Innisfil residents worse fear has officially come to fruition with Ontario's approval for Barrie to annex the town. The Province's decision which was rumored to be in the works for this week has granted Barrie almost 2,300 hectares of Innisfil land.
The land will be transferred into the hands of Barrie on January first 2010 and will increase the size of Barrie by thirty percent.
The decision isn't as bad as first anticipated and has only affected about 300 people. Those people will be living in the city of Barrie starting in early 2010, ironically, Innisfil mayor Brian Jackson will be one of those affected people.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Barrie To Annex Innisfil?
The City of Barrie has been undergoing a deep transformation in the last ten years. There have been a slew of families moving into the little city north of Toronto because of it's convenient commuter location, it's picturesque scenery and most importantly, it's real estate affordability.
It's no secret that the real estate market in Toronto has been extremely pricey in the last ten years which has forced many Torontonians to flee to less expensive areas. One area that has been very popular with Torontonians is Barrie Ontario.
There are many problems with a town changing into a small city at the pace that Barrie has been growing. The obvious is infrastructure, but what if the City literally runs out of land. What then?
Just south of Barrie's borders lies a reasonably large plot of land which has not been developed and this little fact makes the town of Innisfil a prime candidate for annexation by it's neighbor to the north. Needless to say, Innisfil residents are not very pleased at the notion, but their biggest fear may be a reality in the near future. The rumor is that the Province of Ontario will make a decision on the annexing issue later this week.
If Innisfil is annexed by Barrie, they will lose a big chunk of it's border. Reports have Barrie wanting to take land from highway 27 on the west, passed Yonge Street to the east and down to Innisfil Beach Road.
In conclusion, It is inevitable that Innisfil residents who enjoy the scenery of their small town would become extremely annoyed with this prospect, and who can blame them, but at the same time, they may not have much of a say in the matter, which is unfortunate.
It's no secret that the real estate market in Toronto has been extremely pricey in the last ten years which has forced many Torontonians to flee to less expensive areas. One area that has been very popular with Torontonians is Barrie Ontario.
There are many problems with a town changing into a small city at the pace that Barrie has been growing. The obvious is infrastructure, but what if the City literally runs out of land. What then?
Just south of Barrie's borders lies a reasonably large plot of land which has not been developed and this little fact makes the town of Innisfil a prime candidate for annexation by it's neighbor to the north. Needless to say, Innisfil residents are not very pleased at the notion, but their biggest fear may be a reality in the near future. The rumor is that the Province of Ontario will make a decision on the annexing issue later this week.
If Innisfil is annexed by Barrie, they will lose a big chunk of it's border. Reports have Barrie wanting to take land from highway 27 on the west, passed Yonge Street to the east and down to Innisfil Beach Road.
In conclusion, It is inevitable that Innisfil residents who enjoy the scenery of their small town would become extremely annoyed with this prospect, and who can blame them, but at the same time, they may not have much of a say in the matter, which is unfortunate.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Barrie Ontario Hospital
Barrie Ontario has been growing rapidly for the last ten years, and with growth of a town into a small city comes the planning of infrastructure and essential services. One service which cannot be overseen is the local hospital.
Barrie Ontario´s hospital ( Royal Victoria Hospital, or RVH) opened in 1997 in the Northern part of the city and within walking distance to Barrie´s Georgian College.
RVH is a modern building which presently has 297 beds, and 18 bassinets in it´s level II special care nursery, however, with the rapid increase of the local population, also comes the need for more beds, more doctors and more advanced medical equipment.
In the last several years, Barrie residents along with RVH has pressured the Ontario government for funds to extend the hospital and build a cancer unit to service cancer patients who presently have to drive to Toronto for treatment.
With the support of the provincial government and Barrie residents, including the Barrie Ontario Business sector, the funds for the much needed expansion, have been raised.
Phase one of the project will add 100 beds to the hospital as well as increasing the size of it´s emergency room. The imaging department will also increase in size as will the operating rooms.
The Barrie Hospital is used by many non Barrie residents, and therefore has one of the busiest emergency rooms in all of Ontario, making this expansion a much needed project for the city.
The Hospital is now in it´s tender phase, and will make a decision soon on which construction company will be awarded the contract to build the new extension to the hospital.
Ground breaking for the new expansion is anticipated for early 2009.
Barrie Ontario´s hospital ( Royal Victoria Hospital, or RVH) opened in 1997 in the Northern part of the city and within walking distance to Barrie´s Georgian College.
RVH is a modern building which presently has 297 beds, and 18 bassinets in it´s level II special care nursery, however, with the rapid increase of the local population, also comes the need for more beds, more doctors and more advanced medical equipment.
In the last several years, Barrie residents along with RVH has pressured the Ontario government for funds to extend the hospital and build a cancer unit to service cancer patients who presently have to drive to Toronto for treatment.
With the support of the provincial government and Barrie residents, including the Barrie Ontario Business sector, the funds for the much needed expansion, have been raised.
Phase one of the project will add 100 beds to the hospital as well as increasing the size of it´s emergency room. The imaging department will also increase in size as will the operating rooms.
The Barrie Hospital is used by many non Barrie residents, and therefore has one of the busiest emergency rooms in all of Ontario, making this expansion a much needed project for the city.
The Hospital is now in it´s tender phase, and will make a decision soon on which construction company will be awarded the contract to build the new extension to the hospital.
Ground breaking for the new expansion is anticipated for early 2009.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Barrie Ontario: Tornado
Although Barrie Ontario is famous for the amount of snow it gets during the winter months, the frequency of extreme weather patterns during the milder spring and summer months is quite low. On May 31, 1985, mother nature came roaring through Barrie Ontario, and in 30 seconds managed to leave a trail of destruction that was too cruel to understand.
The tornado that hit Barrie Ontario on that fateful day, left eight people dead and 155 injured, three hundred homes were destroyed, some of them completely scattered on the ground in a two foot high pile of rubble.
Most of the damage was done on Crawford Street, leaving many residents without a home, and sleeping at the local armory.
The tornado caused 100 million dollars in damage.
If you want to see more on the Barrie Ontario Tornado, visit this url. There is a short video post tornado done by cbc television.
http://archives.cbc.ca/environment/extreme_weather/topics/1713-11757/
The tornado that hit Barrie Ontario on that fateful day, left eight people dead and 155 injured, three hundred homes were destroyed, some of them completely scattered on the ground in a two foot high pile of rubble.
Most of the damage was done on Crawford Street, leaving many residents without a home, and sleeping at the local armory.
The tornado caused 100 million dollars in damage.
If you want to see more on the Barrie Ontario Tornado, visit this url. There is a short video post tornado done by cbc television.
http://archives.cbc.ca/environment/extreme_weather/topics/1713-11757/
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Barrie Ontario: Live 8 Concert
On Saturday July 2nd, 2005, an estimated 3 billion people came to together to force politicians to combat world poverty during their g8 summits. Barrie Ontario was the representing Canadian City.
Many musicians from all over the world donated their services to entertain the masses while raising money and awareness about the world´s increasing poverty crisis.
Here are the musicians and presenters who were in Barrie Ontario on that historic day.
Presenters: Dan Aykroyd and Tom Green
Artists performing include:
* African Guitar Summit
* Barenaked Ladies
* Blue Rodeo
* Bruce Cockburn
* Bryan Adams
* The Bachman Cummings Band
* Deep Purple
* DMC
* DobaCaracol featuring K'naan
* Gordon Lightfoot
* Great Big Sea
* Jann Arden
* Jet
* Les Trois Accords
* Motley Crue
* Our Lady Peace
* Sam Roberts
* Simple Plan
* Tegan & Sara
* The Tragically Hip
* Tom Cochrane
The Concerts
* THE LIVE 8 CONCERTS
* London
* Paris
* Berlin
* Rome
* Philadelphia
* Barrie
* Tokyo
* Johannesburg
* Moscow
* Eden Project
Thanks to all the musicians who took part.. It was a fantastic show!
Barrie Ontario: Summer Activities
Many Barrie Ontario and surrounding residents fully enjoy Barrie during the winter months because of the amount of snow that the area gets every winter, however, Barrie Ontario is enjoyed as much, if not more during the summer months.
Barrie Ontario is surrounded by many lakes and nature trails, and thus can offer the visitor or resident many outdoor activities.
The surrounding lakes offer many water sports, including boating, fishing, windsurfing and camping. For the adventurous personality, why not take a tour through one of Barrie´s nature trails?.
Hardwood Hills Mountain bike trail is sure to please those who like a physical challenge, while being surrounded by the beauty that nature can give. Hardwood Hills trail is 70km of single and double tracks that takes you through pine forests and open meadows. The trail is suitable for the beginner or the seasoned pro. Hardwood Hills Mountain Bike Centre offers many services for those who would like to venture out, including rentals, part and accessory shops, clinics and bike wash stands to keep your bike looking good.
Barrie Ontario has many golf courses to keep those less adventurous types busy and happy for many hours.
Barrie Ontario also has Boat cruises along Kempenfelt Bay.
Perhaps you are more of the party type. If so, why not take in a concert at the Barrie Molson Centre, or hit up the nightclubs or pubs in downtown Barrie.
Barrie Ontario has a little something for everyone.
Enjoy!
