Bob Bruton, Freelance Journalist Profile

Articles

Beehive-inspired tower could feature 'distinctive' exoskeleton

4 days ago | barrietoday.com | Bob Bruton

Another planned residential tower in Barrie, another 30 storeys. A neighbourhood meeting was held recently for a rezoning application and an Official Plan (OP) amendment for 51-59 Tiffin St., between Essa Road/Bradford Street and Innisfil Street, to facilitate the future development of 285 residences and 290 parking spaces. It would have six storeys for parking and 24 storeys for the residences.
Projects on track: City transit hubs progressing toward completion

4 days ago | barrietoday.com | Bob Bruton

The Barrie Allandale Transit Terminal is on track to be operational this fall. “Construction is anticipated to be complete in summer 2025, with occupancy and operations ready for September,” Natalie Calder, the city’s senior project manager (capital facilities), corporate facilities, said in a recent memo to city council. Construction at the Downtown Mini Hub on Maple Avenue also continues to progress, Calder said.
Province boosts funding for local child victims, crime witnesses

4 days ago | orilliamatters.com | Bob Bruton

The province is investing $600,000 over the next three years to help protect child victims and witnesses of crime in Simcoe-Muskoka. Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey, who is also Ontario’s attorney general, made the announcement this morning in Barrie.
Giant Canadian flag to be unveiled along busy Hwy. 400 stretch

5 days ago | orilliamatters.com | Bob Bruton

Barrie will fly its new Canadian flag in time for July 1. With the 150-foot flag pole now constructed at the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus on Fairview Road, all that’s needed is the flag itself for Canada Day. And it’s scheduled to go up at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 26. The Canadian flag that will fly there is 35 by 70 feet in size. The flag pole was manufactured and installed by Ewing Flagpole, while the Canadian flag itself comes from the Flag Store, a Barrie company.
Massive pole installed in Barrie, now city waits on Canada flag

5 days ago | midlandtoday.ca | Bob Bruton

Barrie will fly its new Canadian flag in time for July 1. With the 150-foot flag pole now constructed at the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus on Fairview Road, all that’s needed is the flag itself for Canada Day. And it’s scheduled to go up at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 26. The Canadian flag that will fly there is 35 by 70 feet in size. The flag pole was manufactured and installed by Ewing Flagpole, while the Canadian flag itself comes from the Flag Store, a Barrie company.
COLUMN: City hall reporter also gets break from being 'professional bother'

6 days ago | barrietoday.com | Bob Bruton

We can all probably use the break. Following the June 18 general committee, affordability committee and city council meetings, Barrie councillors are taking a break until September — except for the obligatory August meeting, which might or might not be significant. Also getting a break is the media, people like me, who can find other things to do on Wednesday evenings, other stories to write besides those generated by councillors’ agenda.
Youth injured in scooter, vehicle collision Friday night

6 days ago | barrietoday.com | Bob Bruton

A teenager suffered life-threatening injuries when his scooter was struck by a passenger vehicle in Barrie Friday night. Police said the 14-year-old male was struck on County Road 27, the town line, just south of Dunlop Street West, at about 10:22 p.m. The youth was transported to a Toronto area trauma centre, by air ambulance, after being taken to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH).
Barrie firefighters still without contract after 18 months

1 week ago | barrietoday.com | Bob Bruton

The city and union representing Barrie's firefighters continue to negotiate a new contract. City councillors, sitting in general committee behind closed doors Wednesday, dealt with a confidential labour relations/employee negotiations matter concerning the Barrie Professional Fire Fighters Association (BPFFA). “Our last collective agreement was between 2019 and 2023, so we have been out of contract for approximately 18 months,” BPFFA president Dan Speight told BarrieToday on Friday.
Development plans for 'small city' within south Barrie scaled back

1 week ago | innisfiltoday.ca | Bob Bruton

Barrie has avoided having a city within a city in its south end. Council gave final approval Wednesday to rezone 664, 674 and 692 Essa Rd., and 320, 364 and 366 Mapleview Dr. W., to facilitate the future development of 458 residential street and block townhouses — with an additional 66 dwelling units, internal to the proposed townhouses, made optional for prospective purchasers. But Coun.
More ice-storm money from province could be coming for Barrie

1 week ago | barrietoday.com | Bob Bruton

Barrie is ready to soak up more provincial funding to help with its ice-storm costs. The Ontario government announced Thursday it’s launching two one-time financial assistance programs to support communities impacted by the March 28-31 storm.