Barrie/Innisfil
By on Apr 18, 2008
Barrie has come a long way from its first beginnings as a transportation hub in the early 1800s; it is now a thriving metropolis with a population that steadily increases year after year. Its close proximity to Toronto has made Barrie a great choice for commuters, but Barrie as a community has an appeal all of its own. Barrie's official motto is "The people are the city," and for those who pass through or choose to live here, it remains a warm and friendly community that values its people and traditions.
Much of Barrie's activities surround its waterfront location on Kempenfelt Bay. More than 300,000 people flock to Kempenfest every year?Barrie's annual arts and crafts festival. Centennial Beach has a remarkable children's playground. Parents and children both delight in the spiral slide and the creative playground equipment offered here. The Serendipity Princess takes upwards of 40,000 people each year on cruises around the Bay. Barrie is a sporty town too with lots of activities for the outdoor enthusiast like boating, skiing, hockey, baseball, and golf. Harness racing is very popular in Barrie and the Georgian Downs Racetrack is a terrific attraction for residents and visitors alike. The Gryphon Theatre hosts cultural events throughout the year. Park Place (formerly Molson Park) located on the outskirts of town is a large venue for musical entertainment that seats 4,200 and is generally packed with young people during the summer months for festivals and touring performers. As well, the McLaren Art Centre is a destination of its own, housing beautiful collections of art and hosting special collections at various times throughout the year. Barrie boasts a big, modern library, state-of-the-art health care, and contemporary shopping malls. The downtown area is quaint and picturesque, with charming shops, cafes, and boutiques.
Barrie is proud of its natural beauty and shows it off in over 90 public parks throughout the city. The gardens are truly beautiful and residents of Barrie have a penchant for keeping their properties well-maintained. There are a multitude of neighbourhoods in Barrie, and new ones are sprouting up all the time, a testament to the appeal of this vibrant community and the wise choice of buying a home at much greater value than can be found in Toronto. Barrie is an easy 45-minute commute to Toronto making it a logical choice for people who want the best value for their money.
Innisfil is a smaller community just south of Barrie and while it has grown in population over the past decade and maintains a separate and distinct identity, Innisfil is naturally twinned with Barrie and is sometimes considered a suburb. With 45 kilometres of beautiful shoreline, Innisfil is a marine haven. The beauty of the area is legendary and the seasonal population is often converted into year-round residents by the hundreds of cottagers who eventually retire here. Innisfil has become an attractive retirement option for many with its lower housing costs and proximity to large city services.
About Barrie/Innisfil
Population Barrie: 125,000; Innisfil: 28,000
Age Barrie: settled in 1820s, became a city in 1853; Innisfil: incorporated as a township in 1850
Location Barrie: 90 kilometres north of Toronto; Innisfil: 80 kilometres north of Toronto
Highways 400, 27, 11, and 90
Air Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, nearest international airport, Pearson in Toronto
Public Transit Barrie Transit System provides bus service throughout the city.
Education The Simcoe School Board operates nine public secondary and 38 elementary schools as well as Adult Education facilities throughout Barrie, in addition to separate and private schools; Georgian College in Barrie; the same school board operates in Innisfil
Emergency Services Barrie: fire dispatch provided by Barrie Fire and Emergency Services; policing services are provided by Barrie Police Service, which also operates the 911 Emergency System; Innisfil: Innisil Fire and Rescue Service operates four fire stations; South Simcoe Police handles policing and 911 Emergency Calls
Tourist/Cultural and Recreation Facilities Barrie includes more than 90 public parks, a public library, five arenas, the Centennial Beach Playground, the Brock Youth Centre, the Skateboard Park at Queens Park, numerous community centres, seniors? programs, recreational facilities, golf courses, skating rinks, ski hills, boating, fishing, swimming, Georgian Downs Harness Racing, Gryphon Theatre, Park Place, and McLaren Art Centre are major attractions; Innisfil: spacious parks and camping facilities, antiquing, marinas, water activities, many events, and festivals
