In 2026, the City of Barrie will grant Freedom of the City to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden in honour of their 110th anniversary and longstanding connection to our community. The parade and ceremony will take place in front of City Hall (70 Collier Street) on Saturday, May 9 beginning at 2pm.
Freedom of the City is one of the oldest civic traditions, inviting a military organization to march through the city with “drums beating, colours flying” as a symbol of the community’s trust, respect, and appreciation.
This event builds on the City of Barrie’s strong and longstanding relationship with CFB Borden. CFB Borden was last granted Freedom of the City in 2016 in honour of its 100th anniversary, and the 2026 ceremony will reaffirm our shared history, values, and enduring partnership.
CFB Borden, founded in 1916 and recognized as the birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force, is central to Canada’s military heritage. Borden has trained soldiers and aviators for over a century, many of them at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering at 16 Wing.
Road and Parking Closures
In order to safely facilitate the event, the following closures will be in place on May 9:
Full closure of Collier Street (Owen to Mulcaster), 5am–4pm
Full closure of H-Block parking lot (50 Worsley Street), 5am–4pm
Intermittent temporary closure along the parade route between 2–2:30pm including Worsley Street (Owen to Clapperton), Clapperton Street (Worsley to Collier), and Collier Street (Clapperton to Owen)
Intermittent temporary closure along the parade route between 3–3:30pm including Mulcaster Street (Collier to Worsley) and Worsley Street (Mulcaster to Clapperton)
In 2026, the City of Barrie will grant Freedom of the City to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden in honour of their 110th anniversary and longstanding connection to our community. The parade and ceremony will take place in front of City Hall (70 Collier Street) on Saturday, May 9 beginning at 2pm.
Freedom of the City is one of the oldest civic traditions, inviting a military organization to march through the city with “drums beating, colours flying” as a symbol of the community’s trust, respect, and appreciation.
This event builds on the City of Barrie’s strong and longstanding relationship with CFB Borden. CFB Borden was last granted Freedom of the City in 2016 in honour of its 100th anniversary, and the 2026 ceremony will reaffirm our shared history, values, and enduring partnership.
CFB Borden, founded in 1916 and recognized as the birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force, is central to Canada’s military heritage. Borden has trained soldiers and aviators for over a century, many of them at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering at 16 Wing.
Road and Parking Closures
In order to safely facilitate the event, the following closures will be in place on May 9: