News

Walk down the near-empty aisles of north Barrie’s Toys “R” Us and you don’t just witness a store closing—you watch a piece of the city’s collective memory packing up for good. For decades, this Toys “R” Us was more than a retail footprint. It was where Barrie’s families ushered in birthdays, holiday rituals, and Saturday […]

If you thought Barrie summers couldn’t get any more fun, think again. Right as Canada Day hits, pedal pubs are shifting gears, with the Ford government’s new legislation letting them serve alcohol across Ontario. For folks who crave a bit of laughter and camaraderie on the move, this policy change is about to crank the

Even in a nation that prides itself on accessible health care, a growing number of Canadians are quietly forgoing dental visits, a trend that speaks volumes about the cracks in our current system. Dental care in Canada has long stood apart from the broader health care conversation. Unlike physician visits or hospital stays, dental checkups

The steps of the Barrie courthouse echoed with an odd quiet on Monday, the usual shuffle replaced by murmurs of speculation. A murder suspect, expected to face weapon charges, never arrived from custody, and the legal machinery ground to a halt. In legal circles, an absent defendant can feel like a stone tossed into calm

One summer barrier can’t keep Barrie’s sun seekers from their favourite escape. With construction closing off the northern entrance to Innisfil Beach Park, families and friends are finding fresh ways to soak up the season’s best moments. The determination to enjoy fun in the sun shines brighter than any detour. The northern access, specifically off

Park-goers in Ontario may soon do a double-take as a curious machine glides across the sand, its silhouette uncannily reminiscent of a Zamboni, yet its mission far from the chill of hockey rinks. This summer, Ontario’s parks welcome Canada’s first robotic beach cleaner—a machine whose very shape is a wink to the province’s hockey heritage

Grey dusk settles over Barrie’s sidewalks, where the line between shelter and exposure is drawn not by walls, but by circumstance. Across Simcoe County, a quiet transformation is unfolding: outreach teams are stepping into the margins, determined not to let anyone slip through the cracks. Assertive street outreach, as rolled out by Simcoe County and

Blue bins lined Toronto’s curbs last Tuesday, their familiar hue concealing a storm of numbers and negotiations. While neighbours sorted milk cartons from mail flyers, far above, provincial officials and industry leaders weighed the economics of a recycling system on the brink of upheaval. Ontario’s blue box program has long stood as a symbol of