Central Ontario is a secondary region of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario that lies between Georgian Bay and the eastern end of Lake Ontario .
96-591: Barrie is a city in Central Ontario , Canada, about 90 kilometres (56 mi) north of Toronto . The city is within Simcoe County and located along the shores of Kempenfelt Bay . Although it is physically in the county, Barrie is politically independent. The city is part of the extended urban area in southern Ontario known as the Greater Golden Horseshoe . As of the 2021 census , the city's population
192-594: A bedroom community for the City of Toronto , which is approximately 90 km (56 mi) south of Barrie. In recent decades however Barrie's economy has diversified, and the local population's reliance on commuting to Toronto has decreased. The city's economy is rooted in retail , education , healthcare , services, manufacturing and technology . Major employers in the city include the Simcoe County District School Board with 6,000 employees along with
288-725: A bank. By 1869, Barrie became the county seat of Simcoe County, flourishing with a population of over 3,000 people. With this population increase came the establishment of prominent businesses and landmarks. In 1850, Edward Marks had established the Barrie Hotel (now called the Queen's Hotel), the oldest continuously running hotel in Barrie, James and Joseph Anderton established the Anderton Brewery in 1869, which would go on to be one of Barrie's largest employers for years, and Edmund Lally opened one of
384-463: A dense clay, the soil in the region turned out to be poorly suited to farming. As news of the difficult conditions spread back to the south, development in Muskoka began to falter, but development of the steamship revived industry. In a time when the railroads had not yet arrived and road travel was notoriously unreliable and uncomfortable, the transportation king was the steamship . Once a land connection
480-538: A few of the disciplines of the talents on display. Barrie is home to Kempenfest ; one of the largest outdoor arts and crafts celebrations in Ontario. This festival occurs annually over the August long weekend and features over 300 artisans, an antique show, food demonstrations, children's activities and live entertainment, including an indie-music stage. Since 2021, Barrie has held Open Air Dunlop, in which Dunlop Street downtown
576-464: A high tornado prevalence and was the site of the infamous Barrie Tornado in 1985. 44°N 79°W / 44°N 79°W / 44; -79 District Municipality of Muskoka The District Municipality of Muskoka , more generally referred to as the District of Muskoka or Muskoka , is a regional municipality in Central Ontario , Canada. It extends from Georgian Bay in
672-512: A large Indigenous population, but written evidence suggests that until very recent years it has harboured only nomadic groups. Largely the land of the Ojibwa people, European inhabitants ignored it while settling what they thought were the more promising area south of the Severn River . The Ojibwa leader associated with the area was "Mesqua Ukie", for whom the land is believed named, as he was liked by
768-482: A lesser extent, Germany began to arrive. As the land south of the Severn was settled, the government planned to open the Muskoka region further north to settlement. Logging licences were issued in 1866 which opened Monck Township to logging. The lumber industry expanded rapidly, denuding huge tracts of the area. Road and water transportation was developed and used later to facilitate town settlement. Road transportation took
864-420: A living from the rocky soil soon found demand for overnight accommodations arriving on their doorsteps. Some made the switch quickly and converted to boarding houses and hotels. The first wilderness hotel, called Rosseau House, was built at the head of Lake Rosseau in 1870. It was owned by New Yorker William H. Pratt . The idea caught on and the number of tourists increased, establishing the tourist industry as
960-431: A number of ancillary developments, with settlements springing up to supply the workers. Bracebridge (formerly North Falls) saw some leather-tanning businesses develop. Tanners used the bark from lumber to tan hides, turning what would otherwise be a waste product to effective use. The District was created in 1868, through the withdrawal of townships and unorganized territory from three other jurisdictions: together with
1056-456: A number of factors, abundance of outdoor recreation, baby-boom retiree population, increased local services and improved wireless communication. The Trent-Severn Waterway , constructed over many years in the mid-19th century, spans Central Ontario via a series of boat locks , connecting Georgian Bay with Lake Ontario , entering the bay at Port Severn and Lake Ontario at the Trent River on
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#17328410136321152-631: A number of performing and fine art venues. There are a number of live performance companies including Theatre by the Bay, Talk Is Free Theatre and the Huronia Symphony. Grove Park Home is the practice hall for On-Stage Performance Group which performs in Cookstown . The Strolling Youth Players and the Kempenfelt Community Players also all perform in Barrie. In addition, an annual live concert series
