Barrie may appear as the bashful kid sister peeking out from behind her celebrity
siblings – the southern megatropolis of Toronto
and northwest Georgian Bay communities. In reality, Barrie
gives a stellar performance in the areas of culture, recreation and scenery.
With a bounty of activities in and around the area, a soaring population growth
and economic expansion, Barrie does not hide in the shadows – the spotlight
shines directly on it.
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Kempenfelt
Bay from Heritage Park
photo courtes of Christina Loeffel |
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The city curls around the shore of Kempenfelt Bay on shimmering Lake Simcoe,
and is cocooned by a panoramic combination of hills, farmland and quaint towns.
Barrie is over 150 years old, and shows no signs of stagnation.
HISTORY
Aboriginal communities once occupied the land that is now the urban centre
of Barrie. Trappers and fur traders identified the area as Nine Mile Portage,
the land route connecting Lake Simcoe to the Nottswasaga River and continuing
on to the Georgian Bay. In the early 1800s, the east end of the portage by Kempenfelt
Bay was the location of a Hudson’s Bay Company storehouse. During the War of
1812, the British expanded the portage to accommodate wagons carrying troops
and supplies from Upper Canada. The route allowed the British to bypass the
Americans in Detroit, on
their way to posts near Lake Superior and Lake Huron.
During the 1820s, the British chose the area as a location for a military post.
Named after Sir Robert Barrie, the admiral in command of the British fleet stationed
at Kingston, the
settlement of Barrie sprang forth.
Throughout the mid 1800s, the lumber and agricultural industry burgeoned. The
local economy continued to spiral upward when the Ontario Simcoe Huron Railway,
later known as the Northern Railway, added Barrie to its rail line. The line
also operated a steamer that connected Barrie to Orilla
and Muskoka.
Barrie became a hamlet in 1853, and was incorporated as a town in 1871. Further
boosts came over the next few decades with the construction of a general hospital,
a nursing school (which later became Georgian
College) and Camp
Borden, a Canadian Forces base.
In the 1950s, Highway 400 was built to join Barrie to Toronto and the rest
of Southwestern
Ontario. This eased the daily commute to and from Toronto, thus prompting
many to choose Barrie as their home. In 1959, Barrie matured to city status.
A recent land annex and a continual influx of residents have many proclaiming
Barrie as one of the fastest growing communities in Canada.
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Heritage
Park
photo courtesy of Christina Loeffel |
TRANSPORTATION
Drive to Barrie from Toronto on Highway 400, a six-lane principal roadway
with a speed limit of 100 km (62 mi). Motorists who consider the speed limit
merely a suggestion often find themselves pulled over by the Ontario Provincial
Police, as this highway is well patrolled. Barrie is the unofficial gateway
to cottage country, thus weekend traffic to and beyond the city is bound to
be bumper to bumper in the summer.
Other methods of getting to Barrie include plane
and motorcoach.
A passenger and freight charter service is offered from the Lake
Simcoe Regional Airport, which is 20 minutes northeast of Barrie, between
Barrie and Orilla. Two major motorcoach lines, Greyhound
Canada and Ontario
Northland Bus, have routes that journey to Barrie, connecting it to
small towns as well as major cities. Toronto’s very efficient and reasonably
priced GO
Transit bus service travels daily from Barrie to Toronto and back, with
a few stops in between. It is a popular transportation option for many worker
bees.
Several modes of transportation are available for travelling within the city.
Rental
cars can be obtained from one of many agencies in Barrie. Car travel
offers ease and flexibility to capture Barrie's resplendent scenery and partake
in many activities. There are several taxi
companies that service the city and surrounding area as well. Barrie
Transit has weekday service starting at 5:45 a.m. along most routes.
The bus service also offers a night-stop programme, which allows passengers
travelling after 6 p.m. to be let off at any safe location along the route (the
driver must be informed at least one stop before the location).
The City
of Barrie Marina offers transient docking for visiting boaters by Lakeshore
Drive, adjacent to Kempenfelt Bay. This location is a short amble to downtown
Barrie’s shops and restaurants, as well as popular beaches.
CLIMATE
Temperatures in Barrie's warmest months, July and August, can reach 25 ºC
(78 ºF) and upwards, making it necessary for lighter clothing and a generous
slathering of sunscreen.
