* A Message from your Councillor
Friends,
It is an honor and a privilege to have been elected to Barrie City council for the 2006-2010 term. I would like to thank all the Ward 9 residents who supported my election campaign. I look forward to representing your concerns at Barrie City council.
Since being elected your councillor for ward 9, I have been working diligently to bring accountability to the forefront for City Hall and accessibility to city resources and myself. I believe it is important that we communicate and share information with each other in order to build upon our dynamic community. I am continually taking action to make sure our city develops in a positive direction.
Please don't hesitate to contact me and feel free to call or e-mail anytime. I will strive to respond within 48 hrs. You are a part of Ward 9 and a part of our City, I would be thrilled to hear any ideas, comments, or concerns you have.
Warm Regards,
Andrew J. Prince
Councillor - Ward 9
A Historical Sketch of Barrie
Barrie's beginnings can be traced back to First Nations People using the western shores of Kempenfelt Bay as a place of rest before traveling the portage that ran between Lake Simcoe and the Nottawasaga River to Lake Huron. The War of 1812 resulted in increased use allowing for British troops and supplies to bypass the American forces at Detroit. At the war's end, settlers arrived and took up residence at the end of the portage, beginning the traces of Barrie's first community. The British military presence is reflected in many street names, and even in the name of the city itself, in honour of a British Admiral - Sir Robert Barrie Commodore.As our city grew, it began to export local resources. Trees nearly two hundred feet tall were logged and shipped out, serving as masts for British ships, and railway ties. In the winter months, huge blocks of ice were cut from the frozen waters of Kempenfelt Bay and shipped down to Toronto, Buffalo and New York for refrigeration purposes. Three large storage houses enabled the blocks to be effectively stored for shipment during the summer months.
In 1853, the hamlet of Barrie separated from Vespra Township and sent its own representative to County Council. Jonathan Lane was the first Reeve of Barrie. Barrie was officially incorporated as a Town in 1871. The first mayor of the Town of Barrie was Robert Simpson.
Between the late 1800s and the early twentieth century, Barrie underwent a number of changes that contributed to its rapid growth. The long-anticipated railway connection in 1865 joined Barrie to the City of York, its resources and industry. But it was the building of Highway 400 in 1950, providing tourists easy access and exposure to our Beautiful City by the Bay that made Barrie a favorite tourist destination in Central Ontario for recreation enthusiasts from across Ontario and around the world.
On January 1, 1959, Barrie was incorporated as a City and at that time Barrie was the only city in Simcoe County. The first mayor of the City of Barrie was Willard L. Kinzie.
The City of Barrie serves as the County of Simcoe's principal urban area in terms of population, employment and the delivery of services. Barrie has developed its role as a strong regional urban growth centre within the provincial settlement pattern. The City is the location of many private and public sector institutions and facilities serving a market that extends well beyond the current boundaries of Simcoe County. The City contains sufficient designated lands within its present municipal boundaries to accommodate a planned population of 175,000. Infrastructure improvements are also planned to facilitate the achievement of this population.1
1 Based upon the book From Portage to Prosperity; a Brief History of Barrie, Ontario.
City of Barrie - Coat of Arms and City Badge
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