View source for Barrie

{{Short description|City in Ontario, Canada}}
{{Other uses|Barrie (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Barrie
| official_name            = City of Barrie
| settlement_type          = [[List of cities in Ontario|City]] ([[List of municipalities in Ontario#Single-tier municipalities|single-tier]])
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image|total_width=250px|perrow=1/2/2|border=infobox
| image1                   = Barrie skyline 2025.jpg 
| alt1                     = 
| alt2                     = 
| image3                   = Barrie Carnegie Library 2012.JPG
| alt3                     = 
| image4                   = 
| alt4                     = 
| image5                   = Wikispirit.jpg
| alt5                     = 
| image6                   = Barrie Molson Centre.jpg
}}
| image_caption            = From top, left to right: Downtown Barrie seen from across Kempenfelt Bay, [[MacLaren Art Centre]], the ''Spirit Catcher'', [[Sadlon Arena]]
| image_flag               = Flag of Barrie.svg
| image_shield             = Barrie, Ontario Coat of Arms.jpg
| image_blank_emblem       = City of Barrie logo.svg
| blank_emblem_type        = Logo
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = The People are the City
| image_map                = 
| map_caption              = 
| pushpin_map              = Canada Southern Ontario#CAN ON Simcoe
| pushpin_mapsize          = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = 
| coordinates              = {{coord|44|22|16|N|79|40|37|W|region:CA-ON|notes=<ref name=cgndbbar>{{Cite cgndb|FAFFD|Barrie}}</ref>|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name         = Canada
| subdivision_type1        = [[Provinces of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Ontario]]
| established_title        = First settled
| established_date         = End of [[War of 1812]]
| established_title1       = Established
| established_date1        = 1854 (village)
| established_title2       = Established
| established_date2        = 1870 (town)
| established_title3       = Established
| established_date3        = 1959 (city)
| named_for                = [[Robert Barrie|Sir Robert Barrie]]
| parts_type               = [[Ward (country subdivision)|Wards]]
| parts_style              = coll
| parts                    = 10 [[Ward (country subdivision)|wards]]
| p1                       = Ward 1 – Councillor C. Riepma
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = [[Alex Nuttall]]
| leader_title1            = Council
| leader_name1             = [[Barrie City Council]]
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="2021csd">{{cite web |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census Barrie, City [Census subdivision], Ontario |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=barrie&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&DGUIDlist=2021A00053543042 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |date=February 9, 2022 |access-date=April 26, 2025}}</ref><ref name="2021pc">{{cite web |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census Barrie [Population centre], Ontario |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=barrie&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&DGUIDlist=2021S05100043 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |date=February 9, 2022 |access-date=April 26, 2025}}</ref><ref name="2021cma">{{cite web |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census Barrie [Census metropolitan area], Ontario |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=barrie&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&DGUIDlist=2021S0503568 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |date=February 9, 2022 |access-date=April 26, 2025}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 99.01
| area_urban_km2           = 95.33
| area_metro_km2           = 897.26
| elevation_m              = 252
| population_total         = 147829
| population_as_of         = 2021
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="2021csd"/><ref name="2021pc"/><ref name="2021cma"/>
| population_density_km2   = 1493.1
| population_urban         = 154676
| population_density_urban_km2 = 1622.5
| population_metro         = 212856
| population_density_metro_km2 = 237.2
| postal_code_type         = Forward Sortation Area
| postal_code              = [[List of L postal codes of Canada|L4M to L4N, L9J, L9X]]
| area_codes               = [[Area codes 705, 249, and 683|705, 249, and 683]]
| website                  = {{URL|http://barrie.ca}}
| p2                       = Ward 2 – Councillor K. Aylwin
| p3                       = Ward 3 – Councillor A. Kungl
| p4                       = Ward 4 – Councillor B. Ward
| p5                       = Ward 5 – Councillor R. Thomson
| p6                       = Ward 6 – Councillor N. Harris
| p7                       = Ward 7 – Councillor G. Harvey
| p8                       = Ward 8 – Councillor J. Harris
| p9                       = Ward 9 – Councillor S. Morales
| p10                      = Ward 10 – Councillor M. McCann
| leader_title3            = MPPS
| leader_name3             = {{Collapsible list
|title = List of MPPs
|frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
|title_style =
|list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
|1= [[Doug Downey]] ([[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|PC]])
|2= [[Andrea Khanjin]] ([[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|PC]])
}}
| leader_title4            = MPs
| leader_name4             = {{Collapsible list
|title = List of MPs
|frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
|title_style =
|list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
|1= [[John Brassard]] ([[Conservative Party of Canada|C]])
|2= [[Doug Shipley]] ([[Conservative Party of Canada|C]])
}}
| population_demonym       = 
| timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset               = −05:00
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = −04:00
| blank1_name              = [[List of highways in Ontario|Highways]]
| blank1_info              = {{jcon|Hwy|400}}<br />{{jcon|Hwy|26}}<br />{{jcon|Hwy|27}}<br />{{jcon|Hwy|90}}<br />{{jcon|Hwy|11}}
| blank2_name              = [[Geographical Names Board of Canada|GNBC]] Code
| blank2_info              = FAFFD<ref name="GNBC">{{cite web | title = Barrie | publisher = Natural Resources Canada | date = October 6, 2016 | url = http://www4.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/FAFFD}}</ref>
| blank_name_sec2          = [[GDP]] (Barrie {{Abbr|CMA|Census metropolitan area}})
| blank_info_sec2          = [[Canadian dollar|CA$]]9.5 billion (2021)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610046801&cubeTimeFrame.startYear=2021&cubeTimeFrame.endYear=2021&referencePeriods=20210101%2C20210101| date=December 6, 2023 | title=Gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices, by census metropolitan area (CMA) }}</ref>
| blank1_name_sec2         = GDP per capita (Barrie {{Abbr|CMA|Census metropolitan area}})
| blank1_info_sec2         = CA$37,735 (2016)
}}

'''Barrie''' is a city in [[Central Ontario]], Canada, about {{convert|90|km|mi|0}} north of [[Toronto]]. The city is within [[Simcoe County]] and located along the shores of [[Kempenfelt Bay]].  Barrie is a single-tier municipality separated from the surrounding county. 

The city is part of the extended urban area in southern Ontario known as the [[Golden Horseshoe|Greater Golden Horseshoe]]. As of the [[2021 Census of Population|2021 census]], the city's population was 147,829, while the [[Census metropolitan areas|census metropolitan area]] had a population of 212,856 residents. The area was first settled during the [[War of 1812]] as a supply depot for British forces, and Barrie was named after Sir [[Robert Barrie]]. The city has grown significantly in recent decades due to the emergence of the technology industry. 

It is connected to the Greater Golden Horseshoe by [[Ontario Highway 400]] and [[GO Transit]]. Significant sectors of the city's diversified economy include education, healthcare, information technology and manufacturing. Communities to its south, particularly [[Innisfil]], [[New Tecumseth]], and [[Newmarket, Ontario|Newmarket]] have developed rapidly since the turn of the twenty-first century. The city is notable for being one centre of the [[1985 United States–Canada tornado outbreak]].

== History ==

=== Before 1900 ===
At its inception, Barrie was an establishment of houses and warehouses at the foot of the [[Nine Mile Portage]] from [[Kempenfelt Bay]] to [[Fort Willow]], an indigenous transportation route that existed centuries before Europeans arrived in [[Simcoe County]].<ref name=":1">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Barrie |encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]] |date=December 16, 2020 |last=Moreau |first=Nick |publisher=[[Historica Canada]] |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/barrie |access-date=June 5, 2021}}</ref> The portage linked Kempenfelt Bay through Willow Creek, connecting [[Lake Simcoe]] to the [[Nottawasaga River]] which flows into [[Georgian Bay]] off [[Lake Huron]].

Barrie played an integral role in the [[War of 1812]]. During the war, the city became a [[supply depot]] for British forces and, in addition, the Nine Mile Portage was adopted by the British military as a key piece of their supply line which provided a strategic path for communication, personnel and vital supplies and equipment to and from Fort Willow and Georgian Bay/Lake Huron. Today, the Nine Mile Portage is marked by signs along roads in Barrie and in [[Springwater, Ontario|Springwater Township]]. The scenic path from Memorial Square to Fort Willow is accessible to visitors year-round.

