Barrie (Ontario)

Barrie
	; Downtown Barrie from Kempenfelt Bay
; coat of arms	; flag
Location in Ontario
	Barrie
	Barrie
State :	Canada
Province :	Ontario
Coordinates :	44 ° 23 ′ N , 79 ° 42 ′ W Coordinates: 44 ° 23 ′ N , 79 ° 42 ′ W
Height :	252 m
Area :	77.39 km²
Residents :	135,711 (as of 2011)
Population density :	1,753.6 inhabitants / km²
Time zone :	Eastern Time ( UTC − 5 )
Postal code :	L4M-L4N
Foundation :	1837
Mayor :	Jeff Lehman
Website :	www.barrie.ca

Barrie [ ˈbɛɹi ] is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario with 135,711 inhabitants (as of 2011). The city is located on Lake Simcoe in the southern part of central Ontario. Barrie is the seat of Simcoe County , but independent from the county itself.

history

In its beginnings, Barrie was a collection of warehouses along the Nine Mile Portage , an ancient Indian transportation route between Kempenfelt Bay and Fort Willow . Barrie was also an important point during the British-American War of 1812 . The city was named after Sir Robert Barrie in 1833 , who was the responsible commander of the Canadian armed forces in the area of today's city of Barrie. Barrie was also one end of the Underground Railroad .

geography

Barrie is located in southern Ontario , about 90 km north of Toronto . The city is accessible via Highways 11 , 26 and 400 . The historic Downtown Barries is located at the western end of Kempenfelt Bay , a bay of Lake Simcoe .

economy

The largest companies in the city are (as of 2011, excerpt):

Barrie Metals - Global Electric Electronic Processing (Headquarters)
Barrie Welding and Machine
CanPlas Industries (headquarters)
CSR Cosmetic Solutions Inc. (headquarters)
Glueckler Metal Inc.
Prodomax Automation Inc.
Western Mechanical Electrical Millwright Services (Headquarters)
Yachiyo of Ontario Manufacturing Inc.

Near Barrie is the Canadian Forces Base Borden (CFB Borden) airfield , the founding site of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

Another important economic sector is the tourism sector. However, this is concentrated around the port area and the inner city area. Downtown Barrie is home to several historically older buildings. There are also several boutiques, restaurants and other establishments in the city.

Several festivities are held in the port area every year, which also leads to an influx of visitors. These include: 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 the New Year's countdown .

In the summer months, many tourists and water sports enthusiasts are drawn to the beaches of Barrie. These include: Minet's Point Beach , Johnsons Beach , The Gables , Tyndale Beach, and Centennial Beach .