This Week in Barrie: Week of March 2

Get Renovation‑Ready: Attend a Building Services Open House This Spring

The City is holding a series of open houses for homeowners and contractors planning on building and renovating in Barrie. Attendees can learn how to apply for a permit, what to expect during the plan review process, and how to prepare for building inspections. City staff will be available to answer project-specific questions and many project resources will be available for pickup. Sessions run 6–8 p.m. on: March 5 (Peggy Hill Team Community Centre), April 2 (East Bayfield Community Centre), May 7 (Allandale Recreation Centre), and June 4 (Peggy Hill Team Community Centre). Open houses are free and require no registration.

Share your vision for the future of Barrie’s parks

We want to hear your vision for Barrie’s parks! Your feedback will help support the creation of a new Parks Strategic Plan, which is meant to prepare for growth and changing trends in play, sports, and recreation interests across the city. Take the online survey before March 22 to be eligible for a chance to win a prize and check out the interactive parks mapping tool to add a pin to the map on a park that you would like to provide feedback on.

Learn more at BuildingBarrie.ca/ParksStrategicPlan.

March Break fun at the Five Points Theatre

Join us during March Break for fun at the Five Points Theatre (1 Dunlop Street West). There will be a variety of indoor activities and events for all ages throughout the week including musical movies, video game racing, a Mini Midway, and an interactive animal experience featuring Zoo to You!  

Visit barrie.ca/events or TicketPro.ca for details.

Spring rec programming and summer camp registration

Registration for spring recreation programs is open for residents, and non-residents can register starting Tuesday, March 3! Summer camp registration will open at 8 a.m. on March 24, and March 31 for non-residents.

Visit play.barrie.ca to browse and register for programs.

Summer Company invites young entrepreneurs to launch their own business

Local students aged 15–29 are invited to apply for the 2026 Summer Company program, which helps young entrepreneurs turn their business ideas into reality. Participants receive up to $3,000 in a microgrant, mentorship, and access to valuable training and networking opportunities through support and funding from the Province of Ontario. Eligible applicants must be returning to school in fall 2026, live in Ontario, be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and be ready to commit 280–420 hours to running their business over the summer.  Applications are open until April 30. 

Learn more at investbarrie.ca/SmallBusinessCentre. 

Second property tax installment due April 30

The second installment of the interim 2026 property tax bill is due on April 30. Interim tax bills are issued each January. If your taxes are paid through a mortgage company or a pre-authorized payment plan, you will not receive an interim tax bill. The final bill ​is issued each May and typically arrives in mailboxes by early June. Never miss a due date – enroll in the Pre-Authorized Payment Plan for hassle-free payments.

For details, visit barrie.ca/PropertyTaxes.

Daylight saving time starts March 8: Time to check your smoke and CO alarms!

Get ready to spring ahead this Sunday and set your clocks forward one hour! This is also a great time to check and replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Test alarms monthly and replace them every 10 years to stay protected. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and near sleeping areas. Effective January 1, 2026, changes to the Ontario Fire Code require CO alarms on every storey of your home, and adjacent to each sleeping area.

For more information, visit barrie.ca/fire.

City of Barrie supports the #ITSTARTS campaign

The City is once again proclaiming March as #ITSTARTS month. #ITSTARTS is a public awareness campaign led by the County of Simcoe that is designed to take a step towards addressing racism and discrimination while embracing acceptance, equity, diversity and inclusion.

Visit simcoe.ca/ItStarts and barrie.ca/inclusivity to learn more.

Presented by The City of Barrie