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 RecreationÂ
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.Â
Drop off these items at the depot for free:Â
- 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
- BatteriesÂ
- Saturdays only: household hazardous waste (like paint or chemicals)Â Â
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.