In 1815, [[Lake Simcoe–Lake Huron Purchase|Treaty 16]] was signed, which transferred 250,000 acres of land from the [[Chippewa]] people to the colonial government.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=[[CIRNAC]] |date=March 7, 2016 |title=Treaty Texts – Upper Canada Land Surrenders: Lake Simcoe Treaty No. 16 |url=https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1370372152585/1581293792285#ucls15 |access-date=June 5, 2021}}</ref> In 1818, Treaty 18 was signed, which resulted in the surrender of an additional 1,592,000 acres of land.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=[[CIRNAC]] |date=March 7, 2016 |title=Treaty Texts – Upper Canada Land Surrenders: Lake Simcoe-Nottawasaga Treaty No. 18 |url=https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1370372152585/1581293792285#ucls16 |access-date=June 5, 2021}}</ref> The British supply depot would continue to prove useful for portaging Europeans and settlers making their way to northern and western [[Upper Canada]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.muskokaregion.com/news-story/3596892-volunteers-help-preserve-barrie-s-war-of-1812-heritage/ | title=Volunteers help preserve Barrie's War of 1812 heritage | date=September 12, 2004 }}</ref>

The city was named in 1833 after [[Robert Barrie|Sir Robert Barrie]], who was in charge of the naval forces in Canada and frequently commanded forces through the city and along the Nine Mile Portage. Barrie was also the final destination for a branch of the [[Underground Railroad]]. In the mid-19th century, this network of secret routes allowed many American slaves to enter Barrie and the surrounding area. This contributed to the development (and name) of nearby [[Shanty Bay, Ontario|Shanty Bay]]. In 1846, the population of Barrie was roughly 500, mostly from England, Ireland and Scotland. A private school, three churches, a brick courthouse and a limestone jail, (built in 1842), were in operation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Simcoe County Court-House and Gaol |url=http://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques/Plaque_Simcoe25.html |publisher=Ontario's Historical Plaques |access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref> Local businesses included three [[tavern]]s, six stores, three [[Tanning (leather)|tanneries]], a wagon maker, a bakery, a cabinet maker and six shoemakers, as well as a bank.<ref>{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Wm. H. |date=1846 |title=Smith's Canadian Gazetteer - Statistical and General Information Respectin All Parts of The Upper Province, or Canada West|url=https://archive.org/details/smithscanadianga00smit |location=Toronto |publisher=H. & W. ROWSELL |page=[https://archive.org/details/smithscanadianga00smit/page/9 9]}}</ref>

By 1869, Barrie became the county seat of Simcoe County, flourishing with a population of over 3,000 people. With this population increase came the establishment of prominent businesses and landmarks. In 1850, Edward Marks had established the Barrie Hotel (now called the Queen's Hotel), the oldest continuously running hotel in Barrie, James and Joseph Anderton established the Anderton Brewery in 1869, which would go on to be one of Barrie's largest employers for years, and Edmund Lally opened one of the Canadian Bank of Commerce's original branches in Barrie in 1867.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Heritage Barrie Walking Tour Directory|url=https://www.barrie.ca/Culture/Heritage/Documents/Walking-Tours/Downtown-East-Walking-Tour.pdf|website=Barrie.ca|access-date=June 20, 2022|archive-date=October 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007050052/https://www.barrie.ca/Culture/Heritage/Documents/Walking-Tours/Downtown-East-Walking-Tour.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sneath |first=Allen |title=Brewed in Canada: The Untold Story of Canada's 300-Year-Old Brewing Industry |publisher=Dundern Press |year=2001 |pages=350}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=THEN AND NOW: By all accounts, Barrie's banking history dates back to early 1800s |url=https://www.barrietoday.com/then-and-now/then-and-now-by-all-accounts-barries-banking-history-dates-back-to-early-1800s-5291346 |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=BarrieToday.com |date=April 24, 2022 }}</ref> A line of the [[Northern Railway of Canada|Northern Railway]] was opened in 1853, connecting Barrie with Toronto and several other municipalities in Simcoe County and [[District Municipality of Muskoka|Muskoka]]. The [[Hamilton and North-Western Railway]] (H&NW) also ran through Barrie, and the two railways would eventually reorganize into the Northern and North Western Railway in June 1879. [[Allandale Waterfront GO Station|Allandale Station]] was the primary train station serving Barrie at the time. The [[Grand Trunk Railway]] purchased the original Northern Railway in 1888, and the line serving Barrie would become a branch of the [[Canadian National Railway]] (CNR). Throughout the latter half of the 19th century, [[steamship]]s ran from Barrie to the [[District Municipality of Muskoka|Muskoka Territory]], [[Orillia, Ontario|Orillia]] and other communities and stages were taking passengers to [[Penetanguishene]].<ref>''The Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory''. H. McEvoy Editor and Compiler, Toronto : Robertson & Cook, Publishers, 1869</ref>

The period of 1870 to 1890 defined Barrie's downtown development with a series of raging fires that sequentially destroyed multiple landmarks, giving rise to the moniker that Barrie was "among the best burning towns in Canada."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/2069137-huge-fires-defined-barrie-s-downtown-development/|title=Huge fires defined Barrie's downtown development|date=2007-12-07|website=Simcoe.com-CA|access-date=2019-07-31}}</ref> Many local businesses like breweries, tanneries and sawmills depended on fire to operate, endangering the ramshackle assortment of wooden homes and buildings that made up the city centre.

One of the most destructive fires came in mid-1875 when the entire section north of Dunlop Street to Collier Street, bounded by Clapperton and Owen Streets, was reduced to ash, destroying around 20 local businesses.

=== 20th century ===
In the next century, the modern streets and buildings of Barrie began to take form in a massive rebuilding process. Other landmarks to eventually burn down over the years include the Queen's Hotel (1915) and two of Barrie's largest and most prominent companies; the Sevigny Carriage Shop and the Anderton Brewery in 1916.<ref name=":0" />

During the [[World War I|First World War]], residents of Barrie helped to construct [[Canadian Forces Base Borden]] (CFB Borden) as a means of additional support and to serve as a major training centre of [[Canadian Expeditionary Force]] battalions. The base would open on July 11, 1916, and since then has become the largest Canadian Forces Base in Canada, playing an important role through the remainder of the war by training some 350,000 troops for deployment in Europe. During World War II, the [[Royal Canadian Navy]] named a {{sclass2|Flower|corvette}} {{HMCS|Barrie}}.

On September 7, 1977, a private aircraft, owned by Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd, dropped altitude to {{convert|500|ft|m|0}} in dense fog and struck CKVR's {{convert|1,000|ft|m|adj=on|0}} transmitter tower, killing all five people aboard the plane and destroying the tower and antenna. The station's {{convert|225|ft|m|adj=on|0}} auxiliary tower was also destroyed with damage to the main studio building. CKVR returned to the air on September 19 at a reduced power of 40,000 watts until a new {{convert|1,000|ft|m|adj=on|0}} tower was built in 1978.

The 1980s and 1990s was a period of substantial growth for Barrie, with the population tripling in the span of 25 years. In 1981, the city had a population of 38,423; in 2006, Barrie had 128,430 residents living within city limits. The first larger scale developments would begin during this time, including high-density waterfront condos and the new Barrie City Hall which started construction in October 1985.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

On May 31, 1985, Barrie was struck by a [[1985 Barrie tornado|devastating F4 tornado]] that killed eight people. Over 600 homes were damaged or destroyed by the tornado, and of those roughly one-third were rendered uninhabitable. About 155 people were also injured during the storm, and the tornado remains today one of the most destructive and violent in Canadian history. The tornado caused $150 million (1985 [[Canadian dollar|CAD]]), equivalent to $326 million CAD as of 2022.

Between June 12–13, 1987, a sculpture called ''[[Spirit Catcher]]'' by [[Ron Baird]] was moved to Barrie from [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], where it had been exhibited as part of [[Expo '86]]. The sculpture was permanently erected at the foot of Maple Avenue on the shore of Kempenfelt Bay and has since become a major Barrie landmark and tourist attraction. However, with the re-development along the waterfront and Lakeshore Drive, the city is considering moving the Spirit Catcher to a gravel outcropping at the foot of Bayfield Street.

=== 21st century ===
On January 10, 2004, the former [[Molson Brewery|Molson's plant]] was found to be home to an illegal marijuana grow-op housing an estimated 30,000 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $30 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=30000000|start_year=2004}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}); at the time, it was the largest marijuana grow-op bust in Canada's history.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 January 2004 |title=Ontario police seize 30,000 pot plants in former brewery |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ontario-police-seize-30-000-pot-plants-in-former-brewery-1.497610 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251012051615/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ontario-police-seize-30-000-pot-plants-in-former-brewery-1.497610 |archive-date=12 October 2025 |access-date=12 October 2025 |website=CBC News}}</ref> The former owner of the brewery, who claimed to be unaware of the operation occurring, attempted to gain the profits from the selling of the property after the [[Government of Ontario]] forcefully sold it, which was successful. In 2020, the owner attempted to sue the government again, claiming that the costs from the governments investigation into the property and the civil costs were misconduct and should've been paid back to him in full. A lower court ruled in favor of the owner, but the government filed an appeal with the [[Court of Appeal for Ontario]], which is still undecided.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bruineman |first=Marg |date=2020-09-02 |title=Historic marijuana grow-op at old Barrie brewery site back under the spotlight |url=https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/historic-marijuana-grow-op-at-old-barrie-brewery-site-back-under-the-spotlight-2681784 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251012052340/https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/historic-marijuana-grow-op-at-old-barrie-brewery-site-back-under-the-spotlight-2681784 |archive-date=12 October 2025 |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=BarrieToday.com |language=en}}</ref>

Barrie's [[Park Place (Ontario)|Park Place]] (formerly Molson Park) was chosen to host [[live8|Live 8]] Canada on July 2, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1119352066774_150 |title=Barrie, Ont. to host Canadian edition of Live 8 |access-date=September 14, 2006 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051226043121/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1119352066774_150 |archive-date=December 26, 2005 }}</ref> The overall success of the concert helped support a plan to convert the former [[Molson Park]] lands into a commercial district. Construction of Park Place began in 2008 but was temporarily interrupted by the [[Great Recession]] and an [[Ontario Municipal Board]] (OMB) appeal that proposed a rezoning of the Park Place lands that was initially denied by the City of Barrie. Construction resumed in 2010.

