88-485: The Northlander was a passenger train operated by the provincially-owned Ontario Northland Railway in southern and northeastern Ontario , Canada. In 2012, rail service was discontinued and replaced with express bus service. Rail service will be reinstated in the mid-2020s with an expanded route, greater frequency, new Siemens Venture trainsets manufactured by Siemens Mobility , and various track and station upgrades. The new bi-directional route will run up to seven days
176-524: A Charger locomotive and three Venture passenger cars . The train sets are for the restoration of Northlander train service between Toronto and Cochrane, which would operate four to seven times per week depending on season. There would be 16 stops: Toronto ( Union Station ), Langstaff , Gormley , Washago , Gravenhurst , Bracebridge , Huntsville , South River , North Bay , Temagami , Temiskaming Shores , Englehart , Kirkland Lake/ Swastika , Matheson , Timmins and Cochrane . ONR operates or operated
264-612: 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
352-748: 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
440-610: A cafeteria lounge car. It ran on ONR tracks from Cochrane to North Bay and on CN tracks south of North Bay to Toronto. Prior to the 2018 Ontario general election , Doug Ford promised to restore the service. Ontario Northland prepared a business plan and submitted it to the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario in late 2019, and the resumption of the service was mentioned in the province's Draft Transportation Plan for Northern Ontario published in December 2020, although no timeline
528-547: 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
616-660: 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
704-402: A plan for passenger rail services. In May 2021, the provincial government announced plans for Ontario Northland and Metrolinx to resume passenger operations between Toronto and northeastern Ontario with a 13-stop route to begin service by the mid-2020s. In November 2021, the decision was made to make the new terminus Timmins (previously Cochrane) due to its size and the fact that it serves as
792-583: A railway on this route still desired, the new Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway was incorporated on 17 March 1902, by the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway Act of the Ontario parliament . The railway was to be a provincial Crown corporation overseen by the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway Commission. Construction on the railway started in 1903, and the settlement of Redwater in
880-524: A regional transportation hub. A test run was conducted in March 2021, and again in November of 2021 where several northern Ontario mayors, MPPs, and local residents were taken from North Bay to Toronto's Union station. In December 2022, the provincial government announced that it would purchase 3 new train sets from Siemens Mobility Limited at a cost of $ 140 million. Each train set would consist of
968-618: 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
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#17327727483001056-466: A routing agreement in which ONR would transport CN's freight traffic between Noranda and either Hearst or North Bay. On April 14, 2010, there was news of a proposed Ontario Northland takeover of the controversial Ottawa Valley rail tracks. However, this development never came to fruition. On March 23, 2012, the Ontario government announced that it would begin to wind down the ONTC, citing increased costs to
1144-457: 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
1232-604: 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 ,
1320-558: A week between northern Ontario and Toronto. On December 15, 2022, the Government of Ontario announced that it had purchased three trainsets from Siemens Mobility for use on the Northlander , each comprising a Charger locomotive, two Venture coaches, and a cab car operating in a push-pull configuration on trains between Toronto and Timmins. By December 2023, further details became known. The trip from Toronto to Cochrane on
1408-560: A week from Toronto Union Station to Timmins , with an additional new rail connection from Timmins to Cochrane (where passengers can then connect directly to the Polar Bear Express at Cochrane Station ) and express bus service from Matheson to Cochrane Station. Prior to 2012, the Northlander operated six days per week year-round in both directions and connected Cochrane with Toronto . The train typically consisted of one engine, an auxiliary power unit, two coaches and
1496-659: Is a Canadian railway operated by the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission , a provincial Crown agency of the government of Ontario . Originally built to develop the Lake Timiskaming and Lake Nipissing areas, the railway soon became a major factor in the economic growth of the province. After decades of difficult construction through the Canadian Shield , workers reached James Bay in 1932. While blasting
1584-409: Is a canoe car, which is in service in the summer as part of the Polar Bear Express passenger train. The car can hold up to 18 canoes. Canoeists can put canoes on this car as part of their baggage, although canoes are often stowed in boxcars. It is the only known train car specifically designed for transporting canoes and kayaks . In 1977, the railway purchased four RAm/DE train sets retired from
1672-607: 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
1760-469: 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
1848-497: 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
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#17327727483001936-468: 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
2024-790: 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
2112-623: The Abitibi Canyon Generating Station was being built on the Abitibi River . Between 1928 and 1930 the railway was extended north at a slow pace. The pace of construction was quickened in 1930 as a make-work project due to the depression. The extension to James Bay was opened on July 15, 1932. The terminus of the railway was at the mouth of the Moose River near the old trading post of Revillon Frères . It
2200-471: 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,
2288-566: The Newmarket subdivision was abandoned, then tracks removed by the Canadian National Railway in 1996. The old line is now Oro-Medonte Rail Trail, Barrie North Shore Trail and Barrie Waterfront Heritage Trail. The Dream Catcher Express was a seasonal passenger rail service that ran annually over a period of six days from the end of September to the beginning of October. It operated between North Bay and Temagami along
2376-700: 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,
2464-593: 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
