Like an adolescent on the cusp of adulthood, Barrie began defining who she is in 2009. The next year will be a critical one, as voters choose who will lead the city through to November 2014.

More sophisticated than ever before, Barrie began playing major-league politics. A city contingent met with federal cabinet ministers last February to garner support for a variety of arts and sports projects, as well as for infrastructure renewal cash, and that same week, another delegation headed to Queen’s Park to lobby for a resolution to the Barrie-Innisifil boundary dispute.

That work shaped the year.

Growth was the defining issue of 2009.  

In advocating for more land, Barrie argued for the region’s economic prosperity and for environmentally sustainable growth. On June 4, Ontario introduced Bill 196, the Barrie-Innisfil Boundary Adjustment Act, which adds 2,293 hectares to the city on Jan. 1, 2010.

Along with that came a provincial plan for the region, which includes a vibrant, urban centre. It’s completely in sync with what Barrie imagines for herself.

Creatively, the city continues to struggle to become ArtCity, the unique place where public art inspires more creativity. Barrie envisioned herself as the visual, public arts nexus, along with fine offerings of music and theatre, north of the GTA. Unfortunately, the city struggles still with the performance centre issue.

Netting $2.5 million from the feds – a government not known as a great arts supporter – Barrie succeeded where many others failed. Still, whether to take the 50-per-cent funding is undetermined, as some Barrie officials point to the need to control taxes and debt, rather than build a downtown theatre. Councillors are to address that issue in January.

Interestingly it’s not far off last January’s debate: the Allandale Station redevelopment. The city discussed the issue in committee meetings from November 2008 through January 2009.

In its bid to add the arts into the redevelopment, Barrie required public arts spaces, and extensive community consultations. The result of hundreds of people’s input, the report is almost like an adjunct to the city’s 2006 Building A Creative Future. The Creative Allandale report set a new standard for community involvement.

The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka’s venture on the waterfront is to build a $50-million development that includes retail, offices, a hotel/condo, public arts spaces, a second GO station and a restored historic station.

Ironically, Allandale is the only development of three city-core plans coming to fruition. The downtown convention centre and the IGA site have yielded nothing, despite two attempts each and the city adjusting its hopes and expectations in toughening economic times.

This year was also the year of consultants. Perhaps propelled by a sense similar to teen angst, Barrie hired an array of consultants – including how to manage major capital projects funded by the federal/provincial infrastructure cash and helping city staff think creatively.

After a spring and summer filled with consulting contracts, the climax came in October, as council discussed spending $300,000 American (in addition to a previous $150,000), for Connecticut-based Klapper Institute.

Looking ahead, Barrie will go through her last growth spurt (at least until 2031). She will explore her creative side. She will address her “problem areas,” infilling and redeveloping areas.

We must hope October’s municipal election brings us leaders who can take the city into her prime.

The story has just begun.