[[File:July 15th Tornado Barrie1.jpg|thumb|July 15, 2021, tornado damage]]

An explosion in the Royal Thai restaurant, housed in the landmark Wellington Hotel at the "Five Points" intersection in downtown Barrie, occurred at 11:20pm on December 6, 2007. The fire quickly spread to several neighbouring buildings and firefighters battled the blaze well into the following morning, requiring assistance from other Simcoe County fire services. Officials estimated the damages to be in the millions. The 100-year-old Wellington Hotel building collapsed later in the morning.<ref name="canada.com">{{cite web   |url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=4f3ddae9-5044-4f4d-a4fb-7adee1d63299&k=71332 |title=Massive blaze destroys six buildings in Barrie |date=December 7, 2007 |access-date=December 7, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071209023032/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=4f3ddae9-5044-4f4d-a4fb-7adee1d63299&k=71332| archive-date= December 9, 2007 |url-status = live |last1=Service |first1=Canwest News }}</ref><ref name="ctv.ca">{{cite web |title=Fire destroys historic buildings in Barrie, Ont. |url=http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20071207/barrie_fire_071207/20071207?hub=TorontoHome |date=December 7, 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071210055740/http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20071207/barrie_fire_071207/20071207?hub=TorontoHome| archive-date= December 10, 2007 |url-status = dead}}</ref> On February 17, 2008, two people were charged in connection with the fire after the Ontario Fire Marshal's office concluded the explosion and subsequent fire were the result of arson.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pair charged in Barrie fire had ties to destroyed restaurant |url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/02/18/pf-4856783.html|publisher=Canoe.ca CNEWS|access-date=February 4, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709132558/http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/02/18/pf-4856783.html|archive-date=July 9, 2012|url-status = usurped}}</ref>

In 2013, Barrie was [[Sister city|twinned]] with the English town of [[Harrogate]] as a result of Sir Robert Barrie's close connection to it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Partnership Between City of Barrie, Canada and the Harrogate District |url=http://www.harrogate.gov.uk/pages/International-partnership-between-City-of-Barrie,-Canada-and-the-Harrogate-district.aspx |publisher=Harrogate Borough Council |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140802062642/http://www.harrogate.gov.uk/pages/International-partnership-between-City-of-Barrie,-Canada-and-the-Harrogate-district.aspx|url-status=live| archive-date=August 2, 2014}}</ref>

On July 15, 2021, a tornado struck neighbourhoods in south Barrie, leaving several people injured and causing serious damage to property.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/tornado-warning-environment-canada-1.6104484 |title='Catastrophic' damage in Barrie, Ont., after tornado hits leaving several injured |publisher=[[CBC News]] |date=July 15, 2021}}</ref>  Environment Canada categorized it as an EF2 on the [[Enhanced Fujita scale]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodrigues |first1=Gabby |title=Environment Canada confirms EF-2 tornado with 210 km/h winds touched down in Barrie |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8033046/tornado-ef2-barrie-ontario-storm/ |publisher=[[Global News]] |date=July 16, 2021}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Barrie is located in the central portion of southern Ontario, approximately {{convert|abbr=on|90|km}} north of [[Toronto]] within the Greater [[Golden Horseshoe]] subregion. It is accessible via Highways [[Ontario Highway 26|26]], [[Ontario Highway 400|400]] and [[Ontario Highway 11|11]] and has convenient access to [[Highway 401]], the [[Highway 407|Highway 407 Express Toll Route]] and to neighbouring Toronto. [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]] is less than a one-hour drive from Barrie via Highway 400.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Barrie's historic downtown area is situated in a distinct curved or wrapped valley, surrounding the western edge of Kempenfelt Bay. Terrain is generally flat near the city's centre. Moving up the valley slopes toward the city's north and south ends, the terrain can be rather steep in some areas. The minimum elevation of Barrie is {{convert|175|m|ft|0}} around the shores of Kempenfelt Bay and the maximum elevation is {{convert|427|m|ft|0}} northwest of the [[Lake Simcoe Regional Airport]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en-ca.topographic-map.com/maps/qp2/Barrie/ | title=Barrie topographic map, elevation, relief|website=En-ca.topographic-map.com }}</ref>

Barrie falls into Plant Hardiness Zone 5b. The city does not have any major rivers within its limits but does have numerous creeks and streams, most of which empty into Kempenfelt Bay.

=== Intraurban communities ===
[[File:Barrie Condos and Houses in Winter.jpg|thumb|right|Residential condominiums and houses in Barrie after a snowfall]]
* Allandale
* Ardagh Bluffs
* Craighurst
* Cundles
* Dalston
* Downtown
* Eastview
* Ferndale
* Holly
* Horseshoe Valley
* Letitia Heights
* Little Lake
* Minet's Point
* Painswick
* St. Paul's
* The Grove

=== Expansion ===
Barrie has been designated an Urban Growth Centre by the province of Ontario. As one of the fastest growing cities in Canada, this designation aims to mitigate urban sprawl and concentrate higher-density development in areas specified by the City of Barrie. Its population growth can be attributed to the emergence of the city as a bedroom community for Toronto. In 1991, Barrie had a population of 62,728 and by 2017, Barrie had an estimated population of 147,000. By 2031, the city's population is expected to exceed 200,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barrie.ca/City+Hall/Planning-and-Development/Pages/Growth-Management.aspx|title=Growth Management|website=Barrie.ca|access-date=July 24, 2022}}</ref> To plan for the continued growth of the city, Barrie successfully annexed {{convert|2,293|hectare|km2}} of land from the neighbouring Town of [[Innisfil, Ontario|Innisfil]] to the south and southeast on January 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barrie-Innisfil Boundary Adjustment Act, 2009 |url=http://www.fairgrowth.ca/pdf/Barrie-Innisfil-Adjustment-Act2009.pdf |publisher=the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario |access-date=15 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122070201/http://www.fairgrowth.ca/pdf/Barrie-Innisfil-Adjustment-Act2009.pdf |archive-date=22 November 2010}}</ref> The annexation comprised lands south beyond McKay Road and west of the 10th Sideroad, and as far south as Lockhart Road on the east side of the 10th Sideroad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fairgrowth.ca/images/proposedBoundaryChanges.PNG|format=PNG|title=Photographic image|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214130142/http://www.fairgrowth.ca/images/proposedBoundaryChanges.PNG |access-date=July 24, 2022|archive-date=February 14, 2010 }}</ref> The annexation allows Barrie to meet its future population needs without having to extend into the countryside north, east and west of the city. Intensification and infilling are simultaneously being undertaken in and near the downtown core to foster a more active urban environment within the city.

== Climate ==

Barrie has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Humid continental climate#Koppen Dfb|Köppen climate classification ''Dfb'']]), with warm, humid summers, and cold, snowy winters. 

Winters are cold with frequent snowfall, the January average high temperature being {{convert|-3.2|C|0}}, with a mean temperature of {{convert|-7.8|C|0}}. Barrie is located in a [[snowbelt]], a region that experiences regular lake-effect snow every year. Snow squalls are a common occurrence between November and January when the water temperature is often higher than the cold air passing over [[Lake Huron]] and [[Georgian Bay]]. The city averages {{convert|286|cm|in|0}} of snow annually, the brunt of which coming from lake-effect snow events. [[Alberta clipper]]s and [[Colorado low]]s also generate ample snowfall in the region. Snow cover begins to build by the end of November, accumulating through December, and then lies through the end of February. March sees the spring thaw commence, with the snow cover being essentially gone by the beginning of April. Temperatures commonly drop to {{convert|-20.0|C|0}} and occasionally drop to {{convert|-30.0|C|0}} on the coldest nights of the year.

Summers in Barrie are warm with sometimes short stretches of hot, humid conditions. The average temperature in July is {{convert|20.1|C|0}}.Thunderstorms are very common in the summer months in Barrie due to the city being in a Great Lakes breeze [[convergence zone]]. Also a result, there storms are occasionally severe, bringing with them torrential rain, very strong winds and hail. Tornadoes are generally rare in the city however the deadly [[1985 Barrie tornado|F4]] rated Tornado did strike Barrie. In July 2021, an EF2 Tornado also hit the city.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weather/forecasts/barrie-tornado-did-75-million-dollars-in-insured-damages | title=Powerful EF-2 July 15th tornadoes did $75 million in damages: Report | date=August 18, 2021 }}</ref> Barrie's average frost-free period is from May 26 to September 16, allowing a growing season of 113 days.

