OINP

Barrie - Go Further, Faster
Motto: The People are the City

Located in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, one of North America's fastest growing regions, Barrie serves as an ideal playground for entrepreneurs seeking to establish or expand their businesses.

Located in Central Ontario, just 90 kms north of Toronto, Barrie is situated along the shores of Lake Simcoe’s Kempenfelt Bay. This rapidly growing city features a beautiful waterfront at its heart and offers a unique lifestyle. Whether you're looking for outdoor recreation, an easy commute, or a thriving business environment, Barrie has it all.

$102,948

Average household income

Source: InvestBarrie.ca

https://investbarrie.ca/data/community-profile

Top 25

Best Small Cities in Canada

Source: InvestBarrie.ca

https://investbarrie.ca/why-barrie/barrie-advantages

4th

Top City to invest in Ontario

Source: InvestBarrie.ca

https://investbarrie.ca/data/community-profile

101%

Population growth by 2051

Source: InvestBarrie.ca

https://investbarrie.ca/data/community-profile

150,000

Jobs by 2051

Source: InvestBarrie.ca

https://investbarrie.ca/data/community-profile

Life is better in Barrie

Discover a city with a range of housing options, where education and training opportunities abound, and where shorter commutes leave more time for leisure activities and passion projects. Welcome to Barrie.

The area is renowned for its thriving food scene, year-round farmers’ market, craft breweries, and an award-winning craft cidery, making it the unofficial culinary capital of Ontario.

The average home price in Barrie continues to be significantly less than greater Toronto.

https://investbarrie.ca/lifestyle/live

An entrepreneurial city

Skip the commute when you live and work in Barrie, Central Ontario’s employment and labour hub. Talent is drawn to the area for the high-quality jobs available in the city. With many job opportunities in all sectors including healthcare, technology, manufacturing, business, construction and education, Barrie’s booming economy will launch your career to the next level. Barrie is an affordable option for businesses due to its low industrial land costs, competitive lease and tax rates, and lower fuel costs compared to much of Ontario. Barrie’s proximity to major highways and reliable infrastructure means products and services get to market quickly!

https://investbarrie.ca/lifestyle/work

Never stop learning

Barrie is an entrepreneurial city – curiosity is common. We love to learn, connect, and build new skills. If you’re looking for self-improvement, there are opportunities for higher education, apprenticeships, and continuing education. Georgian College, located in Barrie, is Canada’s first and only designated Ashoka U Changemaker Campus, recognizing social innovation and changemaking in higher education. Lakehead University, located just north of Barrie in the City of Orillia, is actively expanding college-university program pathways through Georgian College and bringing additional programming to the region.

https://investbarrie.ca/lifestyle/learn

Meet Barrie’s fun side

Barrie offers you more time to spend outdoors with family and friends, pursuing your passions, and having fun. The city is surrounded by lakes, parks, forests and ski hills with easy access to the GTA and cottage country. Barrie has a thriving arts and culture scene, unique restaurants, and family-friendly festivals and events year-round.

Barrie has 300+ hectares of park space with 5 km of public space along Lake Simcoe’s beautiful Kempenfelt Bay that includes parks, beaches, trails, and various recreation and fitness activities.

https://investbarrie.ca/lifestyle/play

Barrie Support Services

Barrie is a hotbed for start-ups and entrepreneurs, thanks to a team of community partners who are just a phone call away. Invest Barrie can introduce you to the organizations that will help you access the resources, supports and programming you need to achieve your business goals.

Some members of Barrie’s business support network include:

Georgian College Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre
Sandbox Centre
Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia
Barrie Chamber of Commerce
Georgian College Research & Innovation
Lakehead University Research & Innovation

https://investbarrie.ca/entrepreneurship

Key Sectors

The strong mix of industries provide stability to Barrie through economic cycles. These crucial sectors are fostering innovation and promoting growth in the region.

Advanced Manufacturing

Health, Wellness and Life Sciences

Professional Services

Creative Industries

Visitor Economy

Construction and Real Estate

Access to Markets

CONNECTIVITY INVESTMENT

BY ROAD

Barrie is connected to Provincial Highway 400 and major arterial highways, facilitating transportation across Canada and to U.S. markets.

BY AIR

Lake Simcoe Regional Airport (LSRA) is located 100km north of Toronto Pearson International Airport. The LSRA operates 24/7 and is a Canadian Border Services Agency Commercial Port-of-Entry for passenger and freight. The runway at LSRA is undergoing an expansion to accommodate larger aircrafts.

BY RAIL

Short-line rail service is available through the Barrie-Collingwood Railway with a link to Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Intermodal Terminal in Vaughan and Canadian National (CN) Rail International Terminal in Brampton.

COMMITTED TO GROWTH

Barrie is poised for significant future growth with 150,000 jobs and 298,000 residents projected by 2051.

Infrastructure upgrades to the highway and roadways that connect Barrie to external markets will make moving goods in and out of the city quicker and easier. New neighbourhoods will offer affordable housing options and a new Emergency Services Campus provides improved services for residents.

To explore development opportunities, you can view the city’s interactive GIS mapping tool right here.