Updated September 30, 2026 @ 3:06pm
Former Barrie Mayor Janice Laking has died.
She was 97.
Laking served as mayor from 1988 to 2000.
Laking was instrumental in leading the charge to revamp the former Royal Victoria Hospital on Ross Street into the current Victoria Village, a charitable, not-for-profit seniors' community and mixed-use campus. She is also credited with landing the municipal purchase of the CN rail tracks to Bradford and Collingwood, which opened the door to GO Transit train service between Barrie and Toronto.
She also worked to relocate the MacLaren Art Centre to its current home on Mulcaster Street, and backed the development of a new police station and the downtown branch of the Barrie Public Library.
Laking was a high school teacher at Barrie North Collegiate from 1960 to 1988.
In a social media post, Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall said Laking was a titan and a giant in the community.
"Somebody who defined this city through our highest growth years, who has given us what we enjoy here in the City of Barrie today," Nuttall stated.
"To the Laking family, I want you to know our thoughts and prayers are with you."
Nuttall said the City will be lowering all of the flags to half-mast for the remainder of the week.
In a social media post, Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MP Doug Shipley said Laking's legacy will not be forgotten.
"Her leadership and dedication have left a profound impact on our community."
Laking was first elected to Barrie City Council in 1972, and in 1978, she was nominated as the federal Liberal candidate in Simcoe South in the 1979 election, but later withdrew and sought the mayor's chair against incumbent Ross Archer.
She was defeated, but was re-elected as a city councillor in 1980 and served another eight years before being elected in mayor in 1988.
Laking was acclaimed to a second term in 1991.
She tried another crack at federal politics as the Liberal candidate in Simcoe Centre in the 1993 election, but lost by just 182 votes to Reform Party candidate Ed Harper.
It was a tough loss for the veteran municipal politician, as Simcoe Centre was the only riding in Ontario not won by a Liberal in that election.
Laking was returned as mayor in 1994 and 1997.
Her 12-year reign as mayor ended with the 2000 municipal election, when she was defeated by former Barrie councillor Jim Perri, who had served on council since 1969.
In an interview with Barrie 360 to mark International Women's Day in March 2018, Laking attributed her successful career as a leader to three specific skills: being a good mediator, a good negotiator, and being able to balance competing interests and personalities to get the job done.
"I don't have any regrets. I've given everything I've had to give and if there are times where you don't get what you think should have happened, you just have to turn the page," she said at the time.
