Barrie

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The City of Barrie, Ontario is located on the western side of Lake Simcoe. It is about 90 kilometres north of Toronto on the northern sector of the Golden Horseshoe sub-region.

Highway 400 is the main roadway that links Barrie to Toronto. Barrie Transit operates a number of buses on routes across the city. Mobility-challenged commuters can avail of the specialized buses operated by the Barrie Accessible Community Transportation Service. Barrie is also served by GO Transit buses and commuter trains.

For Barrie real estate owners, quality schools enhance property values. The public schools are operated by the Simcoe County District School Board and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. French school boards run the Francophone schools. Private school options are also available through 10 schools that serve the area.

Barrie is a thriving cultural center with performance art and fine arts events presented at the Georgian Center located inside the Georgian College campus and the Mady Centre in downtown Barrie. Community events and festivals are celebrated throughout the year including the Jazz & Blues Festival, Winterfest, Santa Claus Parade and New Year’s Countdown. The Maclaren Art Center is home to many of Barrie’s historical artifacts.

Outdoor water recreation is popular in the summer along Barrie’s beaches and waterfront areas. The city serves as the gateway to Georgian Bay and the scenic cottages and country clubs of Muskoka Lakes. In the winter, skiing is the sport of choice with Snow Valley Ski Resort and other ski facilities in neighboring cities. The city manages over 90 parks covering 300 acres of park land.

The city’s housing is made up of older homes in the central district including some heritage houses. Newer housing units were built as the city’s population doubled. Architectural styles vary but single family detached homes are still the norm although townhouses and condominiums are gaining popularity among Barrie real estate buyers.

While Barrie is mainly a bedroom community for Toronto’s sizeable workforce, the city has its own share of large companies. TD Canada Trust and Scotiabank operate regional centers in Barrie. Other large employers include Georgian College, Royal Victoria Hospital and the Bank of Montreal and soon IBM and PPG Industries as well.

Barrie has a plan for its future: To build a progressive and prosperous community that residents are and will continue to be proud to call home.