Barrie wins ‘healthy, livable city’ award

The City of Barrie sign outside City Hall is pictured in this undated file image.

The City of Barrie learned Saturday evening that it won a Communities in Bloom award in the ‘Healthier, Livable Cities’ category.

Communities in Bloom made the announcement during the 2025 National/International Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in Stratford, stating that Barrie received a rating of five Blooms.

The city also received Gold and a special mention for its 2025 ice storm recovery efforts.

Communities in Bloom is a Canadian volunteer and non-profit organization that evaluates cities to encourage them to ‘foster community strength, involvement and continuous improvement.’

Susan Ellis and John Lohuis were the volunteer judges who visited Barrie during the summer to evaluate the city on criteria that included appearance, environmental action, heritage conservation, tree management, and landscape, as well as plant and floral displays.

Their commentary following their evaluation was included in a Saturday evening news release, which highlighted the city’s ice storm recovery efforts.

“The devastating ice storm of March 30, 2025 caused extensive damage to Barrie’s urban forest, with more than 12,000 street trees affected and 5,000 lost,” stated Ellis and Lohuis. “City council not only funded extensive cleanup efforts but also prioritized a professional arborist assessment of every damaged tree to ensure public safety and guide recovery. Importantly, Council committed to replanting every tree lost through an accelerated tree-planting program, reaffirming the city’s dedication to sustainability, climate adaptation, and the long-term health of its green infrastructure. Barrie’s proactive response stands as a model of leadership in urban forestry recovery and renewal.”

The City of Barrie was among seven national and international Communities in Bloom award winners.