For more info on Barrie Ontario Boat tours contact:
A Touch Of Class Cruises at
Address: Foot of Bayfield Street Barrie ON Canada
Telephone 1 705 321-6666
Or
Serendipity Princess Barrie Boat Cruises
Address: Barrie Town Dock Barrie ON
Telephone 1 705 728-9888
Barrie Ontario Hardwood Hills Mountain Bike Centre
Address: RR 1, Oro Station Oro Station ON L0L 2E0
Telephone 1 705 487-3775
Barrie Ontario is surrounded by many lakes and nature trails, and thus can offer the visitor or resident many outdoor activities.
The surrounding lakes offer many water sports, including boating, fishing, windsurfing and camping. For the adventurous personality, why not take a tour through one of Barrie´s nature trails?.
Hardwood Hills Mountain bike trail is sure to please those who like a physical challenge, while being surrounded by the beauty that nature can give. Hardwood Hills trail is 70km of single and double tracks that takes you through pine forests and open meadows. The trail is suitable for the beginner or the seasoned pro. Hardwood Hills Mountain Bike Centre offers many services for those who would like to venture out, including rentals, part and accessory shops, clinics and bike wash stands to keep your bike looking good.
Barrie Ontario has many golf courses to keep those less adventurous types busy and happy for many hours.
Barrie Ontario also has Boat cruises along Kempenfelt Bay.
Perhaps you are more of the party type. If so, why not take in a concert at the Barrie Molson Centre, or hit up the nightclubs or pubs in downtown Barrie.
Barrie Ontario has a little something for everyone.
Enjoy!
For more info on Barrie Ontario Boat tours contact:
A Touch Of Class Cruises at
Address: Foot of Bayfield Street Barrie ON Canada
Telephone 1 705 321-6666
Or
Serendipity Princess Barrie Boat Cruises
Address: Barrie Town Dock Barrie ON
Telephone 1 705 728-9888
Barrie Ontario Hardwood Hills Mountain Bike Centre
Address: RR 1, Oro Station Oro Station ON L0L 2E0
Telephone 1 705 487-3775
Friday, November 21, 2008
Barrie Ontario: Park Place
Several years ago, Molson Park sold it´s 200- acre property in Barrie Ontario to a development company (North American). The company that bought the former Molson Park made a proposal to the city of Barrie to construct a mixed use ´Lifestyle Centre`, which was to be the be the first of it´s kind in Canada, at the time of proposal. The City requested many plans and surveys to be done by the development company before the official go ahead was given, and construction was delayed for several years.
The go ahead has been given and excavation has begun on the site.
Park Place is going to be an upscale Lifestyle Centre, with shopping, restaurants, leisure and entertainment being the main focus. There will also be a section of the centre dedicated to office space and industrial use, as well as parkland.
The company will also donate 20 acres of the property to the city of Barrie Ontario to be used as protected greenspace.
Barrie Ontario´s Park Place will have an outdoor village that will feature water fountains choreographed to music, and beautiful pedestrian friendly garden like views. An outdoor fireplace is also in the plans for this unique centre.
Visitors to the village will enjoy up-scale retail shopping, fashionable restaurants, hotels and trendy bars with stylish outdoor patios, and additional attractions, such as a fitness centre and spa, a comedy club, children’s entertainment, live and film theatre, and much more.
Barrie Ontario´s Park place should be finished in five years time.
The go ahead has been given and excavation has begun on the site.
Park Place is going to be an upscale Lifestyle Centre, with shopping, restaurants, leisure and entertainment being the main focus. There will also be a section of the centre dedicated to office space and industrial use, as well as parkland.
The company will also donate 20 acres of the property to the city of Barrie Ontario to be used as protected greenspace.
Barrie Ontario´s Park Place will have an outdoor village that will feature water fountains choreographed to music, and beautiful pedestrian friendly garden like views. An outdoor fireplace is also in the plans for this unique centre.
Visitors to the village will enjoy up-scale retail shopping, fashionable restaurants, hotels and trendy bars with stylish outdoor patios, and additional attractions, such as a fitness centre and spa, a comedy club, children’s entertainment, live and film theatre, and much more.
Barrie Ontario´s Park place should be finished in five years time.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Barrie Ontario:Winter Activities
Winter is just beginning, and those of you who live in or close to Barrie Ontario will know that the snow has begun to fall. With the large Barrie snowfalls come great winter fun for those who enjoy winter sports.
Barrie Ontario is situated on a snow belt region, which means that wind currents combined with surrounding lakes in the area bring a large amount of snow every winter. On average, Barrie Ontario receives about 100 inches of snow per year. This snow may be an inconvenience for many Barrie residents, but it is also an opportunity for fun in the snow.
Barrie Ontario is a perfect choice for a winter skiing trip. Barrie boasts kilometers upon kilometers of trails to explore and conquer, along with the most ski runs in all of Ontario.