Precipitation falls year round but is typically heaviest in the summer months due to thunderstorm activity. The driest months are February through April, receiving around {{convert|60.0|mm|in|0}} of precipitation each month per annum. The wettest months are August and September, seeing upwards of {{convert|90.0|mm|in|0}} of precipitation each month. November is also a wet month, receiving {{convert|88.9|mm|in|0}} of precipitation in the form of both rain and snow. October remains relatively dry in comparison to the months preceding and succeeding it. Despite this however, October has the most precipitation days and rainy days out of every month with 15.6 and 15.5 respectively.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in Barrie was {{convert|-38.9|C|0}} on January 8, 1886.<ref name="January 1866">{{cite web
| publisher = [[Environment Canada]]
| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1866-01-01%7C1958-06-30&mlyRange=1866-01-01%7C1958-12-01&StationID=4406&Prov=ON&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&Month=1&Day=25&txtStationName=barrie&timeframe=2&Year=1866
| title = January 1866
| work = Canadian Climate Data
| date=October 31, 2011 | access-date = March 26, 2016}}</ref> The hottest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|38.9|C|0}} on July 5, 1911.<ref name="July 1911">{{cite web
| publisher = [[Environment Canada]]
| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1866-01-01%7C1958-06-30&mlyRange=1866-01-01%7C1958-12-01&StationID=4406&Prov=ON&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&Month=7&Day=25&txtStationName=barrie&timeframe=2&Year=1911
| title = July 1911
| work = Canadian Climate Data
| date=October 31, 2011 | access-date = March 26, 2016}}</ref>

{{Weather box
| metric first = yes
| single line  = yes
| location = Barrie Water Pollution Control Centre (1981&ndash;2010 normals, extremes 1866–present){{efn|The extreme temperatures listed are from 1866 to present.<ref name=extremesmetadata>
{{cite web |url= https://api.weather.gc.ca/collections/ltce-stations/items?f=csv&limit=30000&ELEMENT_NAME_E=TEMPERATURE |title= Technical Information and Metadata |work= Daily climate records (LTCE) |publisher= Environment Canada |access-date= October 15, 2024}}</ref>}}
| Jan record high C = 18.3
| Feb record high C = 14.0
| Mar record high C = 25.9
| Apr record high C = 30.5
| May record high C = 35.0
| Jun record high C = 35.6
| Jul record high C = 38.9
| Aug record high C = 37.8
| Sep record high C = 36.7
| Oct record high C = 30.0
| Nov record high C = 24.3
| Dec record high C = 19.5
| year record high C = 38.9
| Jan high C = -2.9
| Feb high C = -1.5
| Mar high C = 3.2
| Apr high C = 11.0
| May high C = 18.1
| Jun high C = 23.6
| Jul high C = 26.3
| Aug high C = 25.1
| Sep high C = 20.7
| Oct high C = 13.5
| Nov high C = 6.5
| Dec high C = 0.4
| year high C = 12.0
| Jan mean C = -7.7
| Feb mean C = -6.6
| Mar mean C = -2.1
| Apr mean C = 5.6
| May mean C = 12.3
| Jun mean C = 17.9
| Jul mean C = 20.8
| Aug mean C = 19.7
| Sep mean C = 15.3
| Oct mean C = 8.7
| Nov mean C = 2.7
| Dec mean C = -3.5
| year mean C = 6.9
| Jan low C = -12.4
| Feb low C = -11.7
| Mar low C = -7.4
| Apr low C = 0.2
| May low C = 6.5
| Jun low C = 12.3
| Jul low C = 15.3
| Aug low C = 14.3
| Sep low C = 10.0
| Oct low C = 3.9
| Nov low C = -1.0
| Dec low C = -7.3
| year low C = 1.9
| Jan record low C = -38.9
| Feb record low C = -37.2
| Mar record low C = -34.5
| Apr record low C = -19.4
| May record low C = -7.2
| Jun record low C = -2.2
| Jul record low C =  2.2
| Aug record low C =  0.0
| Sep record low C = -3.9
| Oct record low C = -9.4
| Nov record low C = -24.2
| Dec record low C = -36.7
| year record low C = -38.9
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 82.5
| Feb precipitation mm = 61.8
| Mar precipitation mm = 58.1
| Apr precipitation mm = 62.2
| May precipitation mm = 82.4
| Jun precipitation mm = 84.8
| Jul precipitation mm = 77.2
| Aug precipitation mm = 89.9
| Sep precipitation mm = 94.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 77.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 88.9
| Dec precipitation mm = 73.6
| year precipitation mm = 932.9
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 16.6
| Feb rain mm = 16.0
| Mar rain mm = 29.2
| Apr rain mm = 56.6
| May rain mm = 82.3
| Jun rain mm = 84.8
| Jul rain mm = 77.2
| Aug rain mm = 89.9
| Sep rain mm = 94.0
| Oct rain mm = 75.2
| Nov rain mm = 66.0
| Dec rain mm = 22.2
| year rain mm = 709.9
| snow colour = green
| Jan snow cm = 65.9
| Feb snow cm = 45.9
| Mar snow cm = 29.0
| Apr snow cm = 5.7
| May snow cm = 0.1
| Jun snow cm = 0.0
| Jul snow cm = 0.0
| Aug snow cm = 0.0
| Sep snow cm = 0.0
| Oct snow cm = 2.3
| Nov snow cm = 22.8
| Dec snow cm = 51.4
| year snow cm = 223.0
| unit precipitation days =  0.2 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 14.9
| Feb precipitation days = 12.3
| Mar precipitation days = 11.6
| Apr precipitation days = 12.2
| May precipitation days = 12.9
| Jun precipitation days = 11.4
| Jul precipitation days = 11.1
| Aug precipitation days = 11.8
| Sep precipitation days = 13.3
| Oct precipitation days = 15.6
| Nov precipitation days = 15.4
| Dec precipitation days = 13.8
| year precipitation days = 156.1
| unit rain days = 0.2 mm
| Jan rain days = 2.8
| Feb rain days = 3.0
| Mar rain days = 5.4
| Apr rain days = 11.3
| May rain days = 12.9
| Jun rain days = 11.4
| Jul rain days = 11.1
| Aug rain days = 11.8
| Sep rain days = 13.3
| Oct rain days = 15.5
| Nov rain days = 11.3
| Dec rain days = 4.6
| year rain days = 114.4
| unit snow days = 0.2 cm
| Jan snow days = 12.4
| Feb snow days = 10.0
| Mar snow days = 6.8
| Apr snow days = 1.5
| May snow days = 0.04
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.54
| Nov snow days = 4.5
| Dec snow days = 9.6
| year snow days = 45.5
| source 1= [[Environment and Climate Change Canada]]<ref name="EnviroCanBWPCC">
{{cite web 
| url = https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=ON&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=4408&dispBack=0 |title=Barrie WPCC Ontario |work=Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 Station Data 
| date = October 31, 2011 
| publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada
| access-date=April 6, 2025}}</ref><ref name=extremes>
{{cite web
| url = https://dd.weather.gc.ca/climate/ltce/daily/temperature/ON/climate_LTCE_Temperature-Records_ON_VSON151.csv
| title = Long Term Climate Extremes for Barrie Area (Virtual Station ID: VSON151)
| work = Daily climate records (LTCE)
| publisher = Environment Canada
| access-date =  April 6, 2025}}</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations
|title       = Historical populations
|type        = Canada
|align       = right
|width       = 
|state       = 
|shading     = 
|percentages = 
|footnote    = Note: 2011 census population<br />corrected by Statistics Canada<ref name=2011censuscorrection>{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/news-nouvelles/corr/cgen004-eng.cfm | title=Corrections and updates | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=August 13, 2013 | access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref>
|1841|500
|1871|3398
|1881|4854
|1891|5550
|1901|5949
|1911|6420
|1921|6936
|1931|7776
|1941|9559
|1951|12514
|1961|21169
|1971|27676
|1981|38423
|1991|62728
|[[Canada 1996 Census|1996]]|79191
|[[Canada 2001 Census|2001]]|103710
|[[Canada 2006 Census|2006]]|128430
|[[Canada 2011 Census|2011]]|136063
|[[Canada 2016 Census|2016]]|141434
|[[Canada 2021 Census|2021]]|147829
}}

In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], Barrie had a population of {{val|147829|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|55316|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|57276|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:147829-141434}}|141434|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|141434|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|99.01|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|147829|99.01|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=2021census>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000203&geocode=A000235 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=February 9, 2022 | access-date=March 27, 2022}}</ref>

At the [[census metropolitan area]] (CMA) level in the 2021 census, the Barrie CMA had a population of {{val|212856|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|78540|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|82649|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:212856-197059}}|197059|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|197059|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|897.26|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|212856|897.26|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=2021censusCMA>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000501 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=February 9, 2022 | access-date=March 28, 2022}}</ref>

{{Canada census
 |location = Barrie
 |2021_population=147,829 | 2021_pop_delta=+4.5  | 2021_land_area=99.01 | 2021_pop_density=1493.1
 |2021_median_age=39.2 | 2021_median_age_m=37.6 | 2021_median_age_f=40.8
 |2021_total_pvt_dwell=57,276 |2021_occ_pvt_dwell=55,316 |2021_mean_hh_income=93,000 
 |2021_geocode=2021A00053543042 | 2021_access_date=2023-10-19
|2016_population=141,434
|2016_pop_delta=3.9
|2016_land_area=99.04
|2016_pop_density=1,428.0
|2016_pop_rank=34th
|2016_median_age=38.5
|2016_median_age_m=36.9
|2016_median_age_f=40.0
|2016_total_pvt_dwell=54,227
|2016_total_pvt_dwell_usual=52,476
|2016_mean_hh_income=113,575
|2016_access_date=May 5, 2018
|2011_population=136,063
|2011_pop_delta=5.9
|2011_land_area=77.39
|2011_pop_density=1,758.1
|2011_pop_rank=34th
|2011_median_age=37.2
|2011_median_age_m=36.0
|2011_median_age_f=38.3
|2011_total_pvt_dwell=50,075
|2011_total_pvt_dwell_usual=52,329
|2011_mean_hh_income=80,928
|2011_access_date=September 18, 2013}}

=== Ethnicity ===
As of the 2021 census<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Census Profile-Barrie, City |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=barrie&DGUIDlist=2021A00053543042&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |website=Statistics Canada| date=February 9, 2022 }}</ref> Barrie was approximately 77.9% white, 17.1% [[visible minorities]] and 5.0% [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]]. The largest visible minority groups in the city were South Asian (4.4%), Black (3.9%), Latin American (2%), Chinese (1.6%) and Filipino (1.4%). 
{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable"
|+ [[Panethnicity|Panethnic]] groups in the City of Barrie (2001−2021)
! rowspan="2" |[[Panethnicity|Panethnic]]<br>group
! colspan="2" |2021<ref name="2021censusB">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-10-26 |title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Barrie&DGUIDlist=2021A00053543042&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2016<ref name="2016census">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2021-10-27 |title= Census Profile, 2016 Census |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3543042&Geo2=CD&Code2=3543&SearchText=Barrie&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref name="2011census">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2015-11-27 |title= NHS Profile |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3543042&Data=Count&SearchText=Barrie&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2006<ref name="2006census">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-08-20 |title= 2006 Community Profiles |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3543042&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Barrie&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001<ref name="2001census">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-07-02 |title= 2001 Community Profiles |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3543042&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Barrie&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
| [[European Canadians|European]]{{efn|Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.|name="euro"}}
| 115,215
| {{Percentage | 115215 | 145385 | 2 }}
| 119,535
| {{Percentage | 119535 | 139060 | 2 }}
| 119,705
| {{Percentage | 119705 | 133240 | 2 }}
| 115,650
| {{Percentage | 115650 | 126830 | 2 }}
| 95,865
| {{Percentage | 95865 | 102345 | 2 }}
|-
| [[South Asian Canadians|South Asian]]
| 6,435
| {{Percentage | 6435 | 145385 | 2 }}
| 3,035
| {{Percentage | 3035 | 139060 | 2 }}
| 1,760
| {{Percentage | 1760 | 133240 | 2 }}
| 1,590
| {{Percentage | 1590 | 126830 | 2 }}
| 990
| {{Percentage | 990 | 102345 | 2 }}
|-
| [[African-Canadian|African]]
| 5,670
| {{Percentage | 5670 | 145385 | 2 }}
| 3,695
| {{Percentage | 3695 | 139060 | 2 }}
| 2,525
| {{Percentage | 2525 | 133240 | 2 }}
| 1,880
| {{Percentage | 1880 | 126830 | 2 }}
| 1,185
| {{Percentage | 1185 | 102345 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]]
| 5,320
| {{Percentage | 5320 | 145385 | 2 }}
| 5,255
| {{Percentage | 5255 | 139060 | 2 }}
| 3,440
| {{Percentage | 3440 | 133240 | 2 }}
| 2,660
| {{Percentage | 2660 | 126830 | 2 }}
| 1,520
| {{Percentage | 1520 | 102345 | 2 }}
|-
| [[East Asian Canadians|East Asian]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.|name="EastAsian"}}
| 3,255
| {{Percentage | 3255 | 145385 | 2 }}
| 2,450
| {{Percentage | 2450 | 139060 | 2 }}
| 1,790
| {{Percentage | 1790 | 133240 | 2 }}
| 1,600
| {{Percentage | 1600 | 126830 | 2 }}
| 1,195
| {{Percentage | 1195 | 102345 | 2 }}
|-
| Southeast Asian{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.|name="SoutheastAsian"}}
| 3,035
| {{Percentage | 3035 | 145385 | 2 }}
| 1,885
| {{Percentage | 1885 | 139060 | 2 }}
| 1,455
| {{Percentage | 1455 | 133240 | 2 }}
| 1,275
| {{Percentage | 1275 | 126830 | 2 }}
| 555
| {{Percentage | 555 | 102345 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Latin American Canadians|Latin American]]
| 2,910
| {{Percentage | 2910 | 145385 | 2 }}
| 1,465
| {{Percentage | 1465 | 139060 | 2 }}
| 1,105
| {{Percentage | 1105 | 133240 | 2 }}
| 1,020
| {{Percentage | 1020 | 126830 | 2 }}
| 540
| {{Percentage | 540 | 102345 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Middle Eastern Canadians|Middle Eastern]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.|name="MiddleEastern"}}
| 1,875
| {{Percentage | 1875 | 145385 | 2 }}
| 720
| {{Percentage | 720 | 139060 | 2 }}
| 450
| {{Percentage | 450 | 133240 | 2 }}
| 555
| {{Percentage | 555 | 126830 | 2 }}
| 320
| {{Percentage | 320 | 102345 | 2 }}
|-
| Other{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, {{abbr|n.i.e.|not included elsewhere}}" and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.|name="Other"}}
| 1,660
| {{Percentage | 1660 | 145385 | 2 }}
| 1,020
| {{Percentage | 1020 | 139060 | 2 }}
| 1,015
| {{Percentage | 1015 | 133240 | 2 }}
| 585
| {{Percentage | 585 | 126830 | 2 }}
| 180
| {{Percentage | 180 | 102345 | 2 }}
|-
! Total responses
! 145,385
! {{Percentage | 145385 | 147829 | 2 }}
! 139,060
! {{Percentage | 139060 | 141434 | 2 }}
! 133,240
! {{Percentage | 133240 | 135711 | 2 }}
! 126,830
! {{Percentage | 126830 | 128430 | 2 }}
! 102,345
! {{Percentage | 102345 | 103710 | 2 }}
|-
! Total population
! 147,829
! {{Percentage | 147829 | 147829 | 2 }}
! 141,434
! {{Percentage | 141434 | 141434 | 2 }}
! 135,711
! {{Percentage | 135711 | 135711 | 2 }}
! 128,430
! {{Percentage | 128430 | 128430 | 2 }}
! 103,710
! {{Percentage | 103710 | 103710 | 2 }}
|}
*Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.

=== Religion ===
According to the 2021 Census, Barrie was 52.5% Christian, down from 66.3% in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NHS Profile, Barrie, CY, Ontario, 2011 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3543042&Data=Count&SearchText=barrie&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |website=Statistics Canada| date=May 8, 2013 }}</ref> 23.6% of Barrie residents were [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], 15.9% were [[Protestantism|Protestants]], 8.2% were Christians of unspecified denomination, and 1.5% were [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Christian Orthodox]]. Adherents to other denominations of Christianity and Christian-related traditions accounted for 3.4% of the population. 40.8% of Barrie residents were nonreligious/secular, up from 31.0% in 2011. All other religions and spiritual traditions combined make up 6.7% of residents. The largest non-Christian religions in Barrie are [[Islam]] (2.5%), [[Hinduism]] (1.5%), and [[Sikhism]] (0.8%).

== Economy ==
* [[Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre]]
* [[Georgian College]] and the associated University Partnership Centre and Centre for Health and Wellness
* City of Barrie
* [[County of Simcoe]]
* [[Simcoe County District School Board]]
* [[TD Canada Trust]] and [[TD Waterhouse]] Regional Centre
* TD Canada Trust Technology and Operations Centre
* [[Scotiabank]] Regional Centre
* [[Bank of Montreal|BMO]] Data Centre
* [[IBM]] Canada Leadership Data Centre
* [[The Source (retailer)|The Source]] Distribution Centre
* [[Coca-Cola]] Bottling Company
*[[Canadian Mental Health Association|Canadian Mental Health Association – Simcoe]] 
* [[Hydro One]] Ontario Grid Control Centre

Notwithstanding these major employers, Barrie has increasingly been perceived as a [[bedroom community]] for the City of [[Toronto]], which is approximately {{convert|90|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Barrie. In recent decades however Barrie's economy has diversified, and the local population's reliance on commuting to Toronto has decreased. The city's economy is rooted in [[retail]], [[education]], [[healthcare]], services, [[manufacturing]] and [[technology]]. Major employers in the city include the [[Simcoe County District School Board]] with 6,000 employees along with the [[Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board]] with 3,400 employees, [[Georgian College]] with 2,500 employees and the [[Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre|Royal Victoria Hospital]] with 2,465 employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edo.simcoe.ca/Shared%20Documents/About%20Page%20Links/2016%20Top%20100%20Employers.pdf|title=2016 Top 100 Employers : Simcoe County|website=Edo.dimcoe.ca|access-date=July 24, 2022|archive-date=January 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123211913/https://edo.simcoe.ca/Shared%20Documents/About%20Page%20Links/2016%20Top%20100%20Employers.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Barrie has emerged as a growing tech-hub with several companies such as [[IBM]] and [[Bank of Montreal|BMO]] constructing data centres in the city. Although not as prominent as cities like [[Markham, Ontario|Markham]] or [[Waterloo, Ontario|Waterloo]] in the tech industry, Barrie is considered one of the best high-tech centres in the country for small markets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.slice.ca/these-cities-are-candidates-to-become-canadas-next-tech-hub/|title=These Cities are Candidates to Become Canada's Next Tech Hub|first=Doug|last=Murray|website=Slice.ca|access-date=July 24, 2022}}</ref>

=== Tourism ===
Tourism plays an important role in the local economy.{{fact|date=June 2024}} Barrie's historic downtown and [[Dock (maritime)|waterfront]] are at the heart of its tourism industry.{{fact|date=June 2024}} Downtown Barrie has a number of older buildings that have been kept up over the years or given new facades that exemplify their historical importance.{{or-inline|date=June 2024}} Several specialty shops, boutiques, pubs and restaurants are located throughout downtown Barrie, including along Dunlop Street East. Downtown Barrie is becoming well known{{to whom?|date=June 2024}} for its fashion boutiques, local art, live theatre, indie-music and nightlife scenes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Supporting local stores, restaurants, culture and the unexpected in Downtown Barrie|url=https://downtownbarrie.ca/|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Downtown Barrie Business Association (BIA)"}}</ref> In addition, downtown Barrie is home to several annual festivals and events such as The Barrie Waterfront Festival, Barrielicious, Winterfest, Celebrate Barrie, Ecofest, Jazz & Blues Festival, Promenade Days, Ribfest and Craft Beer Show, Caribfest, Lawnchair Luminata, [[Kempenfest]], The New Music Festival, [[Barrie Film Festival]], Santa Claus Parade and the New Year's Countdown.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Festivals & Events|url=https://www.barrie.ca:443/Culture/Festivals/Pages/default.aspx|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Barrie.ca-CA}}</ref>

