City of Barrie holiday season schedule changes, reminders

The City of Barrie reminds residents of the following schedule changes during the holidays.

Barrie Transit Holiday Schedule

Transit will operate a regular weekday service schedule on December 24. There will be no service on December 25 and January 1. On December 26, Transit will operate their regular Saturday service. On December 31, there will be regular weekday service with no extended evening service, but it will be free to ride Transit from 5 p.m. to the end of service. The City remains committed to providing the option of a safe ride home for those who may need it for work on New Year's Eve. Visitbarrie.ca/TransitNotices for further detail.

Curbside Collection

There will be no curbside collection on Christmas Day (Friday, December 25) and New Year's Day (Friday, January 1) in Barrie. Collection will occur one day later for both weeks. Materials must be curbside by 7 a.m. on your collection day. Seebarrie.ca/CurbsideCollection for more information about Christmas tree collection in January.

Landfill

The Landfill Site will close effective noon on December 24, and be closed on December 25, 26, at noon on December 31 and all-day January 1. Under the new provincial shutdown measures, as of December 29, the landfill will remain open at reduced capacity. The City asks all residents visiting the landfill to wear a mask.

City Hall

City Hall will close effective noon on December 24 and remain closed for statutory holidays on December 25-28 and on January 1. Effective the week of December 29 (following the statutory holiday) City Hall will be open for pre-booked appointments only through Service Barrie on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Residents must call 705-726-4242 to book an appointment. 

Recreation

Allandale Recreation Centre, East Bayfield Community Centre and Holly Community Centre will close effective noon on December 24 and remain closed until further notice as part of the provincial shutdown.

Parking

Downtown on-street metered parking and parking in the Chase McEachern lot is free for the first two hours during December. Downtown parking (on-street and lots) is free on all statutory holidays. Waterfront parking is enforced 24/7/365; residents must display their permits and visitors are required to pay.

From December 1 to March 31, on-street parking is not permitted from 3–6 a.m. within the Downtown BIA, and on other City streets from 12:01–7 a.m. Visitbarrie.ca/parking for more information.  

If winter maintenance is not required, on-street parking will be permitted for the following dates and times:

12:01 a.m. to 7 a.m. on December 2512:01 a.m. to 7 a.m. on December 2612:01 a.m. to 7 a.m. on January 1

If winter maintenance is required on these nights, the City will ask residents to remove parked vehicles from the road to allow crews to effectively clear the streets. The City will advise media, and notice will be posted atbarrie.ca/snow, Facebook, and Twitter by 4 p.m. on the day prior (December 24, 25, and 31) that will confirm whether overnight on-street parking is permitted.

Options for City activities over the holidays

The City's two main outdoor ice rinks will remain open with capacity limits for the duration of the provincial shutdown, weather-permitting. The Circle at the Centre rink at City Hall and the Centennial Park outdoor rink are open for pleasure skating only, no hockey permitted. Both rinks will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., weather permitting. Skaters are required to follow safety procedures when using outdoor rinks. More information and updates are available here:barrie.ca/rinks.

Celebrate New Year's Eve with us (virtually!). Following the advice of the Health Unit, the City is hosting a virtual night of free fun, so you and your family can celebrate safely at home. Tune in to the City of Barrie on Facebook or YouTube New Year's Eve (December 31) starting at 7 p.m. for an hour-long celebration featuring a special performance by Splash'N Boots followed by a family countdown.

Visitbarrie.ca/services to confirm the current status of all City services during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This holiday season, theSimcoe Muskoka District Health Unit and theGovernment of Ontario is advising that everyone should avoid social gatherings. Families should not visit any other household or allow visitors in their homes, and only go out for essential items or needs.