The City of Barrie has earned national recognition for its leadership and innovation, receiving the Award of Excellence for Collaboration from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA). The award was presented to Barrie CAO Michael Prowse by Brenda Orchard, Ontario’s CAMA representative, during a recent ceremony.

The honour highlights a mentorship program developed in partnership with Innisfil and Simcoe County, which has made a notable impact in the areas of sustainability, staff development, and innovation. Orchard praised Prowse for sharing the recognition with his team, stating, “That’s what a good leader does,” and noted growing interest from municipalities across Canada looking to adopt similar programs. She also acknowledged the joint team effort at a recent Simcoe County Council meeting.

In another collaborative effort, Barrie residents—particularly older adults—will benefit from a new Age-Friendly Activity Calendar, developed by Simcoe County in partnership with Community Connection. This digital platform allows seniors to find local and virtual events across five regional zones, with plans to expand to 18 areas. The tool offers printable versions and aims to close communication gaps for rural and socially isolated seniors. Future enhancements include multilingual support and integrated transportation information.

City Council also addressed Barrie’s ongoing recovery from the March 2025 ice storm, approving an application to the provincial Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance Program for cost reimbursement. Council commended city staff for their emergency response and continued efforts to secure federal funding for tree replacement through the 2 Billion Trees program.

As Simcoe County’s largest city and a growing tourism hub, Barrie also received a 2024 tourism impact update. According to Tourism Barrie, the city welcomed over one million unique visitors last year, generating a $113 million economic impact. Sport tourism led the way, contributing $42 million, surpassing festivals and events. The report identified ongoing challenges around hotel capacity and called for expanded accommodations to meet growing demand. Key visitor demographics include family recreation seekers, multicultural tourists, and mature rural visitors.