Is Barrie a safe place to settle down with your family? Safety is a common concern for anyone considering a move, not just to Barrie but to any city, anywhere. So it’s understandable that we get asked this a lot. 

Having grown up in Barrie, the Weeks team can speak from personal experience about living here and feeling safe. Like any city in North America, Barrie has its struggles. However, it’s critical to remember that what you see on certain streets or on the news rarely reflects day-to-day life. In fact, one study determined that Barrie is the safest city in all of Canada.

It is also one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, and its unique lifestyle and strong sense of identity and community are just a few reasons why.

Why People Are Moving to Barrie

Barrie has seen rapid growth in recent years, which has been effectively managed by city officials. We have even been designated as an Urban Growth Centre by the province of Ontario. This designation aims to reduce urban sprawl and concentrate higher-density development within the City of Barrie.

The population growth is largely due to Barrie’s position as a central hub of Simcoe County, being less than an hour away from Toronto, Collingwood, and Muskoka. This central location has spurred the development of services and amenities, creating jobs and providing a convenient and beautiful place to live. 

From 1991 to 2017, the population grew from 62,728 to an estimated 147,000. By 2031, the population is expected to exceed 200,000. Despite the rapid growth, Barrie has received top marks for its transit system, park and recreation programs, cultural events, diverse attractions, and sense of community.

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Should you buy a home in Barrie? The posts below will help guide you through the process:

• Our Custom Approach To Buying Barrie Real Estate
• 5 Tips When Buying A Waterfront Home
• Why Buy a Home in Snow Valley? 

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A Close and Watchful Community

50 years ago, one of the Barrie sports organizations had a motto: “Keep a kid out of hot water, put them on ice.” That motto is felt in Barrie in many different ways and in many community initiatives, but all give you the feeling of community involvement, concern and support.  

Barrie is a very active and involved community, which is another reason for the lower-than-average crime rate experienced here. This reputation for a strong sense of community is well deserved. For instance, Barrie ranked 19th in Canada on GoFundMe’s list of the most generous communities, based on donations made over the past year. Moreover, Barrie has numerous active social media pages aimed at reaching out and providing support to those in need. It is heartening to witness how citizens support people who are in need of help. 

Here’s another interesting fact to lift your spirits: A December survey by BestCasinoSites.net found that Barrie residents had the second-best Christmas spirit in the country, with only Halifax ahead of them. We ranked highest in terms of participating in seasonal activities such as putting up lights. 

Overall, Barrie’s sense of community is very strong and inclusive. Residents strive for mutual respect and look out for each other. This sense of community is consistently reflected in and reinforced by a variety of programs and recognition events throughout the year that aim to promote positive social interaction and understanding.

The Role of Law Enforcement

The annual Barrie Community Safety Survey was conducted in 2023. This is an essential tool for data collection that helps the Barrie Police Service identify areas where crime prevention initiatives could be further explored, implemented, or improved. 

Findings serve as measurable benchmarks to assess year-over-year progress and  alignment with community needs and informs the progress of the BPS 2023-2025  Strategic Plan. Results are reported in the Barrie Police Service’s Annual Report and  Strategic Plans. Feedback from the 2023 survey is informing on-going and new Barrie Police Service initiatives. 

This attachment and involvement with the community from the Barrie Police Service is  one of the factors of our safety as a community and it is admirable that they stay vigilant in their consultations with the citizens.  

Barrie in the Media

In the words of the Barrie mayor published in a Barrie Today Article: 

“I’m so pleased to see Barrie at the top of this list,” Mayor Alex Nuttall, who was not available for an interview Wednesday, stated in a press release issued by the city. “As a council, we’ve identified community safety as a key strategic priority, and we’re working diligently to protect our reputation as Canada’s safest city. We know there is still work to be done to make Barrie even safer, but this result shows us our work and the great work of Barrie Police is making a difference.” 

In the same press release, Police Chief Rich Johnston credited front-line police officers and the community safety and well-being teams. 

“It is through not only the dedication of our police service but also the strength of our community members that helps to foster a safer city,” he stated.

A Steady Decrease in Crime

Coupled with strong community-based law enforcement, Barrie has seen a steady decline in crime rates in recent years, according to Statistics Canada.

A recent study by Rentola, a rental home search engine, looked into safety and security in Canadian cities and found that Barrie ranked at the top for safety. The study aimed to provide insights into important indicators that determine the safety of communities in Canada.

The Toronto Star and other publications quoted Rentola’s survey and summary report. In the study, the City of Barrie was identified as the safest city in Canada, scoring 7.13 out of 10.

Rentola ranked each of Canada’s municipalities based on various factors sourced from Statistics Canada, including the ratio of police to citizens, crime severity index, non-violent crime index, and crime-solving rate.

Statistics Canada also reports:

• Barrie’s crime rates are 18% lower than the national average.
• Year over year, crime in Barrie has decreased by 18%.
• Violent crimes in Barrie are 14% lower than the national average.

Moving Waldo, a company that helps people move homes, listed Barrie as the ninth safest city in Canada earlier this year. Barrie was also recognized for having the best quality of life, particularly for health services and transportation.

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Learn more about what Barrie is really like in the posts below:

• Is Barrie a Good Place to Live With a Young Family?
• What Are the Best Retirement Communities in Barrie? 

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An Affordable Yet Elevated Lifestyle

A recent article in Real Estate Magazine quoted an analysis by Zolo, a real estate company, which rates Barrie as one of the top five most liveable cities in Canada. This rating takes into consideration affordability, low crime rates, household incomes, and quality of life. Barrie is highlighted as being family-friendly and ideal for nature lovers.

Barrie has a unique blend of urban, vibrant city amenities and natural beauty. The city offers year-round fun with many beaches, cycling paths, year-round fishing, summer boating, and snow skiing options nearby.

It is also home to a vibrant cultural scene with live music, performing arts, and festivals like the Barrie Waterfront Festival, the Barrie Blues Festival, and Kempenfest, which is Canada’s largest arts and crafts festival located all along the waterfront.

One of the city’s jewels is the scenic 6-km-long waterfront trail with parks, gardens, and sunny patios. Free public Wi-Fi is even available to stay connected. Enjoy the year-round farmers market featuring the seasonal bounty of Simcoe County and explore the city’s galleries, including the MacLaren Art Centre.

With a vibrant food scene, exciting indoor and outdoor activities, excellent shopping opportunities, and a packed calendar of year-round festivals and events, you won’t ever run out of things to do in Barrie.

Do you want to know more about what it’s really like to live in Simcoe County? Our Barrie Real Estate Agents are happy to shed some light on the scene. Reach out today to hello@weeksgroup.ca or call 705.305.4174 to start a conversation.