1248-600: A review of the District's local government arrangements. The report was released in June 1969, and its recommendations were substantially adopted by the new Minister Darcy McKeough , and subsequently implemented in January 1971, when the entire District was formally established as an upper-tier municipality consisting of the following municipalities: As a census division in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada ,
1344-606: A rezoning of the Park Place lands that was initially denied by the City of Barrie. Construction resumed in 2010. An explosion in the Royal Thai restaurant, housed in the landmark Wellington Hotel at the "Five Points" intersection in downtown Barrie, occurred at 11:20pm on December 6, 2007. The fire quickly spread to several neighbouring buildings and firefighters battled the blaze well into the following morning, requiring assistance from other Simcoe County fire services. Officials estimated
1440-452: A series of raging fires that sequentially destroyed multiple landmarks, giving rise to the moniker that Barrie was "among the best burning towns in Canada." Many local businesses like breweries, tanneries and sawmills depended on fire to operate, endangering the ramshackle assortment of wooden homes and buildings that made up the city centre. One of the most destructive fires came in mid-1875 when
1536-585: A tornado struck neighbourhoods in south Barrie, leaving several people injured and causing serious damage to property. Environment Canada categorized it as an EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale . Barrie is located in the central portion of southern Ontario, approximately 90 km (56 mi) north of Toronto within the Greater Golden Horseshoe subregion. It is accessible via Highways 26 , 400 and 11 and has convenient access to Highway 401 ,
1632-399: A transitional area between the geographic regions. Muskoka is a summer destination for Toronto residents and was the #1 most searched Canadian destination for vacation rentals in 2017. It was ranked #1 for Best Trips of 2011 by National Geographic , and was a finalist for the same distinction in 2012. The municipality's name derives from a First Nations chief of the 1850s. Lake Muskoka
1728-485: Is a humid continental climate with large seasonal variation moderated somewhat by the Great Lakes . Summers are warm and humid (sometimes hot) but are shorter than further south with generally cooler nights. Winters are cold with significant snowfalls; some snowbelt areas receive an average of over 300 cm (120 in.) per year. Severe summer storms are also commonplace, particularly in Simcoe County which for Ontario has
1824-468: Is also a wet month, receiving 88.9 millimetres (4 in) of precipitation in the form of both rain and snow. October remains relatively dry in comparison to the months preceding and succeeding it. Despite this however, October has the most precipitation days and rainy days out of every month with 15.6 and 15.5 respectively. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Barrie was −38.9 °C (−38 °F) on January 8, 1886. The hottest temperature ever recorded
1920-485: Is also the main venue for Theatre by the Bay and the Talk Is Free Theatre Companies. The venue features a flexible stage area with lighting and sound for professional theatre, music, dance, and other presentations, an automated riser/seating system with capacity for 120-200 seats and a sprung performance floor. The Georgian Theatre is a professional performing arts facility located in Barrie's north end on
2016-466: Is becoming well known for its fashion boutiques, local art, live theatre, indie-music and nightlife scenes. In addition, downtown Barrie is home to several annual festivals and events such as The Barrie Waterfront Festival, Barrielicious, Winterfest, Celebrate Barrie, Ecofest, Jazz & Blues Festival, Promenade Days, Ribfest and Craft Beer Show, Caribfest, Lawnchair Luminata, Kempenfest , The New Music Festival, Barrie Film Festival , Santa Claus Parade and
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#17328410136322112-516: Is covered by farms, lakes (with freshwater beaches), rivers or sparsely populated forested land on the southern edge of the Canadian Shield . Central Ontario is located within the primary region of Southern Ontario , which places it geographically in the south-central part of the province. Although most of the census divisions (which in Ontario take the form of counties, regional and district municipalities, territorial districts, and some cities) in
2208-712: Is hosted by Georgian College. There are two main performing arts venues in the city: the Five Points Theatre, and the Georgian Theatre. Originally, the Five Points Theatre was known as The Mady Centre For The Performing Arts, but it was renamed in January 2018. It is located in Barrie's downtown at the Five Points intersection and was completed in 2011. This modern facility is home to many professional and amateur cultural productions, film screenings , theatrical plays , concerts, dance recitals and other performances. It
2304-465: Is populated with several villages and towns, farming communities, lakeside vacation hotels and resorts near golf courses , country clubs , and marinas . Its regional government seat is Bracebridge and its largest population centre is Huntsville . Muskoka is geographically within the Central Ontario region of the province, although it is treated as part of Northern Ontario and even Eastern Ontario by some government programs due to its status as
