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Two downtown Barrie water lots harbouring the Island Princess are being expropriated by the city Council passed a bylaw to that effect on April 30 “We kind of anticipated that and now we’re starting the process It should be a straightforward expropriation,” said Darick Battaglia “The lawyers will work out the details using the Expropriate Act as a guideline.” The Island Princess sits in the water lots behind 185 Dunlop St The province generally defines expropriation as taking or buying land without the consent of the owner by an expropriating authority The city has said it wants the water lots to expand and enhance the public waterfront This property also consists of shoreline with an approximate depth of three feet “The destination of the (Island) Princess and the price (of the water lots) are yet to be determined,” Battaglia said “It is all part of working within the guidelines of the Expropriation Act.” A real-estate agent and mortgage broker by profession Battaglia has owned the water lots for about 25 years Battaglia said he’s unsure when the expropriation will be settled But in the past Battaglia has said he would like any water lot deal with the city to include a spot for his boat Battaglia said there is also a nice spot for the Island Princess in the Barrie Marina a member of the condominium association board for the Lakhouse Lakefront Residences said people there also want it to relocate “The condominium board of the Lakhouse is obviously concerned about the parking of the Battaglia boat in front of our building,” he said “Although the board has taken no official position on the boat or the expropriation of the water lots by the city we know that our residents would want us to do whatever the board feels is reasonable to help Mr Battaglia find an alternate location for the boat.” 11 to have city legal staff begin negotiations to acquire part of water lots 26 and 27, in front of 185 Dunlop St The motion also said a new capital project will be created for the acquisition or expropriation of this property and potential future acquisitions of other waterfront properties would be funded from the city’s tax capital reserve This will provide city staff with the ability to negotiate the acquisition of water lots along the shore of Kempenfelt Bay within the North Shore Trail system beginning with the acquisition of Battaglia’s property The city’s 2023 waterfront strategic plan update includes additional recommendations with respect to improvements to the North Shore Trail and Sam Cancilla Park areas.  These recommendations include exploring water access points at Sam Cancilla Park which could be addressed if the water lots were owned by the city More Spotlight > Proudly serving Barrie and surrounding areas with care and compassion we're more than just your local Optometrist office—we're a husband-and-wife team proudly serving the Barrie community with personalized our experienced doctors blend advanced technology with a warm Whether you're due for a comprehensive eye exam or searching for the perfect pair of frames Your account was created successfully.You will receive an email that contains a code to verify your account Please paste this code into the field below and press 'Confirm' Enter your email address below to receive a code to reset your password have been charged in connection to a drug-trafficking investigation the Nottawasaga OPP Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) entered into a drug-trafficking investigation. Between April 30 and May 1 police say search warrants were executed in Barrie More than 2,000 grams of cocaine and more than 100 grams of fentanyl None of the allegations have been tested in court.  Both accused were held for a bail court at the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie Units that assisted with the searches and the arrests that followed include the provincial ROPE Unit the Central Region emergency response team Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to call Nottawasaga OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.crimestopperssdm.com BarrieNewsNearly $200K of cocaine, fentanyl seized in drug trafficking investigationBy Mike LangPublished: May 04, 2025 at 10:20AM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved which were executed between April 30 and May 1 led to the seizure of more than 2,000 grams of cocaine and more than 100 grams of fentanyl valued at more than $192,000 The investigation was launched in the fall of 2024 by officers from the Nottawasaga detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police and resulted in search warrants being carried out in Barrie A drug trafficking investigation that began in 2024 has led to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of nearly $200,000 worth of drugs A 37-year-old from Orangeville and a 32-year-old from Barrie are both facing drug-trafficking and drug possession charges The investigation continues and anyone with information is asked to call Nottawasaga OPP at 1-888-310-1122 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account BarrieNewsHighway 11 closed for several hours following crash involving OPP vehicleBy Julianna BalsamoPublished: May 04, 2025 at 4:44PM EDT Barrie WatchCrash closes stretch of Highway 11 in both directionsA reported crash Sunday afternoon closed a segment of Highway 11 in both directions between Barrie and Orillia. BarrieNewsDriver charged for nearly doubling speed limit near Blue Mountains: OPPBy Luke SimardPublished: May 04, 2025 at 1:04PM EDT A 10-minute span in the second period proved costly for the Halton Hills Bulldogs as they suffered their first defeat of the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League season Sunday The Orillia Kings struck for six goals in those 10 minutes blowing open a game that had been tied 3-3 after the opening period Matthew Ford scored four times for the Bulldogs including a shorthand and powerplay goal.  Brody Fletcher had three goals and three assists for Halton Hills while Owen O’Halloran also scored for the Bulldogs The Bulldogs scored eight straight goals Saturday on their way to a 13-4 rout of Barrie in their home opener Barrie jumped out to an early 2-0 but Halton Hills responded with four goals before the end of the opening period the Bulldogs added two more goals and then reeled another six in a row in the third period Fletcher had two goals and five assists and Noah Kearney had two goals and set up four more Josh Shepherd and O’Halloran also scored twice each and Cody Merritt and Jacob Tarr also scored.  The Bulldogs play three games at home over four days beginning Thursday against the Mountaineers at 8 p.m at the Alcott rink at Mold-Masters Sportsplex The Bulldogs will also host the Nepean Knights Saturday at 7 p.m and the Gloucester Griffins Sunday at 1 p.m C Bulldogs dropped their season opener 16-5 to the Peterborough Lakers.  