Barrie

This designated building has been many things since its rebuild in 1876 (after it burned in 1873). For the last eight years, it has been a cheese and chocolate shop. J'adore carries over 150 varieties of cheese from around the world. And they make chocolate onsite. Come to this heritage building, learn about its history and treat yourself!

The Barrie Fire and Emergency Service Headquarters, opened in 2011, includes a museum pertaining to the history of the Barrie Fire Department — featuring antique trucks, equipment and uniforms. The main entrance corridor with its centre ice insert (which nods to the former Dunlop Arena) will be available for people to tour. Visitor parking is off Eccles Street.

The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) represents over 28,000 registered citizens and delivers a full suite of programs and services through 30-plus offices provincewide. Here at the Barrie-South Simcoe office, learn about the MNO and the history of the Métis people, meet MNO Vice Chair Sharon Cadeau and learn about harvesting rights from Councillor/Captain of the Hunt Greg Garrett.

During Doors Open, come and explore this transformative, integrative wellness and creative space shared with Bliss²Ann Green Yoga and UPlift Black. Using anti-oppressive and inclusive practices, UPlift and Bliss² offer several wholistic programs for professional development and to promote healthy and sustainable living. Experience what their weekly drop-ins and programs are like, including open-mic sessions, painting, photography and yoga!

Wedge Studio is an artist-run pottery studio located in the former Brown & Company building (a general store from circa 1873), which operated in these premises. Hundreds of bushels of grain flowed each day through the rear of the building, where the pottery studio is now located. During Doors Open, come and enjoy demonstrations of throwing on the potter’s wheel.

Rogers TV Barrie is one of many community channels across Ontario. Programming includes local sports produced with their mobile production truck. Talk shows, fitness shows and cooking shows are all produced in their state-of-the-art studio and control room. At Rogers TV, volunteers work side by side with professional staff, developing programming and learning how the broadcast industry functions.

This former Grand Trunk Railway station is today the Southshore Community Centre. During Doors Open Barrie, visit the restored building and tour the adjacent Heritage Military Park (including Vimy Oaks, the Victoria Cross cenotaph and the new Royal Canadian Air Force Memorial). Members from Heritage Barrie will also be on hand to answer questions and provide information.

The Barrie Historical Archive’s interactive walking tour explores downtown Barrie in a whole new way — revealing a surprising number of historical hotels and sites that have catered to railway and lumber workers, politicians and tourists since the 1800s. For Digital Doors Open, follow along with local historian and storyteller Mary Harris in the video below as she describes the history, colourful proprietors, scandals, fights, grand events and unusual guests from years gone by.

Barrie’s historical neighbourhoods are unique and reflect Barrie’s natural and cultural heritage. These neighbourhoods each have their own distinctive sense of place, rich history and defining attributes and characteristics. Aspects of each neighbourhood’s location, geography, amenities and housing types and tenure contribute to the overall story of Barrie’s past. Heritage Barrie encourages citizens and visitors to explore the history of Barrie, and to discover more about the places and people. Download this PDF and explore Barrie’s neighbourhoods at your own pace. And check out the video below to get a taste of Barrie’s past. (Photo: Dunlop Street)

This unusually shaped building — erected as a military drill hall and armoury — was the headquarters of the 35th Battalion Simcoe Foresters until 1914 when it became auxiliary to the new Queen’s Park armoury. In 1948, it became a farmers’ market. In recent years, the building was revitalized and designated for its architectural/historical significance, and is now a regimental museum.

The Barrie Simcoe Emergency Services Campus became operational in March 2020. This modern facility houses the Barrie Police Service (in existence since 1853), the Simcoe County Paramedic Services and the Barrie Fire and Emergency Service backup dispatch communications — all in one location. During Doors Open, come and meet some of your community officers and tour some of the facilities.