2400-485: Is temporarily pedestrianized to attract visitors to the downtown area. Some of the main arts and culture groups in the city include: Central Ontario The population of the region was 1,123,307 in 2016; however, this number does not include large numbers of seasonal cottage country residents, which at peak times of the year swell its population to well in excess of 1.5 million. Although it contains many small and medium-sized urban centres, much of Central Ontario
2496-532: The American War of Independence , the British North America government feared invasion from its new neighbour to the south. The authorities began exploring the region, hoping to develop a settled population and find travel lanes between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay. The first European known to have caught even a glimpse of Muskoka or Haliburton was a French youth, usually identified as Étienne Brûlé , and
2592-661: The Bay of Quinte at Trenton (access to Lake Ontario also can be had by using the Murray Canal ). Bypassing many rapids, this waterway is used by pleasure boaters and anglers during the summer months. Along the northern edge of Central Ontario, are some of the highest elevations in Southern Ontario . These highlands are known as the Opeongo Hills , and they stretch into portions of Eastern Ontario as well. The climate of this area
2688-465: The Highway 407 Express Toll Route and to neighbouring Toronto. Toronto Pearson International Airport is less than a one-hour drive from Barrie via Highway 400. Barrie's historic downtown area is situated in a distinct curved or wrapped valley, surrounding the western edge of Kempenfelt Bay. Terrain is generally flat near the city's centre. Moving up the valley slopes toward the city's north and south ends,
2784-526: The Nipissing II plied the lakes of Muskoka for decades before decommission in 1914. In 1924, the vessel was outfitted with twin propeller engines and in 1925 was relaunched with an Ojibwe name, Segwun , meaning "springtime." Royal Mail Ship Segwun is still in operation today in Gravenhurst, Ontario, functioning as a pleasure cruise vessel and still delivering mail. World War I caused a significant dip in
2880-676: The Nottawasaga River which flows into Georgian Bay off Lake Huron . Barrie played an integral role in the War of 1812 . During the war, the city became a supply depot for British forces and, in addition, the Nine Mile Portage was adopted by the British military as a key piece of their supply line which provided a strategic path for communication, personnel and vital supplies and equipment to and from Fort Willow and Georgian Bay/Lake Huron. Today,
2976-565: The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board with 3,400 employees, Georgian College with 2,500 employees and the Royal Victoria Hospital with 2,465 employees. Barrie has emerged as a growing tech-hub with several companies such as IBM and BMO constructing data centres in the city. Although not as prominent as cities like Markham or Waterloo in the tech industry, Barrie is considered one of
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3072-561: The census metropolitan area (CMA) level in the 2021 census, the Barrie CMA had a population of 212,856 living in 78,540 of its 82,649 total private dwellings, a change of 8% from its 2016 population of 197,059 . With a land area of 897.26 km (346.43 sq mi), it had a population density of 237.2/km (614.4/sq mi) in 2021. As of the 2021 census Barrie was approximately 77.9% white, 17.1% visible minorities and 5.0% Indigenous . The largest visible minority groups in
3168-461: The "Art City" project, which has had many different large sculptures installed around the city. These can be found in parks and along the waterfront. Barrie is also home to many independent galleries and studios. A concentration of independent galleries, studios and boutiques is located in Lakeshore Mews. This area is located behind the downtown's Dunlop Street. Lakeshore Mews artists also organize
3264-478: The "United Provisional Judicial District of Muskoka and Parry Sound", but it did have its own District Court and Surrogate Court This would continue until 1899, when Muskoka and Parry Sound were divided into separate provisional judicial districts. In 1967, the Muskoka District Council was advised that J.W. Spooner , Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs , had appointed Donald M. Paterson to conduct
3360-497: The 10th Sideroad. The annexation allows Barrie to meet its future population needs without having to extend into the countryside north, east and west of the city. Intensification and infilling are simultaneously being undertaken in and near the downtown core to foster a more active urban environment within the city. Barrie has a humid continental climate ( Köppen climate classification Dfb ), with warm, humid summers, and cold, snowy winters. Winters are cold with frequent snowfall,
3456-641: The Canadian Bank of Commerce's original branches in Barrie in 1867. A line of the Northern Railway was opened in 1853, connecting Barrie with Toronto and several other municipalities in Simcoe County and Muskoka . The Hamilton and North-Western Railway (H&NW) also ran through Barrie, and the two railways would eventually reorganize into the Northern and North Western Railway in June 1879. Allandale Station
3552-482: The District of Muskoka." Its constituent municipalities were: Its authority did not extend to the geographic townships. Provision was made in 1888 for a procedure to erect the District into a provisional county, but it was never invoked and was quietly repealed in 1911. The District, unlike a county in Ontario, did not initially have the status of being a separate judicial district. Such an identity followed that for municipal purposes until 1888, when it became part of
