One of the Smartest Cities in Canada

The Canadian Council on Learning's 2009 evaluation of more than 4,700 municipalities across Canada ranks Barrie as the 5th smartest city in Canada on the Composite Learning Index. The result is a talented labour pool, increased earnings and enhanced prosperity.

Multidisciplinary and Educated Workforce

• 27% of companies in knowledge-based sector in 2008
• 22% of companies in retail sector
• 7% of companies in high-tech manufacturing

SIC Code	Knowledge-Based Sector	% of all Business
80	Health Services	7%
60-67	Finance, Insurance, Real Estate	7%
737, 7391-7392	Consulting and IT Services	6%
81	Legal Services	2%
82	Educational Services	2%
89	Engineering, Accounting, Research, Architecture & Related Services	3%
Source: Based on D&B Business Survey, 2008		27% (Total)

Education Hub in Central Ontario

As home to Georgian College's head campus and the University Partnership Centre (UPC), Barrie is an educational hub in Central Ontario.

• New Laurentian MBA program started in 2009
• New $8M Centre for Sustainable Technologies opened in 2009
• Over 10,000 full-time students enrolled in degree and diploma programs at Georgian College and UPC
• Over 40 co-op programs offered in specialized fields including business accounting, mechanical engineering technology, mechanical technician certification and hospitality management
• $65M expansion underway for a new Centre for Health and Wellness, accommodating an additional 3,000 students in degree and diploma programs by 2011

	Total Population 15 years and over
No certificate, diploma or degree	21,670
High school certificate or equivalent	29,280
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma	8,840
College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma	23,435
University certificate or diploma below the bachelor level	3,290
University certificate, diploma or degree	12,990
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006

For more information, please visit Georgian College's website.

Youngest Census Metropolitan Area in Canada

The Barrie Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) was identified as the youngest CMA in Canada in 2006. With a median age of 35.4, the Barrie CMA is well below the Ontario average of 39.0.

Age	Total	%	Age	Total	%
0 to 4 years	8320	6%	5 to 9 years	8880	7%
10 to 14 years	10155	8%	15 to 19 years	9160	7%
20 to 24 years	8555	7%	25 to 29 years	8705	7%
30 to 34 years	9675	8%	35 to 39 years	10315	8%
40 to 44 years	11840	9%	45 to 49 years	10105	8%
50 to 54 years	7710	6%	55 to 59 years	6315	5%
60 to 64 years	4715	4%	65 to 69 years	3750	3%
70 to 74 years	3345	3%	75 to 79 years	2855	2%
80 to 84 years	2160	2%	85 years and over	1865	1%

	Barrie	Ontario	Canada
Median Age	35.4	39.0	38.8
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006