Meridian Place & Memorial Square


Type
Entertainment Venue
Features
Wi-Fi

In partnership with the Downtown Business Association (BIA), the City created a space where the public can enjoy holidays, long weekends and everyday living: Meridian Place & Memorial Square.

Memorial Square is located at the southeastern end of the Nine Mile Portage and was the site of the Barrie Railroad Station and the Post Office. Memorial Square accommodates ceremonial procedures. The cenotaph is the central focus of the square. 

Since its grand opening in 2018, Meridian Place has drawn thousands of visitors and is quickly becoming one of the most exciting outdoor event spaces in the City.

Meridian Place & Memorial Square together offer gathering spaces in Barrie accommodating large events, showcasing local talent and connecting the downtown to the beautiful waterfront. The space boasts a variety of features that honours the past and provides a pedestrian-friendly space now and into future, and includes:

  • Two fully accessible pedestrian promenades that allow for fluid movement from the waterfront to Barrie's downtown.
  • Unobstructed views out toward Kempenfelt Bay from Memorial Square, framed by Meridian Place's modern stage canopy.
  • Lush trees and green space creating the perfect backdrop to enjoy any of the three patios that line the space.
  • A bronze inlay commemorating the Huron and Ouendat peoples who lived around the Kempenfelt Bay area, and the trade route they used – the Nine Mile Portage.
  • A Cenotaph honouring our fallen veterans and supporting our military heritage: past, present and future.
  • The Vimy Urn Wall, designed by regional artist Marlene Hilton Moore, houses an urn holding sacred soil, symbolic of the Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917.​​
  • Four red maple trees representing each of the four divisions of the Canadian Corps who fought in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Take a Virtual Journey

Awards

Meridian Place & Memorial Square is a provincially recognized multi-use civic public space! Accolades include:

Frequently Asked Questions