3648-618: The European Canadians. The tribe lived south of the region, near present-day Orillia . They used Muskoka as their hunting grounds. Another Ojibwa tribe lived in the area of Port Carling, then called "Obajewanung". The tribe moved to Parry Sound around 1866. In the present day, Muskoka contains four First Nations reserves: Until the late 1760s, the European presence in the region was largely limited to seasonal fur trappers , but no significant trading settlements were established. Following
3744-458: The January average high temperature being −3.2 °C (26 °F), with a mean temperature of −7.8 °C (18 °F). Barrie is located in a snowbelt, a region that experiences regular lake-effect snow every year. Snow squalls are a common occurrence between November and January when the water temperature is often higher than the cold air passing over Lake Huron and Georgian Bay . The city averages 286 centimetres (113 in) of snow annually,
3840-581: The Mattawa River. However like Muskoka and Parry Sound, all of Nipissing is treated administratively as part of Northern Ontario. Grey and Bruce counties may on occasion be included with Central Ontario as they are near or north of 44 degrees latitude, but are far more often treated as part of Southwestern Ontario . They are also part of the Georgian Triangle area, which includes parts of both Central and Southwestern Ontario. Further east at about
3936-476: The Muskoka census division but are independent of the District Municipality. Geography drove history in the Muskoka region. Studded with lakes and rocks, the good land offered an abundance of fishing, hunting, and trapping, but was poorly suited to farming. The Muskoka and Haliburton area, with its chain of lakes and rivers, its fur-bearing animals, its fish, wild fruit, and maple sap, would have supported
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4032-591: The New Year's Countdown. In the summer months, the city has several beaches including Minet's Point Beach, Johnsons Beach, The Gables, Tyndale Beach, and Centennial Beach. Boating is also popular in Kempenfelt Bay and Lake Simcoe as it connects to the Trent Severn Waterway . In 2011, Barrie's waterfront was under redevelopment, with the relocation of several roadways to provide more greenspace and parkland along
4128-691: The Nine Mile Portage is marked by signs along roads in Barrie and in Springwater Township . The scenic path from Memorial Square to Fort Willow is accessible to visitors year-round. In 1815, Treaty 16 was signed, which transferred 250,000 acres of land from the Chippewa people to the colonial government. In 1818, Treaty 18 was signed, which resulted in the surrender of an additional 1,592,000 acres of land. The British supply depot would continue to prove useful for portaging Europeans and settlers making their way to northern and western Upper Canada . The city
4224-556: The Sevigny Carriage Shop and the Anderton Brewery in 1916. During the First World War , residents of Barrie helped to construct Canadian Forces Base Borden (CFB Borden) as a means of additional support and to serve as a major training centre of Canadian Expeditionary Force battalions. The base would open on July 11, 1916, and since then has become the largest Canadian Forces Base in Canada, playing an important role through
4320-584: The annual "Arts ce Soir"; an all-night contemporary art event in celebration of visual, musical, theatrical and literary art. In addition, a studio tour in the Barrie/Orillia area takes place on the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend every year. It is called the Images Studio Tour and has over 25 artists on average. Potters , jewellers , painters , textile artists and fashion designers make up
4416-438: The availability of the automobile, improved roads, and the newly affordable fiberglass boat. Suddenly owning a summer cottage became possible not only for the adventurous or the wealthy, but for many in the middle class. They traveled by private automobiles, and the steamship companies were forced to retire their ships one by one, until the last sailing in the late 1950s. The District was formed from unorganized territory which
4512-502: The best high-tech centres in the country for small markets. Tourism plays an important role in the local economy. Barrie's historic downtown and waterfront are at the heart of its tourism industry. Downtown Barrie has a number of older buildings that have been kept up over the years or given new facades that exemplify their historical importance. Several specialty shops, boutiques, pubs and restaurants are located throughout downtown Barrie, including along Dunlop Street East. Downtown Barrie
4608-476: The boundaries of the District were formally defined by statute: Although the townships were part of the District, they were still allied with their original counties for municipal purposes. This was rectified in 1877, when all of the District was declared to be within Simcoe County. This lasted until 1888, when it was separated from that County. The passage of the Free Grants and Homestead Act of 1868 , opened
4704-483: The brunt of which coming from lake-effect snow events. Alberta clippers and Colorado lows also generate ample snowfall in the region. Snow cover begins to build by the end of November, accumulating through December, and then lies through the end of February. March sees the spring thaw commence, with the snow cover being essentially gone by the beginning of April. Temperatures commonly drop to −20.0 °C (−4 °F) and occasionally drop to −30.0 °C (−22 °F) on