Brodie McLeod had two goals and Bryce Desbiens had a goal and two assists Ephraim Mouradian and Jackson Baxter had the other Halton Hills goals The Bulldogs play their home opener tonight (Monday May 5) against the Clarington Shamrox and the Mold-Masters SportsPlex The flag raising will take place at 10:30 a.m You will notice that our banners honouring local community sports legends are up around the pool and throughout the city Some key locations are along Lakeshore Drive 2025 is the organization’s 40th anniversary The celebrity dinner and induction event on Oct. 1 will lead the BSHOF in a new direction of reaching out and letting the community know of the city’s rich sporting heritage East Bayfield Community Centre and Peggy Hill Team Community Centre along with the hall's home at Allandale Recreation Centre for the opportunity of over 2.5 million visitors to be exposed to our artifacts and local heroes first the nominator must be a member (as per the constitution) which requires a $25 lifetime membership The information is all on the BSHOF website at https://barriesportshalloffame.ca The Barrie Sports Hall of Fame grew from small beginnings as a self-appointed “steering committee” in the summer of 1984 it has grown into a volunteer organization which helps to perpetuate the names and deeds not only of Barrie’s great athletes but also of those selfless individuals who have worked to create an environment in which such athletes could and can excel Please visit the website www.barriesportshalloffame.ca for more information BarrieNewsVideo shows heavy police raid on Barrie homeBy Mike LangPublished: May 03, 2025 at 6:34PM EDT This is our third annual event and we are hoping to build on the success of last year’s event Vyshyvanka Day is an annual holiday celebrated internationally It’s a day where we celebrate the heritage and the symbol of the iconic Ukrainian embroidered shirt (“Vyshyvanka”) Everyone is welcome and we encourage all visitors to celebrate with us and take in our beautiful location participate in various activities and browse the exhibits BarrieNewsCanine track helps locate suspect in ‘suspicious’ north Barrie incidentBy Mike LangPublished: May 04, 2025 at 1:13PM EDT BarrieNewsTwo hospitalized, one arrested after ‘sensitive’ incidentBy Mike LangPublished: May 03, 2025 at 1:18PM EDT This cross-country trek marks a new chapter for both bands as they expand their reach unleashing their most punishing sets and new songs to unveil Enter the mosh pit for these two bands’ audio assaults of some good ol’ extreme sonic carnage Art of Attrition recently unleashed their latest single The track showcases the band’s signature blend of relentless brutality and melodic complexity while pushing into bold new territory Subserviate & Decay delivers the classical Art of Attrition sound that fans have come to expect — a devastating combination of eight-string guitars and guttural vocals — before taking an unexpected turn after the bridge breakdown The band expands: “It is modern primitive It embodies all you love about Art of Attrition and then slaps you in the face with a caveman club and developing its uniqueness in our catalogue It serves as a visceral reminder of the necessity of internal self-love and confidence.” Art of Attrition has carved out their niche in the extreme metal landscape; their 2023 debut album and 2024’s ...And It Will All End Forever established them as a force in the technical deathcore scene The single represents a conscious step outside the band’s comfort zone incorporating elements from other genres they love It is especially recommended for fans of Lorna Shore Watch and listen to the video for Subserviate & Decay via The Circle Pit at youtu.be/55K4q_d0znQ​ Spotify — https://spoti.fi/4gREec7​ Sign In Register The man convicted in a machete attack in downtown Barrie two years ago has severed ties with his lawyer ahead of being sentenced next month faces a long prison sentence after being found guilty of four assault and weapons charges on Feb Court heard evidence that in the wee hours of Aug He claimed he was protecting his teenage son One of the victims required a hospital visit to close a wound suffered in the attack It happened on Dunlop Street as it was packed with revellers pouring out of nearby bars and restaurants after closing time Ramdas fled the scene and discarded the weapon into Lake Simcoe Ontario Court Justice Nancy Dawson rejected Ramdas’s defence argument that his was a reasonable reaction to perceived threats toward his son “(His) actions were dangerous to the public peace,” she said in a lengthy ruling when passing judgment Numerous videos of the incident were captured by area businesses and cellphone cameras Appearing in court on Friday to formally sever ties with his lawyer Michael Harpur that sentencing will proceed next month with or without his new legal counsel Crown attorney David Russell asked Ramdas to confirm for the record a criminal conviction from more than two decades ago Russell said the Crown intended to press on to confirm the conviction for purposes of sentencing Dawson is scheduled to sentence Ramdas on June 16 This ongoing series from Barrie Historical Archive curator Deb Exel shows old photos from the collection and one from the present day more than 1,500 people walked from Barrie to Elmvale an agency that helps feed the hungry around the world relying on the power of students to turn out for the massive event mostly at a rate of 10 or 25 cents per.  The local walk was just part of a mammoth cross-Canada campaign to help 92 countries with food insecurities The Barrie Ministerial Association had many representatives from all the city churches Walkers of all ages came out in support of Oxfam including generational walkers such as 80 year old Mary Shaw with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter almost five miles from the starting point Ontario Provincial Police, Oxfam cruise cars and St keeping the walkers safe from traffic while watching for anyone in distress it’s fair to say that some ‘dogs’ were starting to bark unlike today’s sophisticated footwear that is designed for miles and hours of wear many walkers found sturdy shoes or loose fitting sandals to be the best choice for the long trek.  caused discomfort and issues from the heat generated by the rubber soles that anyone wearing waterproof shoes were feeling ‘juicy’ in no time flat.  Those that removed their footwear for a break while walking found the gravel to be punishing on their feet or their feet too swollen to easily get shoes back on Marching on, walkers checked in at Crowe’s Esso on Orr Lake, the 19.3-mile mark, then again at the Waverley United Church where Smith’s Farm Dairy had refreshments waiting Although the bulk of the student walkers started in Barrie Walkers from Orillia followed Highway 12 to Coldwater where they met up with students from Midland and Penetang who had travelled along Highway 27 Stayner and Collingwood joined the walk as well The final checkpoint before the promised land of relief from the road was Boker’s Farm at the 23-mile mark a teen from Base Borden walking from Barrie was the first to arrive at the Elmvale arena The last walker straggled in at 9 p.m.  Exhausted walkers registered their pledge cards grabbed a bite (and first aid if they needed it) and mingled rubbed their sore feet and waited for buses provided by CFB Borden and Greer Transport to shuttle them back to Barrie.  