In the summer months, the city has several beaches including Minet's Point Beach, Johnsons Beach, The Gables, Tyndale Beach, and Centennial Beach.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Beaches|url=https://www.barrie.ca:443/Living/ParksTrails/Waterfront/Pages/Beaches.aspx|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Barrie.ca}}</ref> Boating is also popular in Kempenfelt Bay and Lake Simcoe as it connects to the [[Trent Severn Waterway]].{{fact|date=June 2024}} In 2011, Barrie's waterfront was under redevelopment, with the relocation of several roadways to provide more greenspace and parkland along the lakeshore. There are a number of winter recreation activities and facilities in the surrounding area, including skiing, snow tubing and snowboarding resorts, snowmobile, snowshoe and Nordic skiing trails, and ice fishing.{{fact|date=June 2024}} Recreational activities include skiing at nearby [[Horseshoe Resort]], [[Ski Snow Valley|Snow Valley]], [[Mount St. Louis Moonstone]], [[Blue Mountain (ski resort)|Blue Mountain]] and [[Hardwood Ski and Bike]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lessons & Rentals|url=https://www.tourismbarrie.com/winter-fun-barrie/lessons-rentals|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Tourismbarrie.com}}</ref>{{wide image|Barrie Waterfront Panorama June 4th 2021.jpg|1000px|360° panorama of the Barrie Waterfront}}

== Arts and culture ==
[[File:Barrie Canada Day Fireworks.png|thumb|Fireworks over Kempenfelt Bay during Barrie's [[Canada Day]] celebrations]]
Barrie is home to a number of performing and fine art venues.{{fact|date=June 2024}} There are a number of live performance companies including Theatre by the Bay, Talk Is Free Theatre and the Huronia Symphony. Grove Park Home is the practice hall for On-Stage Performance Group which performs in [[Cookstown, Ontario|Cookstown]]. The Strolling Youth Players and the Kempenfelt Community Players also all perform in Barrie. In addition, an annual live concert series is hosted by Georgian College.

=== Performing arts ===
There are two main [[performing arts]] venues in the city: the Five Points Theatre, and the Georgian Theatre. Originally, the Five Points Theatre was known as The Mady Centre For The Performing Arts, but it was renamed in January 2018. It is located in Barrie's downtown at the Five Points intersection and was completed in 2011. This modern facility is home to many professional and amateur cultural productions, [[film screening]]s, theatrical [[Play (theatre)|plays]], concerts, [[Dance|dance recitals]] and other performances. It is also the main venue for Theatre by the Bay and the Talk Is Free Theatre Companies. The venue features a flexible stage area with lighting and sound for professional theatre, music, dance, and other presentations, an automated riser/seating system with capacity for 120-200 seats and a sprung performance floor.

The Georgian Theatre is a professional performing arts facility located in Barrie's north end on the campus of Georgian College. The theatre features a proscenium stage, sound, lights, fly gallery and seating for 427 on the main level, with three pods that can be used to increase the seating capacity to 690. The Theatre is used both for theatrical and non-theatrical activity, including conferences and seminars.

=== Galleries ===
[[File:Spiritcatcher barrie wide.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Ron Baird's ''The [[Spirit Catcher]]'' (1986), installed along the waterfront in Barrie]]
The prominent [[MacLaren Art Centre]] is located in Barrie. This is an [[Art museum|art gallery]] that inspired the "Art City" project, which has had many different large sculptures installed around the city. These can be found in parks and along the waterfront.

Barrie is also home to many independent galleries and studios. A concentration of independent galleries, studios and boutiques is located in Lakeshore Mews. This area is located behind the downtown's Dunlop Street. Lakeshore Mews artists also organize the annual "Arts ce Soir"; an all-night contemporary art event in celebration of visual, musical, theatrical and literary art.

In addition, a studio tour in the Barrie/Orillia area takes place on the [[Thanksgiving (Canada)|Canadian Thanksgiving]] weekend every year. It is called the Images Studio Tour and has over 25 artists on average. [[Pottery|Potters]], [[Jewellery|jewellers]], [[Painting|painters]], [[Textile arts|textile artists]] and [[fashion design]]ers make up a few of the disciplines of the talents on display.

=== Festivals ===
Barrie is home to [[Kempenfest]]; one of the largest outdoor arts and crafts celebrations in Ontario. This festival occurs annually over the August long weekend and features over 300 artisans, an antique show, food demonstrations, children's activities and live entertainment, including an indie-music stage.

Since 2021, Barrie has held Open Air Dunlop, in which Dunlop Street downtown is temporarily [[pedestrianized]] to attract visitors to the downtown area.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/downtown-belongs-to-all-of-us-open-air-dunlop-returns-in-june-6828791 |title='Downtown belongs to all of us': Open Air Dunlop returns in June |website=BarrieToday.com |first=Nikki |last=Cole |publisher=Village Media |date=April 15, 2023 |access-date=April 15, 2023}}</ref>

=== Groups ===
Some of the main arts and culture groups in the city include:
* Barrie Art Club
* Barrie Concert Band<ref>{{cite web|title=Barrie Concert Band|url=http://www.barrieconcertband.org/|website=Barrieconcertband.org|access-date=September 27, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Barrie Film Festival]]
* Barrie Folk Society<ref>{{cite web|title=Barrie Folk Society|url=http://www.barriefolk.com/|website=Barriefolk.com|access-date=December 29, 2015}}</ref>
* Campus Gallery
* Caribbean Culture Institute
* Huronia Symphony Orchestra<ref>{{cite web|title=Huronia Symphony Orchestra|url=http://huroniasymphony.ca/|website=Huroniasymphony.ca|access-date=September 27, 2015}}</ref>
* Kempenfelt Community Players
* King Edward Choir<ref>{{cite web|title=King Edward Choir|url=http://www.kingedwardchoir.ca/|website=Kingedwardchoir.ca|access-date=September 27, 2015}}</ref>
* Lyrica Chamber Choir
* Simcoe Contemporary Dancers
* Talk Is Free Theatre
* Theatre By The Bay
* Kiwanis

== Attractions ==
[[File:Master Mechanic's Building-Southshore Community Centre-Barrie-Ontario-CHP1331-20230121.jpg|thumb|Southshore Community Centre]]
Barrie has numerous recreational venues and community centres throughout the city:
* Allandale Recreation Centre
* [[Barrie Community Sports Complex]]
* [[Barrie Public Library]]
* Dorian Parker Centre
* East Bayfield Community Centre
* Eastview Arena
* Holly Community Centre
* Lampman Park
* Lampman Lane Community Centre
* Parkview Community Centre
* Southshore Community Centre
* Victoria Village
* YMCA of Barrie
* Shak's World Community Centre<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to Shak's World |url=https://www.shaksworld.org/ |publisher=Shaks World |access-date=October 20, 2022}}</ref>

== Sports ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Club 
!Sport!! League !! Venue !! Established !! Championships
|-
|[[Simcoe County Rovers FC]]
|Soccer
|[[League1 Ontario]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Georgian College|J.C. Massie Field at Georgian College]]
|2022
|1
|-
| [[Georgian College|Georgian Grizzlies]]
|Multi|| [[Ontario Colleges Athletic Association|OCAA]] || 1967||
|-
| [[Barrie Colts]]
| rowspan="2" |Hockey|| [[Ontario Hockey League|OHL]] || [[Sadlon Arena]] || 1995|| 1
|-
| [[Barrie Jr. Sharks|Barrie Sharks]]|| [[Ontario Women's Hockey League|OWHL]]|| [[East Bayfield Community Centre]]|| 2011||0
|-
| [[Barrie Baycats]]
|Baseball|| [[Intercounty Baseball League|IBL]] || [[Barrie Community Sports Complex|Vintage Throne Stadium]] || 2001|| 7
|-
| [[Barrie Rugby]] 
|Rugby|| [[Ontario Rugby Union|ORU]] || [[Jim Hamilton Field]] || 1967|| 0

|}

Barrie is also home to the [[Mariposa School of Skating]], which has trained many world-class figure skaters, including [[Brian Orser]], [[Elvis Stojko]] and [[Jeffrey Buttle]].

== Government ==
=== Municipal ===
{{Main|List of mayors of Barrie, Ontario}}
[[File:Barrie City Hall.jpg|thumb|right|The city hall of Barrie]]
The current mayor of Barrie is [[Alex Nuttall]], who was elected in October 2022, succeeding [[Jeff Lehman (politician)|Jeff Lehman]].