4800-416: The campus of Georgian College. The theatre features a proscenium stage, sound, lights, fly gallery and seating for 427 on the main level, with three pods that can be used to increase the seating capacity to 690. The Theatre is used both for theatrical and non-theatrical activity, including conferences and seminars. The prominent MacLaren Art Centre is located in Barrie. This is an art gallery that inspired
4896-519: The centres of wealthy vacationers' lives, and families conducted extended stays that could stretch for weeks or months in the summer. As families became seasonally established, they began building cottages near the hotels; at first simple affairs replicating the rustic environment of the early camps. Later they built grander homes, including in some cases, housing for significant domestic staff. Initially cottagers relied on rowboats and canoes for daily transport and would sometimes row substantial distances. In
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#17328410136324992-468: The city had a population of 38,423; in 2006, Barrie had 128,430 residents living within city limits. The first larger scale developments would begin during this time, including high-density waterfront condos and the new Barrie City Hall which started construction in October 1985. On May 31, 1985, Barrie was struck by a devastating F4 tornado that killed eight people. Over 600 homes were damaged or destroyed by
5088-590: The city however the deadly F4 rated Tornado did strike Barrie. In July 2021, an EF2 Tornado also hit the city. Barrie's average frost-free period is from May 26 to September 16, allowing a growing season of 113 days. Precipitation falls year round but is typically heaviest in the summer months due to thunderstorm activity. The driest months are February through April, receiving around 60.0 millimetres (2 in) of precipitation each month per annum. The wettest months are August and September, seeing upwards of 90.0 millimetres (4 in) of precipitation each month. November
5184-706: The city were South Asian (4.4%), Black (3.9%), Latin American (2%), Chinese (1.6%) and Filipino (1.4%). The city's French-speaking population was notable, with 9,710 people (6.6% of the total population) capable of speaking French. However, a majority of the population (84.4%) spoke mostly English at home. According to the 2021 Census, Barrie was 52.5% Christian, down from 66.3% in 2011. 23.6% of Barrie residents were Catholic , 15.9% were Protestants , 8.2% were Christians of unspecified denomination, and 1.5% were Christian Orthodox . Adherents to other denominations of Christianity and Christian-related traditions accounted for 3.4% of
5280-636: The city's diversified economy include education, healthcare, information technology and manufacturing. Barrie is situated on the traditional land of the Wendat and Anishinaabeg peoples. At its inception, Barrie was an establishment of houses and warehouses at the foot of the Nine Mile Portage from Kempenfelt Bay to Fort Willow , an indigenous transportation route that existed centuries before Europeans arrived in Simcoe County . The portage linked Kempenfelt Bay through Willow Creek, connecting Lake Simcoe to
5376-400: The city's population is expected to exceed 200,000 people. To plan for the continued growth of the city, Barrie successfully annexed 2,293 hectares (22.93 km) of land from the neighbouring Town of Innisfil to the south and southeast on January 1, 2010. The annexation comprised lands south beyond McKay Road and west of the 10th Sideroad, and as far south as Lockhart Road on the east side of
5472-501: The coldest nights of the year. Summers in Barrie are warm with sometimes short stretches of hot, humid conditions. The average temperature in July is 20.1 °C (68 °F).Thunderstorms are very common in the summer months in Barrie due to the city being in a Great Lakes breeze convergence zone . Also a result, there storms are occasionally severe, bringing with them torrential rain, very strong winds and hail. Tornadoes are generally rare in
5568-554: The damages to be in the millions. The 100-year-old Wellington Hotel building collapsed later in the morning. On February 17, 2008, two people were charged in connection with the fire after the Ontario Fire Marshal's office concluded the explosion and subsequent fire were the result of arson. In 2013, Barrie was twinned with the English town of Harrogate as a result of Sir Robert Barrie's close connection to it. On July 15, 2021,
5664-401: The development (and name) of nearby Shanty Bay . In 1846, the population of Barrie was roughly 500, mostly from England, Ireland and Scotland. A private school, three churches, a brick courthouse and a limestone jail, (built in 1842), were in operation. Local businesses included three taverns , six stores, three tanneries , a wagon maker, a bakery, a cabinet maker and six shoemakers, as well as
5760-423: The entire section north of Dunlop Street to Collier Street, bounded by Clapperton and Owen Streets, was reduced to ash, destroying around 20 local businesses. In the next century, the modern streets and buildings of Barrie began to take form in a massive rebuilding process. Other landmarks to eventually burn down over the years include the Queen's Hotel (1915) and two of Barrie's largest and most prominent companies;
