Neighbourhood

One of the fastest growing cities in Ontario, Barrie is attracting more new residents every year. This modern centre of retail, business, education, and leisure grew by 8% from 2016 to 2021, with the population now sitting at more than 212,000*. New residents are delighted to discover how Barrie fulfills big-city needs while remaining down to Earth and friendly. In Barrie, there’s something fun and interesting for every member of your family, all year round.

Education & Schools

Whatever age your children have reached, you’ll find a diverse range of educational institutions in Barrie, including elementary schools, secondary schools and colleges, all intent on providing a solid education. Teachers are devoted to ensuring your child not only enjoys learning but also builds social skills, resilience, and character.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

POST SECONDARY

Transit & Highways

Commuter-friendly Connections

South Barrie is spearheading growth and infrastructure improvement in this prime area, with increasingly easy commutes on the horizon. Located only a two-minute drive from Highway 400, the community will see the future addition of a new exit onto McKay Rd., making it even easier for you to get where you need to go.

Just a few minutes west of South Barrie, Highway 27 is a great alternative route south into the GTA or north as it becomes Essa Rd. and goes direct into downtown Barrie. And, with the South Barrie GO station a short distance east, you’re all set for carefree commuting to your office in Toronto, your seat at the Jays game, or your prime spot at a concert.

Exciting Places To Play In Barrie

Four Seasons of Fun

Not having fun is not an option when you live in South Barrie. The surrounding area boasts a head-spinning number of outstanding amusements and recreational opportunities, all designed to keep you and your kids in your happy place. Plus, Barrie’s waterfront location means you can always zip up highway 400 and take advantage of the beaches, parks, and boat launches on the lake.

SPRING/SUMMER

FALL/WINTER

Top Hockey Spots In Barrie

When the Puck Drops

Barrie is a big hockey city, with a huge variety of options to get out on the ice and play – whatever your age and skill level. And since hockey is so exciting to watch, you can always cheer on the home teams.

Leagues & Recreational

Barrie Minor Hockey League Association
This league is affiliated with the Barrie Colts OHL organization and gives kids a great learning experience playing on teams and in tournaments.

Barrie Women’s Hockey Association
This is an amazing opportunity for women to play next-level hockey on the Barrie Sharks team – and take advantage of power skating and hockey skill lessons.

Barrie Men’s Hockey League
Men who live to play hockey can join this league for regular game play throughout the winter or summer season.

Renting Indoor Ice
To organize hockey games with friends and family, you can rent the ice at several Barrie arenas, including Allandale Recreation Centre Arena, Barrie Molson Centre Arena, East Bayfield Community Centre Arena, and Eastview Arena.

Outdoor Shinny
Once the winter hits and the temperature drops, a number of outdoor rinks in Barrie offer designated times for shinny. Plus, the Will Dwyer Park Community Ice Rink is a shinny-only venue.

Year-round Fun For All

Get Your Festival On!

All year round, Barrie hosts a spectacular variety of festivals that celebrate everything from music, to food, to arts and culture. These day-long or multi-day events bring everyone together for the sheer enjoyment of being part of something big and fun. Here’s a quick guide to some of the top festivals held in Barrie every year.

Barrie Waterfront Festival
Held in May every year at Centennial Park, this festival features musical acts, food trucks, vendors, a beer garden, midway and more.

Magic Of Lights
Get into the car with your family and head to this unique and dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience.

Drysdale’s Christmas & Holiday Village
A country farm featuring live carolling, holiday music, magic show, bonfire, train rides, and horse-drawn wagon rides.

Barrie Santa Parade
Taking place every November, this parade gives kids an opportunity to see Santa as he rides his sled through the downtown streets.

Barrie’s Diwali Bash
Everyone is invited to the festivities, which include Indian dinner, talent shows, performances, photography, a fashion show, kids corner, vendors, and a dance party.

Family Fright Fest
Bring your little witches and ghosts to this Hallowe’en festival that offers magic shows, a haunted house, costumed characters, games and crafts and a haunted house.

Barrie Winterfest
Winter gets a high profile at this festival with ice and snow sculptures, lumberjack shows, polar bear dip, family entertainment, drop-in activities, and skating.

Dragonboat Festival
This event gets teams of co-workers, friends and family together to compete on the water, while raising money for charity.

Noella Festival
This six-week-long festival in downtown Barrie includes light displays, a tree-lighting celebration, live music, and a holiday market.

