Due to the complications of hosting an effective annual general meeting in light of COVID-19, this year, the Barrie Historical Archive opted for a resolution instead of extending an invitation to join us at an AGM. This was a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect on another outstanding year for the volunteers in our group, as we attempt to make a mark with Barrie's only free, online archive of historical content. Here are some of [...]
Wish you were here. A simple sentiment that, at one time, was likely entirely overused. At one time, when distance was a real thing. When entering into someone’s company, regardless of spatial separation, wasn’t as easy as booking a cheap fight to any corner of the world. When our best friends, even from far-off places, weren’t just a click away. After all, there are very few instances today in which we really wish you were [...]
Members of the BHA celebrate their group award from Heritage Barrie. All the Barrie Historical Archive wants for Christmas is...you! Cliche? Maybe. But in earnest, we want you in 2018! We would be amazed if you shared your historical photos/documents with us. Elated if you offered us your time as a volunteer, or as a member of our board of directors. Honoured if you supported our cause with a monetary gift or recurring donation. [...]
It's just a tiny, clapboard building in Oro-Medonte, just a few kilometres from Barrie's city limits. But it's left a HUGE impression on our community. Now, learn about the HUGE undertaking required to restore the church, first constructed more than 170 years ago, at the Barrie Historical Archive's monthly meeting. Join us on Wednesday, November 1 at 7 p.m. at The Creative Space to listen to a presentation from Mike Rekker, a consultant on this extensive engineering project. "Some [...]
It would seem fitting that on Canada's 150th Birthday I finally let out a secret I've been keeping for 150 days: I'm moving to Florida in August! Many of you know my educational background and calling is in music ministry. I am elated to announce that I have accepted a full time position as Associate Pastor of Music and Leadership Development at Harvest Bible Chapel in Naples, Florida to work alongside Senior Pastor, John Secrest. Leaving [...]
Local graphic artist and entrepreneur, Tyler Gooding is making history – quite literally – with typographic Barrie-centric art. Having long appreciated the graphic art depicting the names of streets and locations in other famous towns, Gooding asked: “Why not Barrie?” The result: Stunning typographic art posters paying homage to some of Barrie’s most historic streets. Gooding’s new business, 67 & North – with a name inspired by Canada’s year of Confederation – launched a month ago with a [...]
Happy new year! 2016 was an incredible year for the City of Barrie. Never before has Barrie been able to boast of a state of the art digital, free online museum until now. The Barrie Historical Archive (BHA) launched on September 21st with a one night only spectacular night called Mayors’ Seat. This evening, which united nearly every former City Mayor, was an unprecedented historical event that was used as the catalyst to open the virtual [...]
Every day can be historic with the City of Barrie's 2017 Waste Reduction Calendar, featuring images from the Barrie Historical Archive. The calendar provides important community information AND some incredible vintage photo's from Barrie's new online museum, the Barrie Historical Archive. "We were thrilled to partner with the City of Barrie on the calendar - it was a great opportunity to showcase just a few of our incredible photos of the community." Calendars are not [...]
Archival Investigations features works by third-year students in Georgian College’s School of Design and Visual Arts using images from the Barrie Historical Archive in a fresh, new light. Students reconstructed scenes from the past to create transformative new artworks from a variety of perspectives: memories, nostalgia, civic planning, suburban sprawl, humour and wonder. Whether posing a political critique or portraying a moment in Barrie’s fascinating past, each student interpreted a scene as it appeared to [...]
A small group had gathered at the end of the Waterfront Heritage Trail. It crossed my mind that I might be late. It was early afternoon and the sun was warm. The brightness reflected on the snow to create beautiful light, perfect for the photos I was about to take. Today was the opening of the Waterfront Heritage Trail plaque, and naturally the Barrie Historical Archive was present for the dedication. As I stood in [...]
Looking for the perfect gift for the history buff in your life, but dreading the holiday rush at the shopping malls? Make lineups a thing of the past. Purchase a piece of history from the Barrie Historical Archive Shop. The BHA Shop is the place to go if you are looking for the perfect archival print for the history buff in your life. With a variety of print sizes and images to choose from, the [...]
Danny Stephens walked 47 miles of barbed wire. He used a cobra snake for a necktie. And finally, in his rendition of the Bo Diddley/Ronnie Hawkins/George Thorogood classic, he asked the 70 patrons at our Help Pay the Rent Event: Who do you love? At the end of the night, with more than $1,000 donated, the response from the audience became clear. They love the Barrie Historical Archive. At the November 16 event, members of [...]
September 21, 2016 will go down in Barrie’s history as an unprecedented evening that will not soon be forgotten. The launch of the Barrie Historical Archive at the “Mayors’ Seat” event during Barrie Historical Week was a watershed moment for the City of Barrie, which up until this point has not had a dedicated, online municipal museum. The uniqueness of the BHA is that it is online, free, accessible to all 24/7 from anywhere in [...]
A bird's eye view of Barrie over the past 70 years He may not be able to "read your mind" as the old Alan Parsons Project hit suggests, but Herman Koeslag, owner of Eye in the Sky Photography is still the leader of aerial photography in Southern Ontario and arguably, much of Canada. That's why we have been so thrilled to partner with him and his talents to build and enrich the contemporary photography represented in the Barrie Historical Archive. A born [...]
Barrie is more than 170 years old and has been without a museum – until now. On September 21st the Barrie Historical Archive (BHA) will launch an online museum with the “Mayors’ Seat” event at City Hall. But why should Barrie have a museum? After all, we have a county museum up the road in Midhurst. Aren’t museums antiquated depositories for things that are already collecting dust in our homes? Perhaps – but their value [...]
A CBC Radio Ontario Morning interview with Travis Doucette, brought content donors from London, Ontario with loads of rare images of the Roxy and Capitol theaters, old Barrie and much more. A listener in London was encouraged to reach out to the Barrie Historical Archive after hearing this recent interview on CBC's Ontario Morning. The gentleman's father had been a projectionist at the Roxy theater and had preserved many never-seen-before images and some wonderful artifacts [...]