5856-521: The era of the steam and gasoline launch, tourists relied less on muscle power and more on motors. With the boats, the wealthier summer people built boathouses, often elaborate structures in their own right, in many cases designed with the look and feel of the main "cottage". In 1887, the Nipissing II was built in Glasgow, Scotland and assembled in Gravenhurst, Ontario . Originally a side paddlewheel steamer,
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#17328410136325952-531: The era of widespread settlement to Muskoka. Settlers could receive free land if they agreed to clear the land, have at least 15 acres (6.1 ha) under cultivation, and build a 16x20 ft, or 320-square-foot (30 m ) house. Settlers under the Homestead Act, however, found the going hard. Clearing 15 acres of dense forest is a huge task. Once the land was clear, the settlers had to attack Muskoka's ubiquitous rocks, which also had to be cleared. Consisting largely of
6048-529: The form of the Muskoka Colonization Road, begun in 1858 and reaching Bracebridge in 1861. The road was roughly cut through from the woods and was of corduroy construction. Logs were placed perpendicular to the route of travel to keep carriages from sinking in the mud and swamps. This made for extremely rugged travel. The railroad pushed north to support the industry, reaching Gravenhurst in 1875 and Bracebridge in 1885. The lumbering industry spawned
6144-510: The government to open the entire Muskoka lake system to navigation. He urged installing locks in Port Carling and opening a cut between Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph at Port Sanfield . The government was eager to reinforce development in light of the faltering agricultural plan, and built the big locks in Port Carling in 1871. Cockburn's steamers had access to the entire lake system. Through
6240-570: The great steamers of the Muskoka Navigation Co, such as the Sagamo . Making regular stops up the lakes, including at Bracebridge, Beaumaris, and Port Carling, tourists could transfer to smaller ships, such as the Islander. These could reach smaller ports. Improving transportation links opened smaller or more remote upper Muskoka lakes (Fairy, Vernon, Mary, Peninsula and Lake of Bays) to tourism around
6336-402: The lakeshore. There are a number of winter recreation activities and facilities in the surrounding area, including skiing, snow tubing and snowboarding resorts, snowmobile, snowshoe and Nordic skiing trails, and ice fishing. Recreational activities include skiing at nearby Horseshoe Resort , Snow Valley , Mount St. Louis Moonstone , Blue Mountain and Hardwood Ski and Bike . Barrie is home to
6432-469: The northern part of Central Ontario, a recreational area with a much-increased summer-time population, including the wilderness of Algonquin Provincial Park . Often referred to as 'Cottage Country', this area's lakes and rivers are dotted with numerous cottages, some of them seasonal, but in recent years there is a growing trend for some of these 'summer cottages' to be used as year-round residences due to
6528-427: The plane and destroying the tower and antenna. The station's 225-foot (69 m) auxiliary tower was also destroyed with damage to the main studio building. CKVR returned to the air on September 19 at a reduced power of 40,000 watts until a new 1,000-foot (305 m) tower was built in 1978. The 1980s and 1990s was a period of substantial growth for Barrie, with the population tripling in the span of 25 years. In 1981,
6624-418: The population. 40.8% of Barrie residents were nonreligious/secular, up from 31.0% in 2011. All other religions and spiritual traditions combined make up 6.7% of residents. The largest non-Christian religions in Barrie are Islam (2.5%), Hinduism (1.5%), and Sikhism (0.8%). The following are some of the city's major employers: Notwithstanding these major employers, Barrie has increasingly been perceived as
6720-533: The primary region of Northern Ontario by federal economic development programs because of these districts' special economic circumstances. Parry Sound, but not Muskoka, is also classed administratively with an extended primary Northern Ontario region by the provincial government for reasons similar to those at the federal level. The southern part of the territorial or judicial district of Nipissing lies in Central Ontario which extends geographically as far north as
6816-421: The province of Ontario. As one of the fastest growing cities in Canada, this designation aims to mitigate urban sprawl and concentrate higher-density development in areas specified by the City of Barrie. Its population growth can be attributed to the emergence of the city as a bedroom community for Toronto. In 1991, Barrie had a population of 62,728 and by 2017, Barrie had an estimated population of 147,000. By 2031,
6912-526: The remainder of the war by training some 350,000 troops for deployment in Europe. During World War II, the Royal Canadian Navy named a Flower-class corvette HMCS Barrie . On September 7, 1977, a private aircraft, owned by Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd, dropped altitude to 500 feet (152 m) in dense fog and struck CKVR's 1,000-foot (305 m) transmitter tower, killing all five people aboard
7008-401: The same latitude, Simcoe , Peterborough , and Northumberland counties and the City of Kawartha Lakes also have a southward orientation as part of the Greater Golden Horseshoe region centered around the west end of Lake Ontario . Even further east, Hastings County and Prince Edward County may be considered part of Central Ontario by different sources but are more often included with
