Barrie Ontario in Simcoe County should be on every tourist visitor’s list as a winter and summer “must see beach ski and historical destination”. Today, Barrie has a truly beautiful beaches along the waterfront on Kempenfelt Bay Lake Simcoe. Barrie is steeped in the early history of Canada’s development. Before the modern Highway 11 and Highway 400 were built Barrie was known as the Ice Capital of Canada and a major military route for the war of 1812, Barrie is now a vibrant city and waterfront festival tourism destination. One of the most significant annual re-creations is the symbolic 9 Mile Portage Trail and Heritage Festival with a walk in the autumn to Fort Willow in Minising, Ontario where the canoe route to Georgian Bay would normally start.

Each of the plaques below represent a slightly different but inspirational understanding of the growth of Barrie Ontario from a portage route on Lake Simcoe, to a lumber centre, a fresh water ice supplier to the world, and a major rail stop-off point when heading across Canada. Now Barrie is a premier resort and tourism destination with year round recreation. Barrie has been credited with the first women's hockey game, inspiring the future hockey teams such as the Barrie Flyers and now the Barrie Colts. See current Barrie travel & tourist news for current tourist activities, events and festivals.

Editor Comment: I may be a little biased as I live here, but Barrie is one of the best. RNT

Canada's Ice Capital

It is hard to imagine Lake Simcoe Ice as being a high demand commodity in the late 1800's. The Lake Simcoe Ice and Fuel company was one of the main suppliers of ice to the city of Toronto...mainly because of the high quality. Electricity eliminated the delivery of fresh ice to the "Ice Boxes". Ice was stored along the shoreline by Mary Street. Now kids play with the ice blocks at the annual Barrie Winterfest.Now kids play with the ice blocks and build forts and ice houses at the annual Barrie Winterfest. The Barrie-Lake Simcoe region was home to many many different locations where Ice was being harvested. See Lake Simcoe Ice Company and a bit of the history of ice as a commodity in Ontario. Barrie's rail conections provided the main point of departure for the ice to southern destinations.

Andrew Frederick Hunter 1863-1940

Location: On the SE corner of Mulcaster Street and Collier Street

Text from the Plaque
This distinguished historian and archaeologist was born in Innisfil Township, graduated from the University of Toronto in 1889 and was editor of the Barrie Examiner 1889-95. His extensive exploration of archaeological sites throughout Huronia stimulated public interest in the history of that area. He supplied much valuable information for Thwaites' 73 volume edition of the "Jesuit Relations". Hunter was Secretary of the Ontario Historical Society 1913-1931 and wrote many scholarly articles. His "History of Simcoe County", published in 1909, was one of Ontario's earliest and best regional histories.

Photographer: Alan L Brown Web Site Click Here

Simcoe County Court-House and Gaol

Location: Up on the hill on Mulcaster Street across from McDonald Street

Text from the Plaque:
In 1837 the Simcoe District was established and authority was given for erecting a district court-house and gaol at Barrie. The gaol was begun in 1840, the court-house a year later, and both were completed in 1842. An important county judicial and administrative center, the court-house was enlarged in 1877 and demolished in 1976. The gaol, designed by Thomas Young of Toronto and constructed of Lake Couchiching limestone by Charles Thompson, a builder and steamboat owner, is one of the few in Ontario based on the nineteenth century radial design concept. In 1862 the east wing and outer walls were constructed, and the present roof and lantern replaced a portion of the originally castellated central section. The gaoler's residence was added in 1902.

Photographer: Alan L Brown Web Site Click Here

Hewitt Bernard 1825-1893

Canada's "First" First Lady a Former Barrie Ontario Resident

Barrie’s First Lady in the British tradition would be Susan Agnes Bernard MacDonald the second wife of Canada’s first Prime Minister, John A Macdonald. Bernard’s mother moved to Barrie from Jamaica in 1864 to settle in “Barrie Simcoe County in the heart of the United Empire Loyalist area.” Her brother James Bernard (see historical plaque) was a personal friend of John A. and was instrumental in the recordings of the Confederation Conference in 1864. See Canada's First Ladies The second proposal from John A. to Agnes was successful after the Confederation agreement was signed in Britain and the wedding followed in London England on February 16, 1867. During Doors Open Barrie, a waterfront trail tour reveals many historical facts about Barrie and area in an informative living history dialogue.

Location: In Centennial Park, Lakeshore Drive, Barrie

Text from the Plaque:
Born in Jamaica, Bernard immigrated to Canada and settled in Barrie, where in 1856 he established a law practice. He was chief clerk, 1858-66, in the office of the attorney-general for Canada West, John A. MacDonald, and later became his brother-in-law, Bernard accompanied MacDonald to the Charlottetown Conference (1864) and was the secretary of the Quebec (1864) and London (1866-67) Conferences, at which the groundwork was laid for Confederation. A Lieutenant-Colonel in the militia, he served as aide-de-camp to two governors-general, Viscount Monck and Baron Stanley of Preston. He also served as deputy minister of justice, 1868-76. Bernard died at Montreal in 1893 and is buried at Ottawa.

Photographer: R. Taylor Web Site Click Here

Steamboating on Lake Simcoe

Location: Near the breakwater at the west end of the park on Lakeshore Drive, just west of Mulcaster Street

Text from the Plaque:
From the 1830s to the 1920s, steamboats played a significant role in developing the region around Lake Simcoe. They carried passengers, freight and mail to ports around the lake and hauled lumber to mills. As railways came to dominate regional transportation, steamboats catered increasingly to tourists and excursionists. The growing popularity of private motorboats contributed to their final decline in the 1920s.

Photographer: Alan L Brown Web Site Click Here

Barrie History Anecdotes and Facts

HMCS Barrie (K138)

Barrie Ontrio had a ship named after her the HMCS Barrie Her Majesties Canadian Ship Barrie was first commissioned
in WW11 and built in the Collingwood Shipyards:
A Picture and story hangs in Barrie City Hall-Downtown Barrie.

More information on Barrie hotels, attractions, events and festivals in Barrie Ontario Canada