Barrie Buzz

Thornton, Robinson, named honourary chairs for Ontario Winter Games
Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin
The six-time Canadian Figure Skating Champion and Barrie councillor will
share the responsibility with former NHL player and Town of Blue Mountains
resident Scott Thornton. Robinson says she didn't have the opportunity to
participate in the games, ...

Winter 2012 Exhibitions and Battle of the Bay Street Bands at the Maclaren Art Centre, Barrie
In 2012, we look forward to offering you a wide range of exciting programmes. Winter art classes begin this month.  Tickets for our annual fundraiser Battle of the Bay Street Bands go on sale February 3. This winter, find out what your art gallery has to offer!

Barrielicious is Winterlicious
A festival that gives you the chance to try a diversity of culinary experiences in Downtown Barrie, Ontario. January 20th - February 5th 2012 Barrielicious has had an overwhelming success over the past three years; with our participating restaurants ending up completely booked up with reservations! Barrielicious returns once again, beginning January 20th with 50 restaurants!  See Barrielicious

Mayor's new year's message
The Barrie Examiner - 5 days ago
By Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman In the spring, we watched democratic ...  The opening of the city's new south branch library and the Allandale Waterfront GO Station early in 2012 will bring services closer to home for residents....we need to count our blessings: we live in a safe, democratic, tolerant and strong community.Walk along our stunning lakeshore, and marvel at the mist rising from the lake,and consider the stunning beauty of living in our city by Kempenfelt Bay.

Barrie to host curling championships
The Barrie Advance
“I'm delighted that the great Canadian game is coming to central Ontario and I know our city is up for the challenge of such a big event. The BMC has always been great for hockey and other shows, but I think we're going to see that it is perfect for ...

Horseshoe Resort opens for business, marking first ski hill to ...
680 News
The popular Barrie ski resort opened for business Monday with two lifts and two runs, making it the first slope in the province to open. ...

Moon over Barrie
The Barrie Examiner
A clear ski gave motorists on Hwy. 400 a perfect view of a near full moon which hung low in the horizon Sunday. MARKWANZEL/THE BARRIE EXAMINER/QMI A clear ...

New platform nearly a GO
The Barrie Examiner
Bruineman - Barrie Examiner GO train users will soon have access to a second platform in Barrie. There's hope for special events train service the odd.....

Ontario Winter Games set for March 2012 in Simcoe County area.
Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin
March 2012 marks the start to...... committee held a '100-days-out' celebration, Tuesday, at the Alpine Ski Club. ... Barrie, Midland, Clearview Township, and The Blue Mountains. ...see complete story Countdown begins to Ontario Winter Games, check the Ontario Winter Games Web site

Georgian College one of Canada's top employers
The Barrie Examiner
"We have consciously worked toward the goal of creating an outstanding workplace that will attract and retain the best staff in the Ontario college system," he said. "With staff members who are highly engaged and connected to their workplace, ...

Ontario city wants new university
Macleans.ca
Barrie is estimated to have grown by one-third in the past decade to 135000 people according to the City, with 191000 in the Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) in 2010, according to Statistics Canada. That makes it the biggest CMA in Ontario, by far, ...

Milestones set to open in Barrie
The Barrie Examiner
The Barrie Milestones, located in Park Place at Highway 400 and Mapleview Drive, blends style with comfort, according to Jeff Stipec, president of Milestones Restaurants Inc., who is excited to open a location in Barrie. "It is one of Canada's fastest ...

Barrie Lake Simcoe Leaf Changes

Barrie is the perfect location to stop on a Lake Simcoe fall road trip to see Ontario's fall colours.  Close to the GTA, Barrie is one of Ontario's exciting year round resort destinations with many tourism related events.

Winter in Barrie

Barrie Area Ski Passes Now On Sale

It is never too early for skiers to start thinking about starting the 2010-2011 downhill ski season at Snow Valley and Horseshoe Resort. Downhill skiing is less than 6 months away.