Agreeable temperatures accompany the month of May, when the spring air averages
11 ºC (52 ºF), much like the fall, which also hovers in the low teens (50 ºF).
The month of November typically greets winter-like temperatures, as the mercury
begins to dip to zero and downwards (20 ºF).
Bundle up during the months of January and February, as they are typically
the coldest months in Barrie, averaging around - 8 ºC (17 ºF). The temperature
has been known to drop down to - 14 ºC (7 ºF), but this is not extremely cold
by northern Canadian standards. Snowfall is ample in January, much to the bliss
of winter sport enthusiasts.
The rainiest months are usually August and September, with rainfall averaging
80 millilmetres a month. The humidity is generally above 80 per cent year round,
so people with the predisposition for curly locks will enjoy (or curse) a head
full of them. The humidity also gives a bit more of a bite to winter weather,
however it is usually manageable in Barrie.
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Kayak
on Lake Simcoe
photo courtesy of Christina Loeffel |
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RECREATION
Golfing, Cycling and Hiking
Fore! Actually, there are at least 11 golf
courses in the area. Enjoy the crispness of an early spring morning,
or the flaming colours of fall out on the greens. National
Pines and Horseshoe
Valley, two of the more exemplary courses in the province, are in the
vicinity of Barrie. However, other area courses have features that make them
enjoyable excursions as well.
Big wheels keep on turning - down the hills of Hardwood
Hills Mountain Bike Centre. Spring, summer and fall riders can clutch
the bars of their bikes on over 80 km (50 mi) of double and single-track trails,
ranging from family friendly to alarmingly gnarly.
Located east of Barrie, along the shores of Lake Simcoe, is Sibbald
Point Provincial Park. This recreational area is suitable for all ages,
as it has sandy beaches, treed hiking trails and picnic spots. The area was
home to the Sibbald family for 130 years. Visitors may tour the Sibbald manor,
Eildon
Hall (circa 1800s) and St.
George Church, the family church. Springwater
Provincial Park, north of Barrie, is also a pleasurable diversion from
city life. The park’s natural springs have played a large part in the areas
reforestation, which have suffered the effects of over-logging. A wildlife area
of bears, wolves, owls and swans is also on site.
Lakes and Beaches
The waters around Barrie win over many visitors, as they are postcard perfect.
In summer, lifeguards patrol the sandy beaches of Centennial
Beach and Johnson’s
Beach. A grand view awaits those who gaze off from the beaches into
Kempenfelt Bay – the blues of the water, the gray rocks of the jetty and the
polychromatic plants (natural or planted) scattered around the shore imbed lasting
visions in the memory. The beaches often branch into trails suitable for cycling,
inline skating and walking. Children’s playgrounds, public boat launches and
special events mark Kempenfelt as a happening summer spot. For a short excursion,
hop aboard the Serendipity
Princess, a replica of a triple-decker paddle wheel boat. Cruises around
Kempenfelt Bay operate from June until September and last approximately one
hour and 15 minutes.
Warm and clear in the summer, Lake Simcoe is ideal for swimming, canoeing and
boating. Travel around the fringes of the lake for desirable spots, some dense
with sun lovers, ravenous picnickers and splashing water frolickers. If a location
appears remarkably uncrowded and the sun is high in the sky, there is a good
chance it is private property, so check for signs.
Skiing and Winter Expeditions
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Ski
Lift Near Barrie |
When the snow comes, and it surely will, out come the skis, snowboards, skates,
toboggans and other various winter apparatus. Snow
Valley is an exceptional downhill ski hill for children and has some
of the best snow tubing facilities in the province. Barrie’s alpine skiing treasure
would be Horseshoe
Resort. The hill has 22 alpine runs (14 lit for night skiing), a half
pipe and a tubing area. The Heights at Horseshoe is designated for members and
offers 20 private slopes. Another alpine ski facility near Barrie is
Mount St. Louis/ Moonstone Ski Resort, which is 26 km (16 mi) away.
Travel 64 km (40 mi) west to whisk down the slopes of Ontario’s largest ski
hill, Blue
Mountain, located in Collingwood.
