Hi,

Moving to Ontario in a few weeks time. Thinking of Barrie...have to go into the GTA or Pearson about 3 times a week...are the winters really that bad in Barrie (I know it snows a lot, but I love snow)...anyone live/lived there and love/hate it?

Cheers in advance.

Hi we moved to Barrie a year ago today! Our first winter here was fine...not snowed in once. As far as I can remember the 400 was only closed a couple of times due to whiteouts.
You can also get to Pearson down hwy 27 though more likely to be problematic in winter. You can PM me if you've got any other queries
Tracey

Thanks for that...I've PM'd you to pick your brains a bit more. I'm pretty flexible about when I have to use the 400, so if there's a storm coming, I can always give it a miss. Also, I should be able to avoid commuter hours, which will help.

There's a regular poster on here who has a hatred for Barrie that passeth all understanding and I'm surprised he hasn't been along yet to give his take on the place.
I was up in Barrie in the middle of last week. Hadn't been for a while and was quite impressed with the place. It has a great waterfront park which was Being well used by families with kids having loads of fun. There's plenty of new housing and, while not everyone's cup of tea, that's life in the 21st.century.
I went up and back outside rush hour/commuting traffic and the drive was just fine so given your comments above the traffic should be of little concern to you.

Don't rule out orangeville
Its a popular area for many that work on the outskirts of Toronto

Moved 11 days ago to Barrie and loving it so far. If I can help as a newcomer, let me know....

Been here 4 years. I can be as specific as you like.

We have been here for nearly 2 years now after moving from South Wales. We decided on Barrie after visiting 6 years ago on vacation and loved the area.

The winters are not as bad as I thought they would be. Its all about being prepared and with a good set of snow tyres, a snowblower and some good warm clothes, you'll be fine. The highway is given priority for snow clearing - I can see the 400 from where I work and there are very rarely closures during the winter months. You do however get white out conditions at times and its just a matter of slowing down and driving to the conditions. There are more traffic problems during Friday and Sunday evenings during the summer with the cottage country traffic clogging up the highway.

I would certainly recommend the area especially if you are an outdoors person. With numerous golf courses, fishing, boating etc in the summer and skiing, snowmobiling and skating during the winter, there is never a shortage of things to do.

I have spoken to a number of people recently who have moved to Barrie from Toronto for the slightly slower pace and the more affordable housing. With the GO train adding an extra service from September (to make it 5 per day) it just shows how attractive the area is.

Please PM me if you have any questions.

Andrew

I'll be hot on your heals...two weeks time I'm moving to Toronto, then a couple of months later Barrie...by the way you didn't take the wrong turn off the M4 after Cardiff or something did you? I've been to Barry in Wales when I lived in cardiff for 3 years...not a pleasant place! (Cardiff great though!)

just realised it's WAlsh clan, rather than WElsh clan!

I've already had some good tips from northernlass, but the more the better...like areas to avoid, good areas, decent restaurants...gyms? coping with winter (I love snow, but not sure about -25 degrees), commuting, making friends...I go to church so that kind of helps...what do you hate about Barrie, if you could live anywhere else in Ontario, would you?

Cheers

These are all things that I've thought...definitely the snow blower! The outdoors is a big deal for me, and one the main reasons I want to live in canada, so you're oushing the right buttons saying all that. We're going to rent for 6 months, then probably buy, not sure which area yet, which is one of the things we need to think carefuly about I guess.

Hi there we moved to Barrie last September, so far we think its a great place to live..always something happening down at the waterfront. The pace is so much slower and the winters are long but not that bad if you have the desire to get out and try some winter sports, we did and loved it! The whole experience is amazing! There are lots to do in Barrie, plenty of restaurants, gyms etc...we live in a nice suburb with very quick access to the 400, you learn quickly which roads to take and which to avoid as Northern lass (hi Tracey) said sometimes its easier taking the 27 down to Pearson!