2552-531: The Trans Europ Express by the Dutch and Swiss railways , for use on its Northlander train. However, the experiment was not entirely successful. The locomotives were scrapped in 1984, although the passenger cars survived until the early 1990s. These surviving passenger cars were pulled by rebuilt Canadian locomotives ( EMD FP7 ). The rear end of the locomotives was altered to fit to original cars. With
2640-571: 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
2728-468: 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
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2816-498: 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,
2904-722: 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
2992-596: The Canadian locomotives, the control car / DVT lost their function. Many passenger cars used on ONR trains today are former single-level GO Transit cars that were extensively refurbished after being used for commuter service around Toronto. In 2004, Ontario Northland purchased ten passenger cars, including dome cars, from BC Rail and has used some of them on the Polar Bear Express service between Cochrane and Moosonee. Barrie, Ontario Barrie
3080-458: 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,
3168-512: The Lake Timiskaming area. The railway reached Englehart in 1906 and Cochrane in 1909. In the next few years, several branch lines were built. In 1921, construction on a line north to James Bay was started. In 1923, the new Conservative premier of Ontario, Howard Ferguson , halted further construction, saying that it would be unprofitable. For four years the terminus of the line remained at Fraserdale , near Abitibi Canyon , where
3256-948: The Moose River, about 19 km (12 mi) south of the shore of James Bay . There is one major branchline running eastward from Swastika through Kirkland Lake and over the Quebec border to end at Rouyn-Noranda . The railway's branch from Swastika to Rouyn-Noranda, including 40 kilometres of track in Quebec, is operated by a subsidiary , the Nipissing Central Railway . Shorter spur lines also exist running west from Rock Junction to Sherman Mine , south-west from Porquis Junction to Kidd Creek Mine , about 22 km east of Timmins , north-east from Porquis to Iroquois Falls and south from Opaz Junction to Agrium mine site. Several other mining spurs opened and closed with
3344-615: 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
3432-710: 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
3520-483: The Northlander passenger rail service to northeastern Ontario. President and CEO of Ontario Northland Corina Moore said the money will be split over the next three years. She said it will look after passenger coaches, infrastructure and stations. The province said it continues to eye an in-service date of 2025. They said that the service will be offered on seasonal travel demands and will range from four and seven days
3608-479: The Ontario Government announced that it would invest $ 75-million (CAD), into infrastructure and towards resuming service between Toronto and Timmins. Connections with other railway systems are made as follows: There are a series of regular runs including: The railway currently owns about 25 diesel locomotives and roughly 700 items of rolling stock . One of its more unusual pieces of rolling stock
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3696-573: 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
3784-608: 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
3872-506: 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
3960-483: 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
4048-416: 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
4136-522: The charter and used it as the basis for a new line running northwest from Parry Sound to Sudbury , with an additional line running from Parry Sound south to Toronto . The section running south to Toronto opened on November 6, 1906. The northern section was completed in 1908, although by this time it had been rechartered as part of the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway (CNOR). With the original plans having been dropped, and
4224-474: 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
4312-591: 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
4400-712: 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
4488-650: 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
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#17327727483004576-403: 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
4664-505: 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
4752-547: The company to purchase new coaches and refurbish rolling stock for the Polar Bear Express . This decision was supported by other members of Provincial Parliament after the auditor general's review cited that it would have cost the taxpayer $ 820 million instead of saving $ 265.9 million over three years had the divestment proceeded. In December 2020, the province released the draft transportation plan for Northern Ontario which recommended continuing to move forward on
4840-572: 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,
4928-402: 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
5016-626: The divestment. They indicated that the ONR provides a fundamental link to many remote and rural communities and provides freight transport to many companies, including mining and forestry, allowing them to thrive. They indicate that the government maintained its funding to the GO Transit network in Southern Ontario and it is important to not forget about the important service the ONR provides to Northern Ontario residents. In February 2014,
5104-423: 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;
5192-470: The following passenger services: In June 2007 the Polar Bear Express was expanded from a seasonal excursion service to a year-round passenger train, replacing the Little Bear mixed freight/passenger train, which had operated 3 days per week. The new train carries some equipment not commonly found on passenger trains, including chain cars (flat cars) for passenger vehicles and boxcars. In April 2022
5280-504: The following stations: Service to Barrie and Orillia ended in 1992 when the Northlander was rerouted to the Bala subdivision . Before the former TEE trainsets were retired, Barrie and Orillia were typically served in one direction only to avoid turning the train in Toronto; routing a giant loop around Lake Simcoe. Newer ex-GO Transit cars were bi-directional. That corresponding section of
5368-521: The government and stagnant ridership. ONR passenger train service between Toronto and Cochrane (the Northlander ) was withdrawn and replaced with an augmented bus service, and all of the corporation's assets were to be sold off. On August 16, the Ontario Government announced that Northlander train service would end on September 28, 2012, and Ontera will be sold off. Northern Ontario municipal leaders had continued to express their fears regarding
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#17327727483005456-404: 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
