Bracing for Recovery & Funding Support for Youth

Welcome back to another episode recap of What Barrie’s Talking About — the podcast that brings you truly local stories that matter.

It’s a short week, and a shorter podcast — but still packed with impact. From local innovation in sports recovery to crucial funding for youth advocacy, here’s what Barrie’s talking about this week:

Barrie-Based Trainer’s Choice Pivots to Stay Ahead

Got a bum knee, sore back, or sports injury that just won’t quit? If you’ve ever reached for a brace, there’s a good chance it came from Trainer’s Choice — a long-time Barrie company with deep roots in recovery and support products.

This week, Barrie 360’s Ian MacLennan sat down with Trainer’s Choice president Rick Shaly and project manager Taylor Shaly to learn how the company is stepping into a new phase. They’re not just selling braces anymore — they’re innovating in recovery technology, keeping pace with modern athletic needs and everyday support.

Local Youth Advocacy Centre Gets a Boost from Queen’s Park

A few episodes back, we heard from Kate Waugh, Executive Director of the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre of Simcoe Muskoka. At the time, she shared the very real struggles the centre was facing — including a lack of funding and staff support.

Well, this week brought some good news.

A recent announcement from the provincial government means more funding and expanded programming are on the way. The Centre will now play a role in a court-related initiative aimed at helping vulnerable youth — and they’ll finally have the resources to do it right.

Kate returned to the podcast to share what this means for the youth they support, and how the program will roll out locally.

That’s What Barrie’s Talking About

That’s it for this week’s show — short, but packed with the stuff that matters right here in our community. Big thanks to Ian MacLennan for anchoring both interviews this episode.