Tents that dotted the boulevard on Mulcaster Street in downtown Barrie, in the area of the courthouse and the Busby Centre, were removed on Thursday.
City of Barre bylaw enforcement officers and police arrived at the location around 10 a.m., and just over four hours later, the last tent was taken down by those who had been living in it.
The removal of the tents happened just two days after Mayor Alex Nuttall declared a state of emergency to address encampments in the community.
Individuals who had been living in the tents could be seen packing their belongings, as bylaw and police looked on, and outreach staff from the Busby Centre and other outreach services provided assistance.
A woman who had been living in a tent with her service dog told Barrie 360 that city officials gave residents 12 hours notice that the encampment was going to be dismantled.
A section of Mulcaster Street in the area of Codrington and Worsley Streets was blocked off for the clean-up, as vehicles, including Bobcats, lifted debris into a bin, and recycling bins were placed in a lot at the Busby Centre.
The County of Simcoe, which is responsible for social services, including the shelter system in Barrie, said in a news release late Thursday morning that it had engaged with 44 people living in the Mulcaster Street tents, and 23 had been relocated to housing and shelter options.
"Approximately 15-20 individuals remain on-site (using point in time calculations), all of whom have been triaged and matched with spaces within our current shelter system, should they be willing to accept the offers," the county stated in the news release.
To support ongoing encampment enforcement and prepare for cold weather, the county has secured an additional 161 spaces across the system, including:
• 69 rooms across three hotels to support individuals with pets and/or larger family units
• 20 beds in a seniors’ retirement facility (supportive units)
• 20 apartments through head leases for long-term supportive housing programs
• 52 beds in two modular facilities for overnight staffed shelter programming
Continue expanded capacity - October 2025
To support ongoing encampment enforcement and prepare for colder weather, the County has secured an additional 161 spaces across the system, including:
- 69 rooms across three hotels to support individuals with pets and/or larger family units
- 20 beds in a seniors’ retirement facility (supportive units)
- 20 apartments through head leases for long-term supportive housing programs
- 52 beds in two modular facilities for overnight staffed shelter programming
Winter investment by the County
Once permits are received from the city, the County will install and open two modular housing options previously purchased:
- A 40-bed modular at Tiffin Street anticipated this winter (pending permits)
- A new 16-bed modular currently being procured (pending land and permits approvals)
These modular facilities are in addition to the two modulars currently located at Blake Street, being utilized by Youth Haven during their delayed renovation and ok focused transitional housing.
The County is prepared to expedite its winter response strategy in support of the mayor’s order. The County remains hopeful that these pre-established initiatives can be fast-tracked at the city-level to deliver both immediate and sustainable support to the community.
At Tuesday's news conference, Nuttall explained his reasoning for issuing a state of emergency, saying residents of Barrie "have had enough" of what he described as "lawlessness."
"We've said to the community, if you want help, if you want support, Barrie wants to be the place that helps and supports you."
But he also made it clear that the city may not be for those who refuse assistance.