=== Provincial ===
{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:400; font-size:90%; margin-left:1em;"
|+Barrie federal election results<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rep/off/44gedata&document=bypro&lang=e |title=Official Voting Results Raw Data (poll by poll results in Barrie)|date=April 7, 2022 |publisher=Elections Canada |access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Green Party of Canada|Green]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="width: 0.25em; background-color: {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}|
! [[2021 Canadian federal election|2021]]
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|background}} | 32%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"| ''20,883''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|background}} | 43%
| style="text-align:right; background:#6495ED;"| ''28,394''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|background}} | 18%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''12,109''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Green|background}} | 0%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''0''
|-
! [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019]]
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|background}} | 32%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"| ''22,225''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|background}} | 38%
| style="text-align:right; background:#6495ED;"| ''26,508''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|background}} | 17%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''11,875''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Green|background}} | 11%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''7,536''
|-
|}

{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:400; font-size:90%; margin-left:1em;"
|+Barrie provincial election results<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.on.ca/en/resource-centre/elections-results.html |title=Official Voting Results by polling station (poll by poll results in Barrie)|publisher=Election Ontario |access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|PC]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Green Party of Ontario|Green]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="width: 0.25em; background-color: {{Canadian party colour|ON|PC}}|
! [[2022 Ontario general election|2022]]
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|PC|background}} | 43%
| style="text-align:right; background:#9999FF;"| ''19,444''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|NDP|background}} | 14%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''6,524''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background}} | 32%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"|''14,216''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|Green|background}} | 5%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''2,467''
|-
! [[2018 Ontario general election|2018]]
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|PC|background}} | 44%
| style="text-align:right; background:#9999FF;"| ''25,181''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|NDP|background}} | 31%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''17,805''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background}} | 14%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"|''7,986''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|Green|background}} | 10%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''5,914''
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2 style="width: 130px"|Party
! style="width: 170px"| Members of Provincial Parliament
! style="width: 50px"| From
! style="width: 50px"| To
! style="width: 40px"| Riding
|-
{{Canadian party colour|ON|PC|row-name}}
|[[Andrea Khanjin]]
|June 7, 2018
|present
|[[Barrie—Innisfil (provincial electoral district)|Barrie—Innisfil]]
|-
{{Canadian party colour|ON|PC|row-name}}
|[[Doug Downey]]
|June 7, 2018
|present
|[[Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte (provincial electoral district)|Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte]]

|}

=== Federal ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2 style="width: 130px"|Party
! style="width: 170px"| Members of Parliament
! style="width: 50px"| From
! style="width: 50px"| To
! style="width: 40px"| Riding
|-
{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|row-name}}
|[[John Brassard]]
|October 19, 2015
|present
|[[Barrie—Innisfil (federal electoral district)|Barrie—Innisfil]]
{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|row-name}}
|[[Doug Shipley]]
|October 21, 2019
|present
|[[Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte (federal electoral district)|Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte]]

|}

=== Military ===
Barrie has a long military history dating back to at least the Nine Mile Portage of the War of 1812. By the time of the [[Rebellions of 1837–1838|1837 Rebellion]], Simcoe County had a sufficient population to form a [[battalion]] of [[Militia|Sedentary Militia]] of almost 600 strong. This battalion was involved in marching suspected rebels down Yonge Street to Toronto in order to face justice. By 1855, Barrie was home to an [[Company (military unit)|independent company]] of Rifle Company of militia, followed in 1863 by a company of Infantry. These companies served during the [[Fenian Raids]]. With the Militia Act of 1866, the companies in Barrie were respectively organized as Number 1 and Number 5 companies, in the newly formed 35th Battalion of Infantry (Simcoe Foresters), gazetted on September 14, 1866.

In 1885, four companies from the 35th Simcoe Foresters, including those from Barrie, along with four companies from the 12th York Battalion came together to form the York-Simcoe Battalion. This specially raised battalion served in [[Western Canada]] during the [[North-West Rebellion]], under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W.E. O'Brien of [[Shanty Bay]], Ontario. For its efforts, The Simcoe Foresters received its first [[Battle Honour]] "North West Canada 1885". Citizens of Barrie would next volunteer for military service during the [[Boer War]] in [[South Africa]] from 1899 to 1902. It was during this conflict that at the [[Battle of Paardeberg]], the citizens of Barrie and The Simcoe Foresters suffered their first fatal casualty, Private James Halkett Findlay. Private Findlay was killed-in-action on February 18, 1900, while serving with C Company of the 2nd Battalion [[Royal Canadian Regiment]] of Infantry.

In 1914, the [[World War I|First World War]] broke out and many citizens of Barrie were quick to volunteer for service overseas with The Simcoe Foresters. Late the following year, the Regiment was tasked with raising two overseas battalions, the [[157th Battalion (Simcoe Foresters), CEF]] and the [[177th Battalion (Simcoe Foresters), CEF]]. In the spring of 1916, the Barrie and [[Collingwood, Ontario|Collingwood]] companies of the 157th Battalion began clearing the land for the construction of a new military camp on the Simcoe Pines Plain&nbsp;— Camp Borden (now [[CFB Borden]]). This began Barrie's long friendship with the Base, hence the reason CFB Borden was used for ''[[Canada's Worst Driver 2]]'' and ''[[Canada's Worst Driver 5]].''

With a re-organization of the Canadian Militia between the two world wars, The Simcoe Foresters, headquartered in Barrie, were amalgamated in 1936 with the Grey Regiment, headquartered at [[Owen Sound]], Ontario. This event created the present-day regiment of [[The Grey and Simcoe Foresters]], which is headquartered at the Armoury in Queen's Park, downtown Barrie. With the outbreak of the [[World War II|Second World War]] in 1939, citizens of Barrie volunteered for service overseas with The Grey and Simcoe Foresters, the Royal Canadian Navy and the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]]. The City of Barrie sponsored a ship in the Royal Canadian Navy, HMCS ''Barrie'', a Flower-class corvette.

== Transportation ==

=== Airports ===
There are no major airports with scheduled flights near Barrie (the closest being [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], located in [[Mississauga]]). There are a few airports that are used for light aviation aircraft:

* [[Lake Simcoe Regional Airport]]
* [[Barrie/Little Lake Water Aerodrome]]
* [[Springwater (Barrie Airpark) Aerodrome]]

=== Roads ===
Barrie is served by Provincial [[Ontario Highway 400|Highway&nbsp;400]], which acts as the primary route between Barrie and Toronto. Highway&nbsp;400 bisects the city on a roughly north–south basis. [[Ontario Highway 26|Highway&nbsp;26]], also located in the city, is the main route to the Collingwood area and is known as Bayfield Street within the city limits. Barrie was once served by [[Ontario Highway 27|Highway&nbsp;27]], [[Ontario Highway 90|Highway&nbsp;90]], [[Ontario Highway 93|Highway&nbsp;93]], [[Ontario Highway 131|Highway&nbsp;131]] and [[Ontario Highway 11|Highway&nbsp;11]]. However, the province downgraded many highways in 1997 and 1998; these highways are now known as [[Simcoe County Road&nbsp;27]], [[Simcoe County Road&nbsp;90]] (Dunlop Street), and [[Simcoe County Road&nbsp;93]].

The portion of Highway&nbsp;11 through Barrie is known as [[Yonge Street]], though it is actually part of the [[Penetanguishene Road]]. Major arterial roads within the city include Mapleview Drive, Ferndale Drive, 10th Line, Big Bay Point Road, Essa Road, Huronia Road, Bayfield Street, Cundles Road, Anne Street, Dunlop Street, Livingstone Street, Duckworth Street, Wellington Street and St. Vincent Street.

=== Public transit ===
Public transport is provided by [[Barrie Transit]], which operates numerous bus routes within the city. Accessible transit is offered by booking with city run [[Barrie Accessible Community Transportation Service]]. Most regular bus routes operated by Barrie Transit are accessible using low floor vehicles.
Barrie also has GO Trains and Buses.

=== Commuter rail ===
[[GO Transit]] connects the city to the [[Greater Toronto Area]] through daily train service along the [[Barrie line]], with trains operating from the [[Allandale Waterfront GO Station]] and the [[Barrie South GO Station]]. This is primarily a commuter rail service to the GTA, with southbound trips to Toronto's [[Union Station (Toronto)|Union Station]] in the morning rush hour and northbound trips in the evening rush hour. Limited weekend service to and from Toronto is also operated. Barrie was once a [[Northlander#Former stations|stop for the Northlander]] train but re-routing resulted in the termination of service. The former Barrie station serving the Northlander still exists north of the Allandale GO Station.

=== Intercity and commuter buses ===
In addition to train service, [[GO Transit]] offers daily commuter-oriented bus service to the Greater Toronto Area. [[Ontario Northland Motor Coach Services|Ontario Northland]] operates bus routes from various locations to and from Barrie. All inter-urban buses operate from the [[Barrie Allandale Transit Terminal]].

Barrie once had been served by various private interurban bus lines such as [[Penetang-Midland Coach Lines]] and [[Greyhound Canada]], which ran buses between Barrie and Toronto's [[Yorkdale Bus Terminal]]. Greyhound operated QuickLink commuter service from Barrie to Toronto seven days a week. In the past [[Gray Coach]] offered service from Toronto to Barrie; the route was later acquired by Greyhound. Greyhound Canada ended all service in Ontario on May 13, 2021.<ref name="Greyhound">{{cite web| url=https://news.greyhound.ca/| title=Greyhound Canada Closes its Services in Canada| date=May 13, 2021| archive-date=May 13, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513171749/https://news.greyhound.ca/| url-status=live}}</ref>

Barrie is also served by [[Simcoe County LINX]], which provides services between municipalities within Simcoe County, including Orillia, Midland and Penetanguishine.<ref name=routes>{{cite web |url=https://www.simcoe.ca/Transit/Pages/Routes-Schedule.aspx |title=Routes/Schedule – Transit |website=Simcoe.ca |access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref>

=== Passenger rail ===
Historically, Barrie was served by scheduled passenger rail service. Allandale Station was a stop for the [[Grand Trunk Railway]], [[Canadian National Railway]] and [[Via Rail]]. In addition, [[Ontario Northland]]'s [[Northlander]] used the station as a stop, as did [[CN Rail]]/Via Rail (namely [[The Canadian]]). Regular passenger rail service to the station ended in the 1980s and has largely been replaced by regional/commuter rail service.