7104-414: The secondary region of Eastern Ontario , mostly because they share the same telephone area codes ( 613 and 343 ), have better transportation links to this region, and are part of the coverage area of Kingston-area media. This leaves Haliburton County as the only census division in Central Ontario that has no affiliations with any other secondary provincial regions of Ontario. The Canadian Shield runs over
7200-544: The shores of Muskoka's four major lakes: Lake Muskoka , Lake Rosseau , Lake Joseph and Lake of Bays . In recent years, various Hollywood and sports stars have built retreats in Muskoka, including Steven Spielberg , Tom Hanks , Mike Weir , Martin Short , Harry Hamlin , Cindy Crawford , and Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell . There are six municipalities in Muskoka (in descending order of population): The aboriginal reserves Wahta Mohawk Territory and Moose Point 79 are in
7296-399: The south-central tier of the province are commonly grouped as a distinct secondary provincial region, nearly all of them have affiliations or orientations towards other primary or secondary provincial regions to the north, south, and east. The Parry Sound territorial or judicial district and Muskoka district municipality are geographically within Central Ontario but are administered as part of
7392-649: The steamer Emily May up the lake to Orillia, and rowed across Lake Couchiching . They walked up the Colonization Road to Gravenhurst, where they vacationed. They liked what they saw and repeated the journey every year, bringing friends and relatives. These early tourist pioneers increased demand for transport services in the region. People were drawn by the fishing, natural environment, and an air free of ragweed, providing relief for hay fever sufferers. Early tourists built camps, but were joined by others desiring better accommodations. Farmers who were barely scratching
7488-752: The steamships, people built cottages farther afield. Demand began dropping for passenger billets on the steamship lines. Meanwhile, demand increased for air transportation. The earliest runways of Muskoka Airport were laid out in 1933. The airport has been intermittently upgraded. It was used strategically during World War II as a training field for the Norwegian Air Force after the Nazi occupation of Norway. The demands of World War II slowed residential development in this area. Wartime shortages kept many Americans at home and many Canadians were engaged in war activities. Postwar prosperity brought another boom based around
7584-559: The terrain can be rather steep in some areas. The minimum elevation of Barrie is 175 metres (574 ft) around the shores of Kempenfelt Bay and the maximum elevation is 427 metres (1,401 ft) northwest of the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport . Barrie falls into Plant Hardiness Zone 5b. The city does not have any major rivers within its limits but does have numerous creeks and streams, most of which empty into Kempenfelt Bay. Barrie has been designated an Urban Growth Centre by
7680-513: The time, it was the largest marijuana grow-op bust in Canada's history. Barrie's Park Place (formerly Molson Park) was chosen to host Live 8 Canada on July 2, 2005. The overall success of the concert helped support a plan to convert the former Molson Park lands into a commercial district. Construction of Park Place began in 2008 but was temporarily interrupted by the Great Recession and an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) appeal that proposed
7776-560: The tornado, and of those roughly one-third were rendered uninhabitable. About 155 people were also injured during the storm, and the tornado remains today one of the most destructive and violent in Canadian history. The tornado caused $ 150 million (1985 CAD ), equivalent to $ 326 million CAD as of 2022. Between June 12–13, 1987, a sculpture called Spirit Catcher by Ron Baird was moved to Barrie from Vancouver , British Columbia , where it had been exhibited as part of Expo '86 . The sculpture
7872-417: The tourist activity for the area and hence the economy. After the war, however, significant advances in the automobile brought demand for improved (paved) roads. These two developments, motorboats and private cars, brought greater overall development of the area; they also stimulated the spread of development around the lakes, as people no longer needed to be near major landings. Freed from the ports of call of
7968-525: The turn of the 20th century, with steamers out of Huntsville servicing hotels like Deerhurst on Peninsula Lake . The Portage Railway between Peninsula Lake and Lake of Bays enabled comparatively easy access to the latter, resulting in a blossoming of tourism there, with 21 hotels eventually springing up, among them notably the Wawa and Britannia hotels and perhaps culminating in the Bigwin Inn . The hotels became
8064-521: The unorganized territory lying between the southern boundary of Humphrey and the Severn River , bounded on the west by the western boundary of Humphrey extended southerly to the Severn River The townships of Stisted, Chaffey, Franklin and Ridout (all from Victoria County) were transferred to the District in 1873, while Humphrey Township was transferred to the Parry Sound District . In 1876,