Hardwood
Hills Nordic Ski Centre, a short drive from Barrie at Oro Station, offers
a fully equipped ski centre with 45 km (28 mi) of trails for various levels.
Snowshoe trails are extensive as well, with 20 km (12 mi) of both groomed and
ungroomed trails.
For the patient soul who is not against staying motionless in colder temperatures
for undetermined periods of time, ice fishing may be appealing. Huts can be
rented, and bait and licenses are sold in the area.
ATTRACTIONS
The Arts and Festivals
Culture is not lacking in this city – opera, music, stage and art venues flourish.
One event of note is Kempenfest.
Billed as Canada’s largest outdoor arts and crafts festival, Kempenfest draws
hundreds to the lakeshore area to view fine art, sample food, watch live performances
and enjoy special activities such as a petting zoo or wall climbing.
A rather startling sight on Barrie’s waterfront is the 20 tonne (44,000 pound)
steel ‘Spirt
Catcher’. Created for EXPO ’86, held in Vancouver, the statue resembles
the Thunderbird, the creature that carries dreams and desires to the Creator,
in First Nations mythology. The purchase and donation of Spirit Catcher to Barrie
impacted the arts committee, as it inspired the development of a public art
gallery – the McLaren Art Centre. Today it has become a city icon and a memorable
roadside attraction.
The MacLaren
Art Centre accommodates over 40,000 varied art media, mostly Canadian
contemporary but some classic items such as the permanent Rodin collection.
Gaming
Join the roar of the excited crowd at Georgian
Downs, which offers year-round harness racing, viewed from the luxury
of a glass-enclosed grandstand, as well as slots and games.
For those in the mood for more, head half-an-hour north of Barrie to Casino
Rama. Take in a Vegas-style show, spotlighting former singing heart-throbs
or hilarious comedians.
Historical and Educational Sites
Camp Borden, located 34 km (21 mi) southwest of Barrie, was the first military
flying field ever built in Canada. In 1924, the base became the birthplace of
the Royal Canadian Air Force, with Lt. Col. William J. Barker as commander.
Barker went on to become the most decorated war hero in Canadian history. Still
an active military base, the site is home to Base
Borden Military Museum, which consists of four buildings (one being
an aircraft hangar). Many one-of-a-kind land and air artifacts are displayed,
some dating back to the First World War. Outside the buildings are 10 vintage
flying machines, including an ex-training plane for the Canadian Forces Snowbirds,
Canada’s acclaimed aerobatic flying team.
Take a mystical trip on an authentic steam locomotive south of Barrie at the
Village
of Tottenham. The South
Simcoe Railway offers a nostalgic 1800s tour on a portion of the route
that once connected Hamilton
with Barrie
and Collingwood.
The train chugs forth from mid-May until mid-October, with a few special occasion
runs.
Swooping upward, then plummeting towards ground, the birds of the Falconry
Centre near Tottenham perform aerial feats daily. Step into the medieval
style courtyard to observe this educational research centre’s over 200 falcons,
hawks, eagles, owls and vultures.
SHOPPING AND NIGHTLIFE
Bayfield Street is known as Barrie’s ‘Golden
Mile’, as it features a multitude of shops, malls, restaurants and services.
Dunlop Street in downtown Barrie is home to many shops as well, and has the
added bonus of being a very short amble to such sites as Heritage
Park on Kempenfelt Bay.
Cookstown
Manufacturer’s Outlet Mall is a siren’s call that cannot be ignored
by die-hard shoppers. A short drive from Barrie, there is also a bus service
that takes eager spenders to the mall. Bricks & Blocks (Lego) Outlet, Cadbury
Factory Store, Polo Jeans Store, and Jones Factory Finale are just a few of
the retail establishments where customers may leave with money still in the
wallet.
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Farmers Market
photo courtesy of Christina Loeffel |
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The Barrie
Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday morning in front of Barrie
City Hall. Offering a cornucopia of produce, baked goods and handcrafted
items, this market has a proud history of over 150 years in Barrie, and attracts
locals and visitors alike.
The student population may be partly responsible for Barrie's active nightlife,
but many locals have been known to take advantage of the city’s after dark activities
by frequenting one of many pubs,
sports
bars, lounges,
clubs
and live
music venues. The Molson
Centre is often the site of roof-raising concerts.