Hard to say how many stuck around for the dance that evening including Barrie’s ‘Idle Reception.’ a 30-mile march might be considered a marathon more than 3,500 walkers made their way to Elmvale a new program that provides eligible youth aged 6-12 an opportunity to participate in summer camps is being offered by the City of Barrie at no cost to families The program is intended to remove financial barriers giving more Barrie youth anopportunity to participate in summer camps Applications are now being accepted for 120 camper spots “We want eligible youth in the City of Barrie to have the opportunity to enjoy a fun rewarding summercamp experience,” said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall “This new program is very near and dear to me as it breaks down financial barriers allowing more of our young people to have the chance to create amazing positive summer memories to last a lifetime.” By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Central Ontario Broadcasting, 431 Huronia Rd, Barrie, Ontario, CA, https://www.cobroadcasting.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact To be eligible full-time residents of the City of Barrie and have a household income below the maximum qualifying limit schools or social service organizations can apply on behalf of a youth for one week of camp which includes transportation camps will run over a six-week period at locations across the city Applicants need to provide documentation confirming they meet the eligibility criteria which can include letters of support from schools and social service organizations Applications will be reviewed on a first-come-first-serve basis Camp Access builds upon another city program which provides support to low-income families and individuals in Barrie by providing qualifying participants with a recPASSmembership and children and youth credits that can be applied to the registration fee for qualifying programs and activities 2-vehicle crash leaves one vehicle flipped on its roof in Innisfil Construction begins on phase 1 of improvements at Innisfil Beach Park Multi-vehicle crash closes Highway 11 in Oro-Medonte Surgical wait times down thanks to partnership between Barrie and Midland hospitals Bradford bylaw officer assaulted while issuing tickets to motorists parked near school Emergency Preparedness Week: What the ice storm taught us — and how to get ready for what’s next ©2025 Central Ontario Broadcasting Website by TALIS Creative BarrieNews‘Never seen anything like it,’ Massive 200-foot crane used for storm cleanup in Barrie neighbourhoodBy Kim PhillipsUpdated: May 02, 2025 at 7:01PM EDT A new concept plan for Sam Cancilla Park appears to be on Barrie councillors’ radar presented a plan at Wednesday evening’s infrastructure and community investment committee meeting — with hopes of stimulating talk in the downtown community about revitalizing the Dunlop Street East park “Our goal is to spark a discussion about transforming this under-utilized waterfront park especially as the city plans to decommission the old water reservoir on site,” said Hassey Barrie councillors have approved a new capital project to decommission the Bayview Park reservoir and complete the removal of the booster pumping station at Sam Cancilla Park uninviting and fails to serve our growing downtown.” Key features for a new park could include pedestrian access from Dunlop Street to the parkland and North Shore Trail reintroducing a playground and having elements of public art Webster said the current park lacks modern amenities and feels disconnected from the waterfront outdated infrastructure and lack of lighting,” he said families or people with mobility challenges “Our concept addresses these challenges by creating an inviting accessible park that serves diverse users — residents businesses and tourists alike," Webster added.  Hassey and Webster urged the committee to consider their concept plan as a starting point to the park’s revitalization and to prioritize the project in upcoming budgets and city plans But Deputy Mayor Robert Thomson wondered aloud why decommissioning the Bayview Park reservoir and completing removal of the booster pumping station at Sam Cancilla Park couldn’t be done at the same time as a park project there Staff noted proposed work on Sam Cancilla Park in 2028 that a design and budget are working their way through the city It would need to be moved up to be done together “If we put the two projects together we’re probably saving money,” said Coun Mayor Alex Nuttall said there is a third element to these plans that needs attention — the former Hooters restaurant site at Dunlop and Mulcaster streets. The city is looking at acquiring this property and the feasibility of establishing a park from Mulcaster to the eastern border of Sam Cancilla Park “The corner property’s still a question mark,” Nuttall said “but I think that we should send staff off to make it an exclamation mark because the conversation you’re having all started because there was a little bit of a thing happening with the decommissioning and then there was already a want for an improvement of the park itself and the reality is that it could end up being much larger.  “I’m guessing if council were to purchase said property if there was a willing buyer and a willing seller we wouldn’t leave it as a commercial building,” Nuttall added “Because if it (the corner property) had been an option when the work was being done by Mr they probably would have incorporated it in the potential design that was being brought forward.” Committee passed a motion that included the creation of a new capital project for the decommissioning of Bayview Park that the capital project concerning Sam Cancilla Park be moved to commence work in 2025 simultaneously with the Bayview Park restoration project that is part of the Sam Cancilla Park project and that staff review the design concept as presented by Hassey and that staff also engage with the property owner at the corner of Dunlop Street East and Mulcaster with respect to both projects and 5 Mulcaster St. It has applied to the city for a rezoning needed to build a 25-storey residential tower of 160 units on the 0.38-acre property Sam Cancilla Park lies east of this property There has been no public mention of the cost to acquire former Hooters property nor would there be as land-acquisition matters are normally discussed behind closed doors by city council — although the final decision would be public if land is purchased The reservoir and pumping station were removed from operation 20 years ago and this infrastructure is not required to be connected to the drinking water system in the future Due to the structure’s age — it was built in the 1950s — and physical location beneath a public park a structural condition assessment of the site was carried out last April to understand the associated risks and focus on identifying structural deficiencies testing the structural components and conducting a structural analysis to determine load capacity of the reservoir roof It was determined that the reservoir’s existing underground roof is over-stressed and does not meet the required design load specifications city staff say