Barrie Snowbelt activities provide fun and excitement for families and couples. Discover one of Ontario's fun winter destinations (see 2010 winterfest photos of family fun) close to Toronto. See all of the outdoor winter snow sports and getaway package options including snow tubing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing. Minet's Point is always entertaining with ice windsurfing, snowferring with kites, and winter surprise visits, by dog sleds, skaters, cross country skiers. Check Ontario Ski and road conditions with the current Ontario Ski and Snowboard report originates in Barrie from the Ministry of Tourism Information centre just off of Highway 400 at Mapleview Drive. Book winter getaways at Barrie hotels and resorts on-line.

Spring in Barrie

Maple Syrup in the Simcoe County area initiates the beginning of spring and summer. It is not too early to start thinking about Mother's Day and Victoria Day May 24 weekend in the Barrie Area, where a number of kids activities, getaway packages, are available for Day Trips or overnight vacations (staycations). When the ice fishing has stops the spring fishing begins on Kempenfelt Bay and Lake Simcoe fishing tournaments signal a start to summer. A visit to a Barrie park can create a Northern Ontario feeling, especially in the wild outdoor park overlooking Lake Simcoe. See the Gables Park accessible off of Lakeshore Drive to Tollendale Road.

Summer in Barrie

Barrie summer festivals and waterfront events are major tourism draws for visitors and boating enthusiasts on the Trent-Severn visiting and travellng through Ontario's cottage country. Barrie is often a natural first stop on a summer road trip to Northern Ontario. With unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities Barrie offers unlimited water sports on Lake Simcoe, hiking trails, bike trails, canoe routes, and waterfront parks for beaches, swimming and playground fun. See Barrie scenic sunsets and photos, beach photos, and check updates on Simcoe County Beach reports including Barrie.

Event Centre Barrie

The Barrie Molson Centre is the home to the Barrie Colts Junior hockey team, and is one of the largest venues for major events, shows, and entertainment in the Barrie-Simcoe County region north of Toronto

Lake Simcoe Resort Destination

Barrie is the largest city in Simcoe County was put on the international map as host of the Live 8 concert. One media outlet defined Toronto as being "a little below Barrie". Many of the Barrie hotels and resort accommodation are easily accessible off of Highway 400. Barrie is a good starting point for a road trip to tour the province or to take one of the many Ontario Spring, Summer or Fall travel routes. There are several boat launching areas close to highway 400 for fishing in Lake Simcoe.

Barrie Downtown on Lake Simcoe

The Barrie downtown, has one of the most beautiful waterfronts in Ontario, and is a must visit on your way north. The downtown has many exceptional restaurants, and unique shops. It depicts turn of the century Ontario architecture, and many of the buildings have been restored to their original state. A portion of Barrie's History can be viewed through the Ontario Historical Association Plaques.

Barrie Emerging As Regional Culinary And Entertainment Hub

In addition to exciting restaurants and theatre venues, the Hospitality and Tourism program at Georgian College at Barrie's north end has a number of culinary events and a special 'Dinner and Wine Series" . For the Highway 400eleven traveller, a stop can be a refreshing half way point to the cottage or ski hill and is a quick exit off of Highway 400 at Duckworth Street. Toronto residents are discovering one of the region's best kept secrets.......At a recent Stuart McLean show The Vinyl Cafe hosted by the Gryphon Theatre, a number of Toronto residents were overheard raving about the Georgian Dining Room. See Georgian College Hospitality and Tourism Web site

Barrie Hotels, Resorts, Inns

• Carriage Ridge Resort - Horseshoe Valley
• Comfort Inn - Barrie (Hart Drive)
• Georgian Conference Services - Barrie
• Georgian Summer Suites - Barrie
  

Reserve on-line from a variety of hotels, inns, resorts in the Barrie area for ease of booking your Barrie vacation or overnight accommodation

The French Connection Branchez-vous en français!

Ron Baird, Spirit Catcher, 1986, Corten Steel, 21.3 metres (65ft).

Quick Bits

Driving Time from Toronto:
~ 1 hr 20 min

Distance from Toronto:
~ 94.1 km

Downtown Barrie Map

Map Of Ontario
(Official Government of Ontario Road Map)
This site requires Adobe Reader and may take a bit longer to download

Barrie Tourism and Travel News

Avoid Barrie Gridlock

Barrie Trivia
Where is the Barrie Weather measured?
Also see Lake Simcoe Marine Forcasts.