Barrie, Ontario

Barrie is a city located on Kempenfelt Bay, an arm of Lake Simcoe, in the central portion of southern Ontario, Canada. Although geographically near the centre of Simcoe County, the municipality is politically separate.Barrie's location between Toronto and resort areas to the north, popularly known as cottage country, result in the city being influenced by the metropolis to the south. The city is located in the northern portion of the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the most densely populated area of Canada. As of 2006, the city's population was 128,430 residents, making it the 35th largest city in Canada. Data released from the 2006 census indicates that the Barrie metropolitan area, with 177,061 residents, is the 21st largest, and one of the fastest growing Census Metropolitan Areas in the country.