the roof's condition poses a risk to public safety The analysis further concluded that the roof structure is inadequate to support public assembly Barrie’s newest grocery store is opening next week with a bash With construction workers buzzing around completing the last of their work on the south-end building Metro store staff could be seen readying for the opening on May 8 The grand-opening celebration next Thursday will see customers sampling food a barbecue, vendors from in and around the community and product giveaways The store will also be highlighting lots of local Ontario and Canadian products as part of their opening “We think it’s a great location,” Metro vice-president Joe Fusco told BarrieToday at the store on Thursday “It’s a growing part of the community.” The company’s goal was to have a grocery store across from the GO train station located on nearby Yonge Street “When you are at the train station coming home from work and you want to stop in we’ll have hot foods and a lot of take-home meals, so we’ll make it pretty convenient,” he said The store is seeking full-time pharmacy staff along with other positions throughout the store and applicants are urged to submit job applications via the company’s website BarrieNewsCouncil peels back the layers of a 20-year-old adult entertainment bylawBy Julianna BalsamoPublished: May 02, 2025 at 3:08PM EDT The longest continuous battle of the Second World War was marked by the local community veterans and dignitaries on Sunday morning A parade to Memorial Square in downtown Barrie began the Battle of the Atlantic ceremony The Battle of the Atlantic parade is held the first Sunday of May throughout Canada the nation’s navy was small with only six destroyers and 3,500 personnel Many Canadian lives were lost during the almost six-year battle including 2,000 members of the Royal Canadian Navy 1,600 Canadian merchant seamen and 752 Canadian airmen The Battle of the Atlantic raged from September 1939 to May 1945 As German U-boats tried to interfere with convoys bringing much-needed aid to Europe for the Allies it was the Canadian contingent that played the crucial role of escorting the supplies to the front One of those supply ships was the SS Princess Helene The ship made many Atlantic crossings during Second World War, where she was often escorted by Royal Canadian Navy warships and aircraft because of the danger of attack by German submarines One man who served aboard the ship during the war belonged to the 411 Wing with the Royal Canadian Air Force “My father served in the Battle of the Atlantic It’s an important day to me,” he told BarrieToday at the event “It is important for everybody to recognize and remember the events that occurred not just in the Second World War but for all the battles that this country’s been faced with so it’s a commemoration of everything especially for the air force and the navy in the Battle of the Atlantic," Conley said The ceremony on Sunday included a bell ceremony where a ship’s bell rang out once for every Canadian navy ship lost during the battle The Barrie North Collegiate vocal group also sang at the event BarrieNewsAnnual ‘Walk so Kids Can Talk’ raises more than $42K for youth mental healthBy Mike LangPublished: May 04, 2025 at 3:26PM EDT Ellie Gugula has skipped the last few weeks of school, but she’s had a pretty great excuse The 13-year-old Barrie girl has instead been spending her days as a page in the Ontario Legislature at Queen's Park in Toronto Currently in Grade 8 at West Bayfield Elementary School in the city’s north end she told BarrieToday that a teacher recommended the program — which provides Ontario students an opportunity to experience the provincial legislature — and she knew she’d be perfect for it so this would be really good on a resume or application to a university or college," Gugula said.  Gugula started her term as a page two weeks ago returning April 28 after the legislature returned from a one-week break and typically doesn’t end until after 6 p.m. during which time she and her fellow pages have the chance to meet key parliamentary and political figures and learn first-hand about Ontario’s parliament and the legislative process Gugula said when she first heard she had been selected that she was “in shock.” “I didn’t really know how to respond Gugula has put in countless hours learning the names of MPPs and which riding they represent as well as learning the history of the legislative process.  you can just walk behind the (Speaker’s) dais and there is a seating chart if you’re looking for someone to deliver papers to or if you’re delivering water you just have to remember where they are,” she said “There is a test about a week in that is about half of your overall mark was some of the behaviour she’s witnessed in the house These are full grown adults heckling like children almost.” “It’s awesome,” said Gugula admitting she had a difficult time putting into words exactly how much she’s enjoying it Getting to know the other pages has been one of the best parts of the whole experience “They’re really kind and are similar to me so I can really relate to things they talk about Just seeing it all happen … that’s where they make the laws of Ontario The teen says she hopes to pursue a career in criminal law and hopes to one day toss her hat into the political arena saying she feels that she would have a lot to offer “I feel like so much more that could happen in the government of Ontario and and I feel like I could really contribute to that … and I am interested in serving the community," she said.  is beyond proud of the commitment her daughter has shown both leading up to her time in Toronto and during she’s been studying for weeks,” Collins said “Even during the application process … she initially applied in Grade 7 In order to get in she has to have strong marks "That piece of the perseverance of applying last year putting in the time at school … and being here and doing it as parents we are just so proud of her," she added.  Collins said while she expects it will take her daughter a little bit of time to fully absorb her experience she’s confident she will walk away with a lot of new skills that will serve her well into her future.  “What she’s gotten out of it is pretty incredible,” Collins said “She’s learning discipline in having to fulfil the responsibilities and be part of the process is something she will definitely take with her is a pretty incredible skill to learn that I think she can apply in any job as she gets older." Barrie Watch200-foot crane used for storm cleanup in Barrie neighbourhoodCrews are using a 200-foot crane to lift tree limbs over houses in a Barrie neighbourhood as storm cleanup continues. A school bus backed into a gas pump at a station in Barrie’s south end this morning prompting fire crews and a hazmat team to be dispatched to contain spilled fuel Barrie Fire and Emergency Service received the call from the Esso station at Bayview Drive and Mapleview Drive West A pump truck and a hazmat truck were dispatched to the scene “The emergency shutoff was shut off for the fuel supply to the pump and then we used some Absorb-All to help contain and clean up the spilled fuel,” Deputy Fire Chief Eric McFadden told BarrieToday The fire crews currently remain on the scene waiting for City of Barrie environmental services staff who will be arriving to remove the absorbent material and fuel celebrated its opening night in Barrie last night with high-wire acts The international cast of artists performed a 90-minute show producer and one of its performers is Anouchka Bouglione The Bouglione family “is the oldest circus family in France,” Bouglione told BarrieToday during a break in the show This year marks the second year the show has been in Barrie The whole cast comes from Europe,” Bouglione said The Big Top is located at 509 Bayfield St. Tickets are available online at this link He put Carmen in a gorilla suit and had Das Rheingold’s Erda represented by an 82-year-old naked woman What are the the director’s plans for his edge-of-the-seat Die Walküre on a new piece based on Vivaldi and Ovid for Salzburg and next he will prepare a German-Yiddish version of Kafka’s The Trial for the Berliner Ensemble he describes his childhood yearning for his Polish grandmother’s chicken soup his gay awakening in the school changing rooms and his experience of being dumbstruck by Mahler and emotionally drugged by the “phantasmagoria” of Wagner The question is how he continues to be so drawn to that composer, whose writings and works are rife with anti-semitic tropes. This is Kosky’s second tilt at the Ring cycle. The first, completed in 2011, was in Hanover. He has also worked at Wagner’s festival theatre of Bayreuth in Bavaria, where he directed Die Meistersinger featuring a giant puppet and a backdrop of the Nuremberg trials View image in fullscreenKosky’s staging of Handel’s Saul for Glyndebourne festival opera in 2015 Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian“I do believe people can appreciate Wagner above all for the music,” he says the cultural baggage of Wagner is en-or-mous Any German audience knows about the association of his music with Hitler The operas always reverberate with that history One of the reasons I accepted this Covent Garden Ring is because it enables me to concentrate on other things: on the redemptive power of love and the brilliance of the narrative Do I believe Wagner anticipated the Third Reich Do I believe there are elements in Wagner’s life and work that are deeply problematic and contradictory and unpleasant A disturbing aspect of Die Walküre is the incest between the twins which results in the birth of the cycle’s hero “But Wagner is not interested in good or evil he creates two of the most sympathetic characters in any of his works.” But at the same time you cannot escape the idea of pure blood the greatest of all dramas was Aeschylus’s Agamemnon the first play in the Oresteia trilogy in which the brother-sister relationship is key Greek drama shapes Wagner even more than Nordic myth the musical themes used by Wagner to suggest particular characters View image in fullscreenJohn Tomlinson (Doctor) and Martin Winkler (Platon Kuzmitch Kovalov) in Shostakovich’s The Nose staged by Kosky at Royal Opera House in 2016 Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The GuardianAs a trained pianist Kosky is among those few directors able to steep themselves fully in the score His joy at working alongside Antonio Pappano former music director of the Royal Opera who is returning to conduct the successive operas in the Ring “His assistant remarked: ‘Tony is a conductor who occasionally directs and Barrie is a director who occasionally conducts in the rehearsal,’ because I throw myself around all the time and jig my shoulders to the music Tony’s sense of humour is almost as wicked as mine We giggle helplessly even though there are definitely no jokes in Walküre Everyone knows where this inhalation and exhalation is It’s what Tony does better than anyone I’ve ever worked with.” Kosky gives a rush of observations about the state and profile of opera: no whether the rise of the political “alt-right” in Germany has made any impact but outside first nights you get different audiences who save up and are addicted to an art form that combines everything: singing Prices are still less than people pay for a Lady Gaga gig or a top sporting event “and this Die Walküre sold out within a fortnight” View image in fullscreen‘Wagner is not interested in good or evil’ … Soloman Howard (Hunding) and Stanislas de Barbeyrac (Siegmund) in rehearsal for Die Walküre Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The GuardianBerlin “which is unthinkable to someone like you from England or me from Australia” He reveres the tradition of opera in the UK saying: “Britain has produced some of the greatest singers But there’s an Anglo-Saxon tendency to feel guilty about enjoying opera it’s part of the DNA.” He remains evangelical about the value of the arts in nourishing the soul “I don’t expect politicians to get that.” But in Berlin a huge number – 45% – of visitors come to experience culture of one kind or other We need to line up our arguments better about the economic value of the arts” For Kosky the return to the Royal Opera has an element of private odyssey His Hungarian-English grandfather had a fruit and vegetable stall in Covent Garden “I find it very moving to walk through that site every day and think ‘This is where Jo Fischer sold fruit and veg.’ That part of the family was involved in Yiddish theatre in the East End I still have his manuscripts in my apartment in Berlin.” his Valkyrie daughters and other complicated offspring – is a visceral microcosm of us all “You need know nothing about Nordic myth or Wagner’s antisemitism or Hitler’s abuse of the music,” he says wanting to know what happens next.” He is still talking at top speed as he hurries off to the rehearsal room Die Walküre is at the Royal Opera House, London, 1-17 May, and is live in cinemas on 14 May BarrieNewsCanadian Alert Ready practice drill runs this weekBy Cheryl BrownePublished: May 05, 2025 at 7:31AM EDT According to a media release issued Monday at noon along with personnel from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and the OPP Traffic Incident Management Enforcement Unit (TIME) responded to a collision involving multiple vehicles including an OPP vehicle Highway 11 was closed in both North and South directions for several hours for the investigation  Highway 11 is shut down this evening following a crash in Oro-Medonte Township which occurred Sunday afternoon at around 3 p.m. the northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 11 It's not known if there were any injuries and there was no timeline given for the reopening of the busy highway Messages of condolence may be forwarded to the family through adamsfuneralhome.ca Passed away peacefully at the age of 93 at Hospice Simcoe on May 2 Juliette Hiemstra (Pete) and the late Kevin (Rayanne) Survived by four grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren Irene was the former wife of the late Aurel Dorion and longtime partner of the late Jack Attwood.  1932 to Robert & Ida Tracey of Utopia and was the last surviving of their thirteen children She was so proud to be sister to the late Lillian She enjoyed being the much-loved Aunt Bessie to her Tracey nieces and nephews and Aunt Irene to the Dorion side of the family.  