5544-682: The mines they served. Since 1993, the ONR operates a section of the National Transcontinental Railway running west from Cochrane to Calstock . The line was originally chartered as the Lake Nipissing And James Bay Railway in 1884. The original route ran roughly northward from Callander to Moose River on James Bay. However, in 1902, before construction started, the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) took over
5632-457: The municipality of Temagami began as a small request stop when the railway reached the area of the Lower and Upper Redwater Lakes. As it passed by Long Lake, near the 103 mile marker, the largest silver rush in Canada was sparked by workers looking for trees for railway ties. The town of Cobalt grew out of the fortunes of silver taken from the grounds . By 1905, it reached New Liskeard in
5720-474: The new premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne , met with northern community leaders and the head of the company and union to discuss the future of the company. They decided the union and management would present a reconstruction plan to the government for consideration. In late February 2014 a report to restructure the ONTC was delivered to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines. The proposal detailed how
5808-450: The organization could be modernized both culturally and in job reductions through attrition. The report was well received by the minister who appreciated how management and labour come together to explore options for the corporation. In April 2014 the provincial government concluded the company would remain in public hands. However, Ontera (its telecommunication division) would be sold off to Bell Aliant . The government would reinvest in
5896-427: 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,
5984-418: 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
6072-427: The proposed stations, Gormley and Langstaff , are not ONR stations from the original Northlander route but they are serving GO Transit Richmond Hill line . Stations south of North Bay to Washago and south of Cochrane would need to be restored as they have either become inactive or adapted for other uses. In April 2022, Ontario's Progressive Conservative government announced it has earmarked $ 75 million to restore
6160-421: 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,
6248-416: 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
6336-466: The restored Northlander is expected take 10 hours and 40 minutes. Trains would leave Cochrane in the evening, and return in the evening or overnight. Station along the route would be slightly different from the pre-2012 service; the 16 stops would be Union Station, Langstaff , Gormley , Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Temiskaming Shores, Englehart, Kirkland Lake/Swastika, Matheson, Timmins, and Cochrane. Cobalt
6424-453: The route through the shield, geologists discovered deposits of valuable minerals such as gold , silver , copper and nickel . The railway also made it possible to exploit the timber resources of Northern Ontario . Its north–south mainline is located entirely in Ontario , starting at its southern terminus at North Bay , running northward through Cobalt , New Liskeard , Cochrane , and on to its northern terminus at Moosonee on
6512-675: The same initials. The Ontario railway often had boxcars misdirected in the United States , while receiving invoices that should have gone to Texas . The railway's name was changed to the Ontario Northland Railway on April 5, 1946, when a bill amending the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway Act received assent. Three new mines were opened in Northern Ontario in the 1960s. Sherman Mine in Temagami
6600-503: The same route as the Northlander . Train sets consisted of several single deck cars, a dining car, and a dome car. The service was by reservation only and provided one run per day. Trains departed in the morning and returned in the early evening. The Dream Catcher Express allowed passengers to view the fall colours in Northern Ontario. This service, along with the Northlander, ended in 2012. Ontario Northland Railway The Ontario Northland Railway ( reporting mark ONT )
6688-572: 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
6776-521: 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
6864-509: 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
6952-519: 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
7040-413: 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
7128-577: Was named Moosonee , from the Cree meaning "at the moose". A name change for the railway was first proposed in 1942 by Arthur Cavanagh , who was chairman of the commission between 1940 and 1944. He noted that it would have the advantage of associating the railway with the province, not just the District of Timiskaming . A name change would also avoid confusion with the Texas and New Orleans Railway , which had
7216-473: 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
7304-555: Was opened in 1968, Adams Mine in Kirkland Lake in 1963, and Kidd Creek Mine in Timmins in 1967. The Ontario Northland Railway built spurs to serve these mines. In 1993, CN applied to abandon sections of its underused former National Transcontinental Railway mainline across northern Ontario (it had previously abandoned the portion of the line between Calstock and Nakina in 1988). The portion between Calstock and Cochrane
7392-624: 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
7480-399: Was provided. In May 2021, the provincial government announced plans for Ontario Northland and Metrolinx to resume rail operations between Toronto and northeastern Ontario with a 13-stop route to begin service by the mid-2020s. The route would provide service from Toronto to Timmins or Cochrane and would be available between four and seven days a week, based on seasonal travel demands. Two of
7568-424: Was sold to ONR. In December 2000, the Ontario government announced that it would be privatizing the railway. CN submitted a bid in March 2002, and in October the government gave it exclusive rights to negotiate a purchase of the railway. However, the deal fell through on July 2, 2003, over the government's insistence on job guarantees, and the railway remained in public hands. On February 25, 2005, CN and ONR signed
7656-446: Was the only station from the original Northlander route that was not included as a new stop for the resumed service. Northbound trains would have a layover in Timmins before proceeding to Cochrane, but an optional express bus service would be available. Instead of a dining car, the new Northlander would have seat service for food and beverages. Ridership by 2041 is expected to be 60,000 per year. The Northlander made scheduled stops at
7744-630: 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
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