8160-477: The up-and-coming money earner in the 1880s. The steamship era gave rise to the area's great hotels: Rosseau, Royal Muskoka , Windermere, Clevelands House, Beaumaris, and many more. When the railroad reached Gravenhurst in 1875, the area grew rapidly. Travel from Toronto , Pittsburgh , and New York City became less a matter of endurance than expenditure. Trains regularly made the run from Toronto to Gravenhurst, where travellers and their luggage were transferred to
8256-465: The west, to the northern tip of Lake Couchiching in the south, to the western border of Algonquin Provincial Park in the east. A two-hour drive north of Toronto , it spans 6,475 km (2,500 sq mi). It has some 1,600 lakes, making it a popular cottaging destination. This region, which, along with Haliburton , Kawartha Lakes , and Peterborough County is referred to as " cottage country ", has over 2.1 million visitors annually. Muskoka
8352-477: The year was in 1610 or 1611. In 1826, Lieutenant Henry Briscoe became the first European man known to have crossed the middle of Muskoka. The explorer David Thompson drew the first maps of the area in 1837 and possibly camped near present-day Beaumaris. Canada experienced heavy immigration from Europe in the 19th century, and Muskoka was no different. Large numbers of settlers from the United Kingdom , and to
8448-527: The years he added more ships; when he died in 1905, his Muskoka Navigation Company was the largest of its kind in Canada. Shortly after the arrival of the steamships, another industry began to develop as agriculture never could. 1860 two young men, John Campbell and James Bain Jr , made a journey that marked them as perhaps the first tourists in the region. Taking the Northern Railway to Lake Simcoe , they took
8544-509: Was 147,829, while the census metropolitan area had a population of 212,667 residents. The area was first settled during the War of 1812 as a supply depot for British forces, and Barrie was named after Sir Robert Barrie . The city has grown significantly in recent decades due to the emergence of the technology industry. It is connected to the Greater Golden Horseshoe by Ontario Highway 400 and GO Transit . Significant sectors of
8640-409: Was 38.9 °C (102 °F) on July 5, 1911. In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada , Barrie had a population of 147,829 living in 55,316 of its 57,276 total private dwellings, a change of 4.5% from its 2016 population of 141,434 . With a land area of 99.01 km (38.23 sq mi), it had a population density of 1,493.1/km (3,867.0/sq mi) in 2021. At
8736-534: Was made to the southern part of the lake in Gravenhurst, the logging companies could harvest trees along the entire lakefront with relative ease. Steamships gave them the way to ship the harvest back to the sawmills in Gravenhurst. Sometimes called the Father of Muskoka, Alexander Cockburn began placing steamers on the lake system. Starting with his steamship the Wenonah , Ojibwa for "first daughter", in 1866 Cockburn pressed
8832-464: Was named in 1833 after Sir Robert Barrie , who was in charge of the naval forces in Canada and frequently commanded forces through the city and along the Nine Mile Portage. Barrie was also the final destination for a branch of the Underground Railroad . In the mid-19th century, this network of secret routes allowed many American slaves to enter Barrie and the surrounding area. This contributed to
8928-412: Was only partially surveyed into geographic townships by 1868. Surveying was completed in the coming years, and most, but not all, townships became organized municipally. The first townships were organized in 1869. In 1970, four geographic townships still existed in the District. In 1873, the organized townships were formed into a municipality similar to a county, known as the "Municipal Corporation of
9024-617: Was permanently erected at the foot of Maple Avenue on the shore of Kempenfelt Bay and has since become a major Barrie landmark and tourist attraction. However, with the re-development along the waterfront and Lakeshore Drive, the city is considering moving the Spirit Catcher to a gravel outcropping at the foot of Bayfield Street. On January 12, 2004, the former Molsons plant was found to be home to an illegal marijuana grow-op housing an estimated 30,000 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $ 30 million (~$ 46.4 million in 2023); at
9120-610: Was the primary train station serving Barrie at the time. The Grand Trunk Railway purchased the original Northern Railway in 1888, and the line serving Barrie would become a branch of the Canadian National Railway (CNR). Throughout the latter of the 19th century, steamships ran from Barrie to the Muskoka Territory , Orillia and other communities and stages were taking passengers to Penetanguishene . The period of 1870 to 1890 defined Barrie's downtown development with
9216-746: Was then the hunting grounds of a troop led by Chief Yellowhead or Mesqua Ukie or Musquakie . He was revered by the government, who built a home for him in Orillia where he lived until his death at age 95. Muskoka has 60,000 permanent residents, but an additional 100,000 seasonal property owners spend their summers there, making it a major summer colony . Due to the region's popularity and high property costs, hundreds of Muskoka properties are available for short-term rental through online platforms. Many of Muskoka's seasonal properties are large summer estates, some of which have been passed down through families for generations. Most of these properties can be found along
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