Latest news with #Barrie
CTV News
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Driver's noisy muffler leads to traffic stop and firearm recovery
A driver's noisy muffler caught the attention of a Barrie police officer on Saturday morning. Just before 10 a.m., a loud vehicle was spotted by police travelling northbound on Essa Road. An officer stopped the vehicle and determined that the man's mufflers were modified. As the officer continued to investigate, the driver was unable to surrender a valid permit; his permit had expired nearly 14 months ago. When the officer checked the man's driver's license, it was confirmed that it had been suspended last year. The 24-year-old from Barrie has been charged with an improper muffler, driving a motor vehicle with no validated permit and driving while under suspension. Police also found an alleged airsoft firearm in the man's vehicle. Officials remind drivers that modified mufflers will always catch the attention of those around them, especially police. It is never advisable to travel with a replica or airsoft pistol as these will be treated by police as real until they are confirmed otherwise. The driver is expected to before the courts at a later date.
CTV News
11 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
New waste carts rolling into Barrie neighbourhoods
Waste carts will be delivered to Barrie properties from June 16 to the end of August. (City of Barrie) New waste carts will be rolling into Barrie neighbourhoods this June. These special carts are designed to make it easier to get waste to the curb, eliminate heavy lifting and dragging, and keep waste protected from weather and animals. 'We're rolling out a more efficient way to collect waste in the city through automated cart collection, beginning this September.' says Stephanie Mack, associate director of waste management and environmental sustainability. When is your waste cart arriving? Carts will be delivered between June 16 to the end of August. Once your carts arrive, the city says you can store them until collection begins the week of September 8. Residential properties will receive a small organics cart and a large garbage cart, unless the property owner previously requested a smaller garbage cart. The community is reminded that residential recycling is not managed by the city. Properties with multiple residential units that requested additional carts will also receive these additional sets during delivery. Owners of properties with two to five registered residential units can still request additional carts at no charge. Your estimated delivery window is based on your curbside collection area. Your carts may arrive any weekday within your delivery window. Curbside Collection Area Curbside Collection for Barrie. (City of Barrie) How to store your waste cart: Carts will be delivered to the driveways of residential properties. You don't need to sign for them, and you don't need to be home when they are delivered. You can store the carts in the same place you store your waste currently, such as inside a garage or outdoor storage shed. If space is tight or you don't have a garage, you can store the carts in your backyard, against the side or front of your house, or on the front porch. The city says carts cannot be stored on a public boulevard, road or sidewalk. Write the property address on the side of each cart in the white space provided with a permanent marker.
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Barrie's Deputy Fire Chief speaks about efforts to accommodate wildfire evacuees
Barrie Watch Eric MacFadden, Barrie's deputy fire chief, speaks about the city's efforts to accommodate wildfire evacuees.
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Fire burns down shed at Barrie home
Barrie Watch Emergency crews respond to a shed fire at a home on Leslie Avenue in Barrie's south end.
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
They downsized to save money and simplify their lives. Here's what they wished they'd known
In 2015, Michelle Thorne was living alone in a four-bedroom house in Barrie, Ont. Her adult children had moved out, and she found herself using only half the house. Ms. Thorne, who was working as a teacher, decided to downsize. She bought a three-bedroom townhouse in a bustling area nearby shops and services – features she thought would be useful once she retired. But soon after moving in, she realized something was missing. 'As soon as I arrived, I started missing the peace and quiet of my old neighbourhood. I used to sit outside and enjoy the nature around me, and I missed that almost immediately.' It was just one of many adjustments for Ms. Thorne. She struggled with the lack of privacy and the tighter living space. Her new garage was too small for her car and barbecuing meant dragging the grill onto a shared driveway. She'd hoped the move would bring a better financial return but barely broken even – and felt a loss of control as the condo board took over maintenance decisions. Downsizing is a popular choice for those looking to simplify their lives with less upkeep and lower costs, especially after children have moved out. A 2024 survey of home-sellers by online real estate platform Wahi found 37 per cent of respondents cited downsizing as the leading reason to sell their home. This trend is particularly noticeable among older Canadians, with 69 per cent of downsizers aged 55 and above. But some are left wondering whether the move to a smaller property is truly worth it. A 2022 survey by HomeEquity Bank found that 41 per cent of respondents admitted they were unaware of the true costs associated with downsizing. Jacqueline Watson, a Toronto-based realtor, says she often sees clients rush into downsizing without fully considering the costs and challenges of adapting to a smaller living space. She notes one of the most overlooked parts of downsizing are the unforeseen financial costs. 'If you have a mortgage, what penalties are you looking at? Are you emotionally attached to your stuff – and if so, how much would you pay to rent a locker to store it? Have you thought about what the land transfer taxes may be?' She adds that costs such as moving expenses, land transfer taxes and condo fees can quickly add up. For seniors, she further advises factoring in a budget for accessibility renovations, such as installing chairlifts, to ensure the home remains functional as they age. Danielle Mah, an educational assistant and creator of a YouTube channel focused on minimalism, had to make sacrifices when she and her husband moved in 2021 from a 2,000-square-foot house in Calgary to a townhouse half that size in Chilliwack, British Columbia. The move was driven by the high costs of utilities and maintenance of their previous home. Ms. Mah says they struggled to fit years' worth of belongings: 'Even after selling items, reducing clothing and letting go of furniture, the real challenge was realizing we no longer had the space for what was left.' During the move, she kept only 50 of her 200 houseplants due to space and logistical constraints. Instead of paying for storage, they gave away some belongings. Ms. Mah advises others planning similar moves to gradually declutter and embrace minimalist strategies such as buying versatile clothing and vacuum-sealing off-season items. Downsizing can also limit the ability to entertain. In 2018, Claudia Espindola, an operations manager, relocated from a three-bedroom townhouse in the Greater Toronto Area to a two-bedroom pre-construction condo in Guelph, Ont., after her job went remote and her children moved out. After moving into the condo, Ms. Espindola quickly realized the absence of a distinct separation between the living and dining areas: 'The biggest challenge was the lack of space for entertaining. I could fit two people comfortably, but I had to buy foldable tables and chairs to set up every time someone comes over.' While her condo offers a party room, each use incurs a $100 fee, as well as a deposit and cleaning charge. She is now hunting for a larger home that includes a dedicated dining area to better accommodate guests. For Ms. Thorne, her first downsizing experience in Barrie helped her make a more informed choice for her next move. In 2017, she moved into a two-bedroom bungalow in a quiet, parkland area near the waterfront. She enjoys being surrounded by nature, even if it means handling the extra work of maintaining the property and replacing yard equipment. The teacher, who retired two years ago, says she regrets prioritizing retirement over her immediate needs. When she downsized, she was focused on a future without car access, even though she plans to drive for at least another decade: 'I was too focused on the future and not paying enough attention to what I needed in the present.' Now settled into her home, she says she would advise others to carefully consider what truly matters to them before deciding to downsize: 'It's a decision that can't be thought of from either a strictly financial side or lifestyle side. They're impossibly intertwined, and I'm not sure anybody can know for sure how much things really mean to them until they lose them.'