Irene lived her entire life locally at Utopia She was a polio survivor having suffered through endless treatments and learning how to walk again as she entered her teenage years Irene was a passionate lover of her animals including her horses when she lived at Holly Dorion” was the 2nd mother to the “Holly Boys” who played hockey on the ice rink she helped make and faithfully tended in the Dorion yard Irene enjoyed seeing her youngest son Kevin (aka Kelvis) as he sang for many years at the Collingwood Elvis Festival and entertaining residents of Barrie Manor in the early 2000’s before his untimely passing in 2016 She loved going to Karaoke and dancing with Jack at the ANAF Club with her family and all the friends she met there and other places prior to Jack’s 2019 death.  The family would like to extend their thanks for the care she received to the staff at Royal Victoria Hospital Barrie Manor and Hospice Simcoe where she spent her final months and days.  Cremation has taken place through arrangements with Basic Funerals Jennett Chapel Barrie A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date when interment takes place at Grenfel Cemetery The family would appreciate donations in Irene’s memory may be made to Hospice Simcoe (https://hospicesimcoe.ca/) where she was so comfortable in her final hours BarrieNews‘Home Runs for the Hungry’ hits it out of the park for Barrie Food BankBy Luke SimardPublished: May 03, 2025 at 5:28PM EDT Barrie police made an arrest after investigating a “suspicious incident" in the north end of the city this morning and responded to a car dealership near Bayfield and Hanmer streets and a canine track was conducted,” police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday saying the investigation remains ongoing at this time Police did not clarify what the incident was It was an isolated incident and there are no further details that can be sure at this time,” Leon added The Dog We Needed, highlights humans' deep connections with their canine companions and the invaluable lessons dogs bring into our lives a mediator and avid gardener who enjoys global travel and adventures alongside her husband shares an intensely personal narrative of her rescue dog a part border collie who had been returned to foster care multiple times Despite initial struggles with Sunny’s anxiety and aggression Catherine quickly discovered his remarkable ability to sense human emotions offering comfort and empathy precisely when it was most needed "Sunny taught me I wasn't alone," Catherine writes detailing how her companion supported her through a challenging recovery following a brain injury and post-concussion syndrome Sunny’s consistent presence provided her solace demonstrating a profound empathy that Catherine credits with helping to save her life Sunny's healing abilities extended beyond Catherine He notably helped Catherine’s father cope with the loss of her mother after 63 years of marriage Sunny’s playful demeanour brought joy back into her father’s life profoundly improving his physical and emotional health The jury’s still out," Catherine concludes "But we certainly were gifted with the dog we needed." Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from My Dog features 101 inspiring stories about the life lessons loyalty and joy dogs bring into our lives the collection emphasizes the significance of pet adoption and rescuing shelter dogs aligning with Chicken Soup for the Soul's commitment to promoting "shelter-first" adoptions underscores the book’s overarching message: "The theme that prevails is how embedded these dogs are in their families and how much they enrich the lives of everyone they encounter." Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from My Dog is available in bookstores and online It provides readers with countless reasons to cherish their canine friends and perhaps even prompts visits to local animal shelters to meet their next furry companion Doug Laurie Sports will be hosting its “grand re-opening” event this weekend at their new location inside Bayfield Mall after a long struggle with water damage at the previous location the event will be kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Barrie Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Alex Nuttall followed by a charity raffle benefiting local charities There will also be pizza and cake as hourly giveaways are handed out to visitors Sir Games A Lot will also be there hosting their annual sale Artists and a cosplay contest are also part of the event Over the past year, Doug Laurie Sports struggled with persistent water damage at the previous spot in the Kozlov Centre in Barrie which forced the owner to move to this new location “It's a big weight off my shoulders,” business owner Wayne Frazer told BarrieToday. “There were a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of time missed with my family dealing with the previous issues.” Frazer said Bayfield Mall has been “very accommodating,” along with the other businesses in the area helping him in getting the word out that they’ve moved in “The store still won't be completely finished for another month or so but I'm looking forward to everyone seeing the new space this Saturday and then watching as we round it out to make it a much better place to come in hang out and enjoy the hobby,” Frazer said The store is located in the lower level of the mall near Bowlerama A police bicycle patrol made a pair of arrests in downtown Barrie with a man and a woman facing numerous drug charges and outstanding arrest warrants on Tuesday Barrie police says an officer from the community safety well-being engagement unit was on downtown bicycle patrol when a citizen approached the officer and advised him of two people who were loitering at the rear of a Collier Street business police say officers learned both were wanted on outstanding arrest warrants Police said the 36-year-old man and 28-year-old woman were taken into custody and both were found to be in possession of fentanyl The man was also found to be in possession of cocaine and the woman to be in possession of suspected heroin Both were transported to police headquarters on Fairview Road where the investigation continued As a result of additional information received the woman was found to be breaching a court-imposed release order She was charged with possession of a Schedule I substance (fentanyl) possession of a Schedule I substance (heroin) and failure to comply with release order The man faces charges of possession of a Schedule I substance (fentanyl) and possession of a Schedule I substance (cocaine) He was released on an undertaking and will be required to attend the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie on May 21 This highly anticipated evening will offer fans the unique opportunity to hear from the author of The Maid a global bestseller and winner of multiple literary awards Nita Prose will be discussing her latest work the third and final book in her popular Molly the Maid series There will be time at the end for questions from the audience and the opportunity to purchase her books and have copies signed Tickets are $15 and can be purchased through TicketPro so be sure to reserve your spot early!  “We’re incredibly excited to host Nita Prose and give our community the chance to meet such an inspiring voice in Canadian literature,” said Lauren Jessop “Events like this celebrate the power of stories to bring people together.”  Don't miss your chance to be part of this inspiring literary evening!  When a daring art heist takes place at the Regency Grand The question is who’s out to get her Long-buried secrets will be revealed in this intriguing and heartwarming novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest two-volume publication was produced to describe Canada’s scenery and people stretching from the Maritimes to British Columbia Picturesque Canada: The Country As It Was and Is was distributed to Canadian and American readers with much success It's unknown if any Collingwood residents owned a copy of this publication Perhaps it was available in the collection of the subscription-based Mechanics Institute the forerunner of the Collingwood Public Library residents must have been excited when they learned that a full-page engraving of Collingwood was included alongside smaller illustrations from neighbouring Georgian Bay communities The Collingwood Museum cares for three original Collingwood Harbour engravings that appeared on page 584 of Picturesque Canada Each of the three was removed from the larger publication prior to donation and offered individually as single pages two of the illustrations are colourized while the other appears black and white The illustration is the work of artists Schell & Hogan Today’s featured depiction of Collingwood captures a unique perspective of the activity that surrounded Collingwood’s second wooden grain elevator The building’s north and east sides are rarely the focus of the many photographs that document the structure throughout its 66-year history a rarely captured building at the elevator’s base is visible This smaller structure is believed to have housed the boiler used in the elevator’s operation Many styles of sailing craft appear in the water and smoke is visible above smokestacks in the distance on the left side and stove factory are all documented to have been in the years leading to 1882 complete with a sunburst directed at the elevator is a description of Collingwood written from the perspective of someone not connected to the burgeoning community The description mixes historic fact with description despite the latter being rather unfavourable which derives its name from the great admiral It is situated on Hen and Chickens Harbour from a group of small islands of that name a short distance from shore The position of the town is not attractive and any importance it has is due to the fact that it is the terminus of the Northern branch of the Grand Trunk and an old port of departure for the steamers on the Upper Lakes.” “Its principal local trade is in fish and lumber During the summer season, the wharves present a busy spectacle of the various craft engaged in passenger and carrying trade of the North-west Lofty elevators and capacious warehouses give facility for handling and dispatch of this through trade; while an extensive harbour affords accommodation for the mooring and transhipment of the great rafts of timber that come down from the Algoma and Parry Sound inlets.” “The port statistics in grain of a single season would surprise ‘the uncommercial traveller’ and open his mind to the wealth of the [West] The tonnage of the iron ore from Lake Superior that passes this port in transit would also be a revelation to him; and the shipments annually increase in volume and in value Collingwood has active competitors for the commerce of the West and more picturesque towns are likely to snatch from it the tourist trade” (Picturesque Canada Collingwood’s second terminal was constructed by the Northern Railway Company in 1871 in the approximate location of the boat launch parking lot along today’s Heritage Drive The building served Collingwood until its demolition in 1937 eight years after the construction of the impressive Collingwood Terminals Ltd The second elevator had a storage capacity of 165,000 bushels of grain and at the time of its construction was the largest on the lakes it quickly became outdated and its capacity outstripped One wonders what the author of Picturesque Canada would think about the harbour improvements that were on the horizon at the time of publication in 1882 the Collingwood Dry Dock Company was formed and on May 24 1883 the Queen’s Dry Dock opened with much fanfare heralding a century-long tradition of shipbuilding tourists streamed to Collingwood to take in the spectacular side launches of the many ships produced in Collingwood Perhaps this wasn’t exactly what the author had in mind when he warned of Collingwood losing ground to more “picturesque towns” In the 1872-73 Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Simcoe Collingwood is described in a very different tone: “The harbour is capacious and is beautifully diversified with islands A large trade is carried on with the Western States and immense quantities of lumber are annually transported by rail There are several manufacturing establishments here and the local trade is rapidly increasing” (page 72) “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” One can’t argue with the fact that Collingwood’s second grain terminal is well documented in the Collingwood Museum’s art collection including two oil and two watercolour paintings created by Collingwood residents community members have carefully documented the structure’s 66-year tenure as a constant witness of the comings and goings of Collingwood’s harbour You'll find more historic photographs and paintings of Collingwood’s second grain terminal, at the Collingwood Museum’s online collection.  The Picturesque Canada book has also been digitized and is available online.  If you have a story idea for a future “Then and Now” feature please contact Collingwood Museum Staff today This series showcases historic photos in the Collingwood Museum collection, with research and writing by Melissa Shaw Rowan remains at the hospital navigating the new challenges and hurdles that arise every single day on her healing journey Our group of family and friends are dedicated to help support the Thomson family once Rowan returns home with her various medical needs care and other unknown costs; and that is why we are reaching out to you today a live music and dance 19-plus fundraiser event 2025 at the General John Hayter Southshore Community Centre in Barrie The event will feature music from two live bands — SuperSonic and the Georgetown Satellites — a cash bar and an overall great vibe knowing that you’re supporting an amazing cause For tickets, please click here and e-transfer $50 per ticket to [email protected] As part of the fundraiser, we will also be running an online raffle — set to launch this weekend. Follow our Instagram to see daily prize releases, how to buy raffle tickets and event updates We really hope to see you there as we continue to