Today’s top- stories for Barrie residents.
A brisk March day at Greenwood-McCann Park became a turning point for Angus when community fears crystallized around one chilling attempt—an attempt that will ripple through local courts and family conversations for years to come. Anthony Holtorf, a 37-year-old from Clearview, was sentenced as a long-term offender after being convicted of attempting to abduct young […]
Angus park abduction attempt ends in long-term sentence Read More »
Floodlights rarely shine brighter than when a community is asked to steer the course of its schools. The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) has handed the microphone to its public, inviting feedback on the 2026-27 school year calendar—a decision with ripple effects across families, staff, and students. The SCDSB, headquartered in Midhurst, is soliciting
Simcoe County board asks for voices on 2026-27 school calendar Read More »
One conversation, months of trust, and $1.3 million gone—Orillia’s latest cyber crime case is a gut punch to anyone who thinks it couldn’t happen here. The story began with a phone call to Harry Little, an 85-year-old retiree in Orillia, alerting him to supposed computer troubles. Soon, the benign warning twisted into a sophisticated online
Orillia couple’s $1.3M loss exposes cyber crime risks Read More »
On a cold December morning, Barrie’s courthouse bustled with tension as Hailey Roberts, shrouded in mask and sunglasses, learned her fate for impersonating a nurse within local long-term care homes. Roberts, 33, orchestrated a calculated deception that reached into the heart of Simcoe County’s most vulnerable institutions. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, she
Barrie woman’s nurse impersonation rattles long-term care homes Read More »
The morning after GivingTuesday, the tally stood at $34,000—a sum not conjured by a faceless algorithm, but raised, dollar by dollar, by the hands of neighbours determined to see their community thrive. In an era when charitable giving can feel like an afterthought, the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka’s campaign drew a groundswell of support across Simcoe
Home Hardware joins forces with YMCA to double donations for local families Read More »
Fluorescent lights flickered above the rows of pew-like benches at Barrie’s main courthouse, where an unusual legal defence has drawn a crowd of keen-eyed observers. This week, a 49-year-old Barrie man faced the final rounds of testimony in his sexual assault trial, opting for a defence seldom heard in Canadian courtrooms: sexsomnia. The charges—sexual assault,
Barrie court hears rare sexsomnia defence in assault case Read More »
In schools across Simcoe Muskoka, change arrives not with fanfare, but with the quiet clatter of construction and the promise of open doors where walls once stood. More than $2 million now fuels a wave of accessibility upgrades, marking a pivotal step for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board and the communities it serves.
Accessibility takes centre stage in Simcoe Muskoka schools Read More »
At 12:30 on a grey Sunday, Barrie’s Johnston Street was transformed by fire. A wall of flame, smoke billowing, and the wail of sirens marked the day neighbours will remember for years. The blaze began without warning, quickly devouring a home and attached garage at the intersection with Georgian Drive. By the time fire crews
How a quick response saved lives on Johnston Street Read More »
In one swift operation, more than a kilogram of powerful narcotics and three firearms vanished from Simcoe County’s streets, upending criminal activity that had quietly rippled through Collingwood, Barrie, and Vaughan for months. The investigation, led by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Community Street Crime Unit, first took root in early autumn when suspicious activity
Unravelling a Drug Network Across Three Ontario Cities Read More »
Barrie soccer fans have a new reason to stand tall as Luc Ihama, once a familiar face on local pitches, now steps onto the national stage after being drafted by Cavalry FC in the 2026 CPL–U Sports Draft. For years, Barrie has produced hard-nosed talent, but rarely has a local defender made waves like Ihama.
Barrie’s Luc Ihama Earns Shot with Cavalry FC Read More »
