About 56 miles north of Toronto, the city of Barrie, Ontario is a top Canadian moving destination. Pleasant summers welcome newcomers, and there are seemingly endless options for things to do there.
Things to Do
Barrie offers plenty to do thanks to its numerous museums, galleries, parks, community centers, pubs, restaurants, annual festivals, beaches, and skiing/snowboarding facilities. Its close proximity to Lake Simcoe provides residents and visitors with activities on the water as well. Last but not least, if shopping is your thing, then the Georgian Mall will have everything you need and more!
Education
The main campus of Georgian College is situated in Barrie, with about 10,000 full-time students and 25,000 part-time. Their 94% post-grad employment rate is the highest in Ontario, so it’s no wonder students flock to Barrie for their educational pursuits.
Economy
Increasingly known as a commuter city, about 34% of Barrie’s resident are employed outside of its limits. That being said, it does offer an economic opportunity of its own as well. One of its most important sources of income is tourism, which mainly centers around its downtown and waterfront districts. Some of the major employers found in Barrie include the Royal Victoria Regional Health Center, Georgian College, IBM, and Coca Cola.
Weather
Barrie, Ontario endures cold winters but warm, humid summers. If you have some flexibility when it comes to when you can move there, we recommend shooting for May, June, August or September, otherwise, it will be quite cold, or a little too hot. We also recommend that you double check to make sure you have plenty of warm clothing if you’ll be getting there during the winter months, as you’ll probably want some pretty quickly.
(Flickr: cmcbrien & regnatarajan / via CC)
Are you a resident of Barrie, Ontario, or have you recently moved there? Leave any tips you might have in the comments below!