work together as one big community to make a huge difference for the Thomson family One local resident is advocating to get better Bradford train service on track sooner rather than later Shoaib Mohammed launched an online petition April 8 asking Metrolinx to get on board with conducting express GO Transit train service from Bradford to Toronto’s Union Station “Bradford is one of the fastest-growing towns in Ontario but our transit options remain stuck in slow motion,” Mohammed said “People are wasting hours commuting.” He’s been riding various GO train lines for about 10 years and since moving to Bradford about four years ago has become all too familiar with the roughly 90-minute trip each way to and from Bradford and the city many residents still need to make their way from the station to their workplace allowing for a shorter commute and providing people more free time to spend with family and friends “It’s going to make the town a lot more appealing,” Mohammed said of Bradford He related that many of his friends are also interested in moving to town but they remain hesitant because the regional transit options are “really bad.” Bradford residents commuting to the Greater Toronto Area really only have two options both of which can become snarled in traffic along Highway 400 or Highway 11 but said neither they nor Metrolinx have responded to him yet “Change obviously starts with us voicing the opinion and getting something started,” he said That change could be further down the line than desired though senior media relations advisor for Metrolinx “Express GO train service is assessed on many factors,” he said “The line’s track infrastructure needs to be capable of handling complex train traffic and the Barrie line currently operates on a single track.” While he confirmed Metrolinx is working to add a second track to some sections of the line that serves Bradford as well as upgrades to stations in order to allow two-way all-day service he did not directly answer when asked whether the agency has any plans for an express service on the line Metrolinx has made brief mentions of the idea in some Barrie line documentation — including the November 2022 virtual open house — but not with any specific commitments Burke also declined to answer questions about the status and anticipated completion dates for: preliminary work to prepare for double tracking the Barrie line (previously expected to be completed this year) the status of the double tracking itself and the upgrades to the Bradford GO station the majority of those station changes appeared to be mostly complete but locals are still left wondering when or even if express train service will ever come to town it’s “unbelievable” that there’s no official plan or timeline in place and while he understands express trains can’t be implemented overnight he wants Metrolinx to take the matter seriously and provide some firm commitments many people are left dealing with the “nightmare” of driving all the way to Toronto for work “Driving myself to downtown everyday just adds more to pollution and congestion then the option might be to move out of Bradford and closer to the city,” he said Metrolinx has been operating express trains on the Kitchener line since Sept and on the Lakeshore West line where an early version known as skip-stop service started on May 23 who explained both those lines currently operate on three to four tracks For more information about the petition, or to sign it, visit change.org Barrie police are seeking witnesses to a two-vehicle collision that led to injuries which occurred shortly after 4:15 p.m Thursday at Ford and Livingstone streets in the city's north end Police are asking anyone with dash-cam video or who may have witnessed the crash and can assist to email the investigating officer at [email protected] Police believe a man found lying on the side of the road in Midland was possibly struck by a hit and run driver 64-year-old found roadside after being stuck by vehicle in Midland Barrie puts spotlight on missing and murdered Indigenous women Celebrating the 80th anniversary of Dutch Liberation Day OPP officer not facing charges after young man was struck and killed Arsonist pleads guilty in $6M fire that destroyed heritage building $5M in funding to help communities prepare for emergencies Here's what's making news on Mon. ‘There was an explosion and smoke covering the plane:’ man photographs Lake Ontario plane crash Mother of missing Nova Scotia children pleads for safe return CTV National News: Who are the favourites to become pope Iroquois Falls commits to moving iconic statue Crash closes stretch of Highway 11 in both directions Video shows heavy police raid on Barrie home Annual ‘Walk so Kids Can Talk’ raises more than $42K for youth mental health Community comes together for annual 'Hike for Hospice' ‘Home Runs for the Hungry’ hits it out of the park for Barrie Food Bank President Trump posts AI photo of himself as Pope Local OPP officers help serve 'Smile Cookies' Local health unit braces for poor air quality risk News at SixCTV News Barrie at Six for Monday News at 11CTV News Barrie at 11 for Monday Around the RegionAnnual ‘Walk so Kids Can Talk’ raises more than $42K for youth mental health Barrie woman showcases her opera singing talents High-flying circus show kicks off latest tour in Barrie Barrie’s largest residential art project revealed Tay Township Fire celebrates win on and off the ice Charity baseball game returns to support Barrie’s food bank Celebrating Gordon Lightfoot’s life on anniversary of his death Wasaga Beach announces Summer 2025 Live Music Lineup Barrie police and firefighters help support Hospice Simcoe Schools compete in cheerleading and dance event Celebrating Barrie’s most giving with song Legendary figure skaters head to Wasaga Beach Smile Cookie Campaign supports RVH birthing unit Students participate in special pickleball tournament High school students gather for world events debate Local environmentalists discuss Oro Moraine importance Barrie's Eastview Arena was host to the annual Barrie ComiCon event on Saturday attracting fans of all genres of science fiction Dozens of vendors packed the Grove Street East arena space with tables full of collectibles and comic books Many of the attendees showed up outfitted as their favourite fictional characters Evangeline, designed her costume as she ”just kinda made it up and found a couple things.” She was on the lookout for some good stuffies but they were “way too expensive” for her budget six-year-old Judy, fitted out as a pirate was on the hunt for keychains for her collection the author of a graphic novel called A Shift Through Time but can’t control it as he bounces between eras He calls it a “fun sci-fi adventure” based in Toronto and its familiar surroundings Another author on hand was local Barrie artist Kelly Anderson with her book Journey to a Diagnosis which delves into her story finding a diagnosis for her chronic pain which took four-and-a-half years and a “bunch of different doctors.” Her goal in creating the graphic novel was to raise awareness about fibromyalgia a condition that causes pain in muscles and soft tissues all over the body