There was just the right amount of wind for the raising of a giant Canadian flag on Thursday morning behind the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus on Fairview Road.
The flag, 35 by 70 feet in size, is attached to a 150-foot flag pole.
As the flag scaled the pole, there was a burst of applause from dignitaries including first responders from Barrie police, Barrie fire, and County of Simcoe paramedics.
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The flag is a symoblic gesture by the City of Barrie amid U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war and threats of making Canada the 51st state.
"We are a free, democratic country and we determine our own future," said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall, as the flag flapped above him in the gusty wind. "It's important that we take stock and that we enjoy our freedoms, our country, and our independence. It's something we need to hold on to for generations to come, as generations from the past have held on for us."
The approximate $250,000 pole and flag is being funded by Skyline, a developer that is constructing several residential buildings at the former YMCA property on Grove Street West.
Initially, Barrie taxpayers were going to be on the hook for the pole and flag, utilizing funds from the city's reinvestment reserve.
A March 26 motion directed the city's Facilities Development Department to retain a company to construct a flagpole up to 150 feet at the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus in time for July 1, 2025, which is Canada Day.
In April, Skyline stepped in to cover the tab, which Nuttall approved using his strong mayor powers.
"Skyline saw the conversation and wanted to be a part of it," said the mayor at today's flag-raising.
Nuttall says he was told it's the largest Canadian flag that flies in the country.
Gregory Jones, President of SkyDev, a division of Skyline, says covering the cost of the pole and flag is an opportunity to be a part of the city and invest in our national identity.
The Canadian flag comes from the Flag Store in Barrie, and the flag pole was constructed at Ewing Flagpole.
