers, families and spectators came together for the annual Barrie Dragon Boat Festival at Heritage Park.

The festival, hosted by the Barrie Public Library, brought between 800 and 900 paddlers, 40 teams and 75 volunteers to Kempenfelt Bay.

Barrie Public Library CEO Lauren Jessop said a sense of togetherness is at the heart of the event.

“The library tries to foster community in any way that we can,” she said.

“We are more than just books and things we loan out; it is about bringing people together and creating a stronger sense of community – that’s what this festival really does.”

Jessop added that the event doesn’t just raise funds for the library, but also for other organizations and charities.

“Every team fundraises for their own charity – they bring co-workers, family members and friends together,” she said.

“It’s just a fun day out in our community, raising money not only for the Barrie Public Library, but for other great charities as well.”

The festival began as a fundraiser connected to the library’s plans for future branches and has grown into its signature event and one of Barrie’s most recognizable summer traditions.

Tim Hortons, the festival’s title sponsor, has been part of the community spirit. Johnny Mizzoni, owner of several Barrie Tim Hortons locations, said the waterfront provides an ideal setting for an event of this scale.

“It’s a great community event,” he said.

“It’s so well organized every year, and to have it on the waterfront in this great city – why wouldn’t you have events here as often as you possibly could?”

Mizzoni said he enjoys seeing residents flock to the waterfront to take in the races and spend time together.

“I love that our community comes down here and enjoys the waterfront and watches some great competitive racing,” he said.

The festival’s community focus extends beyond the races. Throughout the day, families took part in activities, including children’s face painting, while community vendors and sponsors also helped bring the event to life.

For Coun. Craig Nixon, the festival is one of many important occasions that make Barrie summers special.

“This is another great example of the events that happen in Barrie every summer,” he said.

“This has always been a great event. I’ve been coming to the festival for years now – the crowds and participants grow every year. It’s wonderful to see so many people come out for the festival.”

The 2027 Barrie Dragon Boat Festival is currently being planned.

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New paramedic post coming to north Barrie

Stephen J. Donkers — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:30:15 +0000

A new paramedic post is coming to north Barrie.

Pending City of Barrie approval, construction on the post is expected to begin in spring 2027 at 240-246 Cundles Rd. E., at the corner of Livingstone Street East.

County of Simcoe officials say the new Barrie Central West Paramedic Post will help improve emergency response times and expand paramedic services in the growing community.

Once complete, the Cundles Road East post will provide an additional base for paramedic crews serving north Barrie and surrounding areas.

The project is part of the county’s long-term plan for its Paramedic Services facilities. It follows the introduction of a “hub-and-post” model designed to position paramedics closer to areas with high call volumes and population growth.

Under the model, the Barrie Simcoe Emergency Services Campus on Fairview Road serves as a central hub, while smaller paramedic posts are strategically located throughout the community.

Officials selected the Cundles Road East site following a review of emergency call volumes, travel patterns and service coverage needs.

The new post should improve response times by positioning paramedics closer to where emergency calls occur and reducing travel distances between those calls.

The smaller post model also requires less land and a smaller building footprint than a traditional paramedic station, in hopes of creating efficiencies in construction and ongoing operations.

County officials say the project reflects the need to adapt emergency services infrastructure as Barrie and surrounding communities continue to grow.

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Barn Burner charity hockey game nets record $702K

Stephen J. Donkers — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:53:29 +0000

The annual Barn Burner charity hockey game in Barrie scored a record $702,000 for local charities Thursday night.

Hockey fans gathered at Sadlon Arena on Aug. 6 for an evening of entertainment and fundraising featuring NHL players, PWHL players, hockey alumni and community guests.

The 2026 total surpasses the more than $605,000 raised by the 2025 Barn Burner.

Proceeds from this year’s event will support several local organizations and community initiatives like the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre Foundation, the John Tavares Foundation, PIE Education, local Rotary clubs and the Easter Seals.

Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall, who hosted the event, thanked all the people who worked to make the fundraiser a success.

“Every sponsor, player, volunteer and fan played a part in making this our most successful Barn Burner yet,” he said.

“Thank you for believing in this event and, most importantly, in the local charities and families who will benefit from it.”

The 2026 lineup included Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, NHL players Aaron Ekblad, Bo Horvat and Andrew Mangiapane. NHL alumnus Sam Gagner, Barrie Colts alumnus Kashawn Aitcheson and PWHL star Jessie Eldridge were there too. The game also featured professional and community players like Erik Gudbranson and Brady Leavold.

Gudbranson, who played for Team Denim, told Compass News that helping the community was an important reason for taking part.

“It’s about the charity and giving back where I can, especially to an organization that has done so much for me,” he said.

Leavold, who played for Team Plaid, said hockey has always been important in his life.

“Hockey is an incredible game and it does so much good – I know it’s been such a positive impact in my life,” he said.

The Barn Burner has become one of the region’s largest charitable sporting events, combining professional hockey with live music, entertainment and community fundraising.

Since its inception, the event has raised more than $4 million for local causes.

Plans are already underway for next year’s edition.

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