Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall used a photo-op for Lakehead University’s new STEM Hub as a stage to showcase his record, and signal what sounded very much like the early stirrings of a re-election campaign. Standing inside the former Barrie Transit Terminal on Wednesday, surrounded by most members of council and holding the same platform he ran on in 2022, Nuttall spoke about the promises he says he has delivered in his first three years in office, while taking pride in the slogan “Barrie getting it done.” He highlighted what he described as progress on cracking down on crime, diverting people released from the Central North Correctional Centre, increasing police patrols downtown and acting on illegal encampments. He also pointed to fiscal management and the city’s AAA credit rating. The event had all the elements of a campaign warm-up. Nuttall was pressed repeatedly on whether he is preparing to launch another run for mayor in next October’s municipal election. “I think that’s a question that I haven’t answered yet with my family, but we’ll take the time, definitely over Christmas, to sit down and have those conversations,” said Nuttall in response, adding he won’t be able to legally announce a decision until sometime in May. Former Barrie Terminal The event itself marked the start of construction on Lakehead University’s incoming Barrie campus — a project the mayor has consistently championed. Media and guests gathered inside the stripped-down terminal space, which is being transformed into Lakehead’s STEM Hub on the ground floor of 24 Maple Avenue. The space is scheduled to open to students in fall 2026. “I’ve been speaking about the STEM Hub with students, parents, community members, business and industry leaders, and donors,” said Dr. Linda Rodenburg, Lakehead’s Orillia Campus principal. “And I can certainly confirm that the buzz within this community about this location and the programming keeps growing every single day.” The STEM Hub is part of Lakehead’s broader plan to expand its footprint in Simcoe County and increase local access to science and technology programs.