Because of Barrie´s massive snowfalls and state of the art snow making equipment, the small city to the north of Toronto can offer the skiing enthusiast alpine and nordic skiing conditions. You don´t have to go to Europe to experience great skiing, Barrie Ontario offers all the great skiing you can handle and more.
Apart from skiing, Barrie also offers snowboarding and snow tubing which is a great hit with families who want to enjoy the day with their young children and don´t want to venture onto the ski hills.
If you enjoy the cold weather, but prefer a more mellow time in the cold, you may want to venture out onto Kempenfelt Bay for ice fishing. Make sure that you contact Barrie´s tourism office for more information on ice fishing, and when it is allowed before venturing out onto the lake.
Lastly, enjoy your Barrie Ontario winter getaway.
For more information on Barrie´s ski resorts
http://www.winterfunbarrie.com/ski-properties/
Barrie Ontario Tourism Office
http://www.tourismbarrie.com/
Monday, November 17, 2008
Barrie Ontario
Barrie Ontario is a small city with an approximate population of 130,000 people. It is conveniently located one hour north of Toronto along highway 400, and is the gateway to cottage country.
The city of Barrie has experienced an explosion of growth over the last ten years due to the reasonable pricing of real estate and the reasonable commuter drive to downtown Toronto, where many Barrie residents hold employment. With the addition of the Go Train in the last year, Barrie will surely attract many more Torontonians who cannot afford the incredible prices of the Toronto Real Estate market.
Barrie is well known for the amount of snowfalls during the long Canadian winter, and thus is a hotspot for the skiing industry. Horseshoe Valley and Snow Valley ski resorts are a stone throw away from downtown Barrie and just beyond Barrie´s city limits lies Mount St.Louis Moonstone, and Blue Mountain. Ice fishing and snowmobiling are also very popular sports during the winter months.
Barrie Ontario is situated on Kempenfelt Bay, and therefor has the luxury of owning many swimmable beaches. Minet's Point Beach, The Gables, and Centennial Beach are just three.
Barrie´s long waterfront also makes it a hotspot for boaters. Just look onto the water on any given day during the summer, and you are guaranteed to see many people out on the boat.
Barrie Ontario also boasts many festivals during the summer months. Kempenfest Festival attracts over 300,000 people every year, and continues to grow in popularity with the local population, as well as people who come from all over Ontario to visit one of the largest Arts and Crafts Festival in the province.
Barrie was Canada´s Local for the Live 8 Concert a few years ago, which put the city on the map of recognizable small Canadian Cities.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Barrie Ontario Privacy Policy
I respect your privacy and I am committed to safeguarding your privacy while online at this site barrie--ontario.blogspot.com The following discloses how I gather and disseminate information for this Blog.
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If a user wishes to subscribe to my RSS Feeds or Email Updates (powered by Feedburner), I ask for contact information such as name and email address. Users may opt-out of these communications at any time. Your personal information will never be sold or given to a third party. (You will never be spammed by me - ever)
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Like most blogging platforms I use log files, in this case Statcounter. This stores information such as internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring, exit and visited pages, platform used, date/time stamp, track user’s movement in the whole, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.
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A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. This blog doesn't use cookies. However, some of my business partners use cookies on this site (for example - advertisers). I can't access or control these cookies once the advertisers have set them.
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This Blog contains links to other sites. Please be aware that I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites. I suggest my users to be aware of this when they leave this blog and to read the privacy statements of each and every site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Blog.
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I use outside ad companies to display ads on this blog. These ads may contain cookies and are collected by the advertising companies and I do not have access to this information. I work with the following advertising companies: Google Adsense. Please check the advertisers websites for respective privacy policies.
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* Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.
RSS Feeds and Email Updates
If a user wishes to subscribe to my RSS Feeds or Email Updates (powered by Feedburner), I ask for contact information such as name and email address. Users may opt-out of these communications at any time. Your personal information will never be sold or given to a third party. (You will never be spammed by me - ever)
Log Files and Stats
Like most blogging platforms I use log files, in this case Statcounter. This stores information such as internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring, exit and visited pages, platform used, date/time stamp, track user’s movement in the whole, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. This blog doesn't use cookies. However, some of my business partners use cookies on this site (for example - advertisers). I can't access or control these cookies once the advertisers have set them.
Links
This Blog contains links to other sites. Please be aware that I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites. I suggest my users to be aware of this when they leave this blog and to read the privacy statements of each and every site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Blog.
Advertisers
I use outside ad companies to display ads on this blog. These ads may contain cookies and are collected by the advertising companies and I do not have access to this information. I work with the following advertising companies: Google Adsense. Please check the advertisers websites for respective privacy policies.
* Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on your site.
* Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to your users based on their visit to your sites and other sites on the Internet.
* Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.
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