Boots & Hearts
Canada’s largest country music and camping event takes place at Burl’s Creek and features some top-name stars — sometimes even Shania Twain.

Parks & Green Spaces

Great Green Escapes

One thing that makes Barrie such an amazing place to live is its vast green spaces and parkland. Those who seek solace in the green embrace of nature, who love to go for a trail run, dog walkers and wanderers – everyone can find their favourite parks to escape to.

Essa Pindex Recreational Trail
Just up Essa Rd. you’ll arrive at Essa Pindex Recreational Trail, a 4-km. loop through forested woods. Surrounded on all sides by roads, this easy-to-access swathe of greenery is popular with hikers, birdwatchers and walkers of leashed dogs.

Simcoe County Forest Dyer Tract
Growing tall within the 80 acres of this healthy mixed forest are sugar maple and red oak, American beech, black cherry, basswood, white pine, and hemlock. This hiker’s paradise encompasses the Cathedral of Trees and the West Creek Trail, and is connected to the equally magnificent Ardagh Bluffs Natural Area.

Lover’s Creek Ravine
This wooded area with an endearing name can be walked through in less than an hour for a quick break from civilization – with or without your loved one. The trail is flat and the going is easy.

Barrie Dog Off-leash Recreation Area
Give your pooch a taste of freedom in this fenced-in park for canines and their favourite people. Dogs can run around and play with each other, and there’s also a 2-km. walking trail where you can walk your furry friend.

Other Parks & Trails

The Gables Park
250 Tollendal Mill Rd.

Sunnidale Park
265 Sunnidale Rd.

Heritage Park
5 Simcoe St.

Ardagh Bluffs
174 Mapleton Ave.

Nine Mile Portage Heritage Trail
Bayfield St. & Dunlop St. W.

West Creek Trail Loop
29-31 Farmstead Cres.

Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary
8633 10th Line Rr 2

GOLF COURSES

Driving Ambition

What better way to get fresh air, spend time with friends and family, and indulge in a little friendly competition than testing your skills in a game of golf? Barrie is one of the best places in southern Ontario to get your golf game on, and quite close to South Barrie you’ll find your new favourite places to play.

National Pines Golf Club
This private club only minutes from South Barrie opened in 1992 to much acclaim, partly because of its design by Thomas McBroom. You’ll have to stay focused on the ball and avoid being distracted by the course’s undulating greens and forest-fringed fairways. Play is challenging but the reward is the great variety of food and beverages available in the Clubhouse.

Tangle Creek Golf Course
A public club, Tangle Creek is nestled in scenic, rolling hills, and has been ranked as one of Ontario’s finest courses, and Barrie’s #1 facility. The course boasts bent grass greens and windswept fairways, along with impeccable food and beverage service, and a 7-acre practice driving range.

Innisbrook Golf Course
Located amidst green fields and wooded glades, and just east of South Barrie, this club offers a real bounty of options for play. Join as a member, play casually under Public rates, or join a league. Innisbrook has a variety of Leagues to keep things competitive and social – Men’s, Ladies’, Couples’ and more!

The Nest At Friday Harbour
Designed by award-winning golf course architect Doug Carrick, The Nest offers 18 holes of tranquil beauty set along Lake Simcoe. With sculpted dips and hollows that add challenge and inspire precision, this world-class semi-private course boasts stunning varied landscapes from every vantage point.

Shopping

Fabulous Finds

As one of Ontario’s biggest cities, Barrie is a centre of retail that attracts people from all over Simcoe County to shop for life’s essentials. Everything you could imagine ever wanting is available in Barrie, and from South Barrie, you’re only a few minutes from shopping malls featuring familiar brands, specialty stores, and big-box outlets. Awaiting exploration not far from home are a few intriguing shops as well.

Dining & Restaurants

Gourmand Adventure

Barrie is a hot spot for elevated food experiences, and with its ever-increasing population diversity, you can expect an even wider variety of cuisines to appear on the food map in future. Venture out from South Barrie to sample the offerings at your local purveyors of gourmet-quality restaurant experiences.

Area Amenities

A vital part of a flourishing, growing city, South Barrie offers a wealth of choice for every moment of your life. From an array of restaurants, retail outlets, and shopping malls, to places to play indoors and out, and green spaces to renew and reinvigorate, this booming area gives you the luxury of infinite possibilities every day.

Legend