== Education ==
Barrie has two major English school boards that operate inside the city at a public level. The [[Simcoe County District School Board]] administers a public education in Barrie and Simcoe County, while the [[Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board]] administers to the Catholic population and serves the Simcoe and Muskoka areas. It also has two French school boards, [[Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir]] (formerly Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud), the Catholic board, and [[Conseil scolaire Viamonde]] (CSV, formerly Conseil Scolaire de District du Centre-Sud-Ouest), the secular board. There are also several private schools both for K-8 and K-12.

=== High schools ===
* [[Barrie North Collegiate Institute]]
* [[Bear Creek Secondary School]]
* [[Eastview Secondary School]]
* École secondaire catholique Nouvelle-Alliance
* [[Innisdale Secondary School]]
* Maple Ridge Secondary School
* [[St. Joseph's High School (Barrie)|St. Joseph's High School]]
* St. Joan of Arc High School
* [[St. Peter's Catholic Secondary School]]
* École secondaire Roméo-Dallaire
* [[Unity Christian High School (Barrie)|Unity Christian High School]]

=== Georgian College ===
[[Georgian College]]'s main campus, with over 10,000 full-time students and approximately 25,000 part-time students, is located in Barrie.

== Media ==



=== Online ===
[[Village Media]] operates BarrieToday.com.

=== Print ===
There are both semi-weekly and monthly newspapers serving the City of Barrie. The ''[[Barrie Advance]]'', published by [[Metroland Media Group]], is a free newspaper established in 1983 and delivered weekly (on Thursdays) to every residence in the city as well as residents of Springwater Township and parts of Oro-Medonte. The newspaper contains local news, classifieds, advertisements and flyers. ''Barrie Business'' is a free newsprint publication covering local and regional business news. Published monthly and distributed to every business in the City of Barrie through Canada Post, it seeks to highlight and support Barrie's local business community and events. The ''[[Barrie Examiner]]'', established in 1864, was one of Canada's oldest daily newspapers. It was distributed five days a week (Tuesday to Saturday) to paid subscribers and also delivered to the remainder of the market free on Thursdays. The ''Examiner'' was one of several [[Postmedia Network]] newspapers purchased by [[Torstar]] in a transaction between the two companies in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kopun|first1=Francine|title=Torstar, Postmedia announce community and daily paper deal|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/11/27/torstar-postmedia-announce-community-and-daily-paper-deal.html|access-date=November 27, 2017|work=Toronto Star|date=November 27, 2017}}</ref> Following the acquisition, Torstar subsidiary [[Metroland Media Group]] announced the closure of the paper effective November 27, 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=Postmedia and Torstar swap dozens of community papers, but will shut down most of them|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/postmedia-torstar-1.4420955|access-date=November 27, 2017|work=CBC News|agency=The Canadian Press|date=November 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Metroland Media to publish 4 daily papers purchased from Postmedia|url=https://metroland.com/press-releases/metroland-media-to-publish-4-daily-papers-purchased-from-postmedia/|website=Metroland Media Group|publisher=Torstar Corporation|access-date=November 27, 2017|date=November 27, 2017|quote=The closure of the newspapers, which is effective immediately, will affect 46 full-time and part-time employees|archive-date=November 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128093231/https://metroland.com/press-releases/metroland-media-to-publish-4-daily-papers-purchased-from-postmedia/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Radio ===

Local radio stations serving Barrie and area include:

{|class="wikitable sortable"  width="100%"
!Frequency
!Call sign
!Branding
!Format
!Owner
!Notes
|-
|[[FM Broadcasting|FM]] 93.1 
|[[CHAY-FM|CHAY]] 
|Fresh Radio 
|[[Hot adult contemporary]]/[[Top 40]]
|[[Corus Entertainment]]
|
|-
|[[FM Broadcasting|FM]] 95.7
|[[CFJB-FM|CFJB]]
|Rock 95
|[[active rock]]
|[[Central Ontario Broadcasting]] (Rock 95 Broadcasting (Barrie-Orillia) Ltd.)
|
|-
|[[FM Broadcasting|FM]] 98.5
|CKEY-FM
|
|[[tourist information]]
|Douglas George Edwards
|[https://broadcasting-history.ca/radio/radio-stations/ontario/ontario-central/ckey-fm/ CKEY-FM, Tourist, Barrie] - [[Canadian Communications Foundation]] [https://fccdata.org/?facid=&call=CKEY-FM&ccode=2&latd=&lond=&city=&state=&country=US&zip=&party=&party_type=LICEN&fac_type=ALL CKEY-FM Barrie, ON] - fccdata.org
|-
|[[FM Broadcasting|FM]] 100.3
|[[CJLF-FM|CJLF]]
|Life 100.3 
|[[Christian radio]]
|Trust Communications Ministries, Inc.
| 
|-
|[[FM Broadcasting|FM]] 101.1 
|[[CIQB-FM]]
|Big FM
|[[Classic Hits]]
|[[Corus Entertainment]]
|-
|[[FM Broadcasting|FM]] 106.7
|[[CFRH-FM|CFRH-FM-1]]
|
|[[Community radio]] ([[French language|French]])
|Radio-Huronie(La Clé d'la Baie en Huronie, Association Culturelle Francophone) 
|Rebroadcaster of CFRH-FM [[Penetanguishene, Ontario|Penetanguishene]]
|-
|[[FM Broadcasting|FM]] 107.5
|[[CKMB-FM]]
|Kool FM
|[[Hot adult contemporary]]
|[[Central Ontario Broadcasting]] (Rock 95 Broadcasting (Barrie-Orillia) Ltd.)
|}

Other radio stations from Orillia, Midland, Newmarket, Toronto and the surrounding areas can also be heard in Barrie.

===Television===

[[CKVR-DT]] (currently part of the [[CTV 2]] television system) is the only local television station in Barrie. It produces approximately 1.30 hours of local news on weekdays and 1 hour of local news on weekends.

Television stations and rebroadcasters based in the vicinity of Barrie Region are:
{|class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"
![[Terrestrial television|OTA]] [[virtual channel]] ([[Program and System Information Protocol|PSIP]])
!OTA channel
![[Rogers Cable]]
!Call Sign
!Network
!Notes
|-
|3.1
|9 (ultra high frequency|UHF
|10
|[[CKVR-DT]]
|[[CTV 2]]
|-
|7.1
|7
|3
|[[CIII-DT]]
|[[Global Television Network]]
|-
|&ndash;
|&ndash;
|10
|&ndash;
|[[Rogers TV]]
|[[Community channel (Canada)|Community channel]] for [[Rogers Cable]]
subscribers
|}

== Notable people ==

* [[Brent Burns]] (born 1985), professional ice hockey defenceman for the [[Colorado Avalanche]]
* [[Matthew Di Leo]] (born 1995), racing driver
* [[Mark Dilley]] (born 1969), racing driver
* [[Gary Goodridge]] (born 1966), mixed martial artist
* [[Mitchell Hooper]] (born 1995), strongman and winner of [[2023 World's Strongest Man]]
* [[Rebecca Hornbrook]] (born 1975), atmospheric chemist at the [[National Center for Atmospheric Research]]
* [[Michael Hutchinson (ice hockey)|Michael Hutchinson]] (born 1990), professional ice hockey goaltender
* [[Gordon Meeking]] (born 1890), retired NHL player
* [[Slava Pastuk]] (born 1990), music journalist and author of ''[[Bad Trips]]''
* [[Darrin Shannon]] (born 1969), retired NHL player
* [[Darryl Shannon]] (born 1968), retired NHL player
* [[Veronika Slowikowska]] (born 1995), actress and comedian
* [[Daniel Vandervoort]] (born 1994), CFL wide receiver
* [[Samantha Win]] (born 1991), actress and martial artist

==See also==
* [[Barrie Police Service]]
* [[Barrie Speedway]]
* [[Georgian Mall]]
* [[Sandy Hollow Landfill]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Barrie, Ontario}}
{{Wikivoyage|Barrie}}
{{EB1911 poster|Barrie}}
*{{official website|http://www.barrie.ca}}

{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Barrie
 | North     = [[Springwater, Ontario|Springwater]]
 | Northeast = [[Oro-Medonte]]
 | East      = ''[[Kempenfelt Bay]]'' of ''[[Lake Simcoe]]''
 | Southeast =
 | South     = [[Innisfil, Ontario|Innisfil]]
 | Southwest = [[Essa, Ontario|Essa]]
 | West      = [[Springwater, Ontario|Springwater]]
 | Northwest =
}}
{{Barrie}}
{{Simcoe County}}
{{Subdivisions of Ontario}}
{{Census metropolitan areas by size}}
{{Great Lakes Megalopolis}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Barrie| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Ontario]]
[[Category:Single-tier municipalities in Ontario]]
[[Category:Populated places on Lake Simcoe]]
[[Category:1854 establishments in Canada]]
[[Category:1870 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:1959 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1854]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1870]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1959]]