Debby Miller (Barrie,Ontario), 8 days ago
Why do you keep reprinting the story about the fire hall search narrowing? Who cares, except John Brassard? Let him pay for it. Lets rebuild the Barrie arena on the site of the new fire hall. Tha'ts news i want to hear.Thank you.
Johanne (victoria,b.c.), 8 days ago
(Re: 'Violence must end' in the Aug. 25 edition of the Examiner) So wonderful to see Trude Lee's passion - part of restoring the downtown - sensibly should be to help the homeless. It's not just the bars. Give people shelter and food — rebuild — revitalize; city planners take note: you can still save the downtown - quaint little shops...some nice coffee shops..starting at the little park near the gazebo..right down past Fred Grant Square heading out Dunlop Street West.
Joanne Frost (Barrie,Ontario), 9 days ago
(Re: 'Violence must end' in the Aug. 25 edition of the Examiner) Great points made by Trude Lee. I don't like alcohol and I'm sick of paying the price for it. I shouldn't have to pay $100,000 in overtime to police the bars. I would love to hear a police officer or city politician admit alcohol is a major problem downtown instead of adding more law enforcement. It's law enforcement that costs taxpayers the most in this city. Let the bar owners pay to police their bars. The clubs keep on opening and it's going to get worse before things get better. I feel that the recent downtown stabbing where a young man lost his life was downplayed by the Barrie police as no more than a minor occurence, that doesn't need any solution. I disagree with that. I will not walk the streets downtown Barrie alone at night, ever again.The person charged with his murder is back on the streets right now. Doesn't that make you feel safe folks? Have a nice day.
TRUDIE LEE (barrie,ontario), 9 days ago
I am totally disgusted with the violence on downton Barrie streets. City coucil do something! If you can't, please stop spending my hard earned tax dollars beautifying the waterfront because I won't be down there and neither will new residents if this keeps up. The problem is the bars. You must start laying charges and laying fines on the bar owners for serving "drunks." I guess that is a little difficult when some of the bars are owned by the family of a previous mayor who is now seeking re-election. We residents are getting the short end of the stick. The residents near the college have had their quality of life affected, the residents of downtown and all the rest of us are paying for this mess while the bar owners are getting richer by the day. Stop this nonsense now.
Mike Donaldson (Barrie,Ontario), 12 days ago
I think everyone should be banned from using hand-held devices like cellphones, even the "cream of the crop"(police and firefighters).I also found out another interesting fact about police and firefighters. They are not supposed to leave their vehicles in areas where they could be boxed in, like drive-thrus. I've seen a couple of times Barrie police cruisers trapped in drive-though lines trying to get out to respond to a emergency call.These officers are entitled to their coffee breaks like anyone else, but if I ever catch a police officer leaving his vehicle in a unsecured area for personal use I'm taking down the lisence plate number and making a complaint. My life could be at risk because they are too lazy to park their vehicles and walk inside to get their coffee. If the police want to give me a $150 fine for talking on my cellphone, I'm going to make sure they also follow the rules. I'm sick of police and firefighters being exempt from everything and being treated like they are the elite of society.Have a wonderful weekend.
Newspaper Reply Police officers are taught to park in places where they can have an easy escape route and are taught to use common sense, since each emergency call is different.
Joan Beaton (Barrie,Ontario), 13 days ago
How can a judge grant bail for someone who just committed manslaughter and aggravated assult before the victim is even laid to rest is beyond me. It seems like a life doesn't mean much anymore, and an alleged killer is set free with no more than bail conditions. Marc Emery, on the other hand, was sent by our government to the United States to serve a five year sentence for selling seeds. MP Patrick Brown and his justice minister should be ashamed. Is what being tough on crime is all about?Anybody who takes a life should get life in prison with no parole and Free Marc Emery. Thank you.
Ernie (Brantford,ON), 14 days ago
Time is here. This planet is known to be at least 4 billion years old. Isn't time we stop destroying, fighting, dividing ourselves into little groups of races, religions, countries, languages, cultures, colors and the rest of it? We must join hands and help one another to change our old stupid ways of existence. I have,for a long time, been fascinated by the ecological and environmental anthropology of this big ball of water and earth flying through space orbiting the Sun at 66700 miles per hour. Someone brought to my attention this 93 minute video called "Home, a film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand"It is priceless beyond imagination showing the beauty of several nations and also the dark side of what we, humans keep doing to this unique mysterious planet...a must see for each of ushttp://www.youtube.com/user/homeproject#p/a
Jessie Smith (Barrie,Ontario), 14 days ago
In regards to all the garbage left after Caribfest.I agree with the writer. I really enjoyed the Caribfest and they had a great hardworking team of volunteers trying their best to keep up with all the trash collection. I hope next year Centennial beach is not entirely fenced off like it was the past two years ,due to the large entrance fee.The beach grounds were mostly empty all weekend. The festival either needs to have free admission to the entertainment area by finding a sponsor or reduce the twenty dollar admission charge to 5 dollars. This would surely help reduce the amount of garbage that builds up from hundreds of tailgate parties in parking areas. The Caribfest is the best festival of the year in Barrie and the organizers along with the volunteers did a great job.I do not like Kempenfest with its terrible food, tacky displays,and it's over crowded.Have a nice day.
J Sherber (victoria,b.c.), 16 days ago
Congrats to the wonderful lady leading the way to clean up the downtown core. In a city like Barrie, there should NEVER be an eyesore like the burned out buildings (Wellington Hotel) left to remind residents and tourists that noboday cares.Why have the owners not been forced to deal with this issue. Downtown used to be a a wonderful place to go to shop and enjoy the waterfront. Does anyone remember the 60's 70's? The people of Barrie need to revitalize the precious jewel of the waterfront and beautiful downtown potential. Progress does not mean leaving the downtown a burned out wasteland.
Robert Viera (Barrie,ON), 19 days ago
I was pleased to read Stephen Sweet's article about 'Hockey Night in Barrie'. In particular, I found Shayne Corson's account of how the fundraiser began particularly interesting: "It was myself and people from the RVH that started the original Hockey Night in Barrie and they've just kept it going." Corson's account of the origin of the fundraiser directly contradicts the story distributed by Patrick Brown: "Where did you get the idea to have a charity hockey game? I attended charity hockey games in Brockville and Peterborough that raised $10,000 and $50,000 respectively for their community United Ways. I thought this concept would be perfect to raise funds for our hospital RVH's Cancer Care Center." It's a shame that Corson had to correct the record. He wouldn't have needed to if the media in Barrie had reported the true history of the fundraiser instead of repeating Patrick Brown's propaganda. It's also a shame that the media have focused on celebrities like Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Don Cherry when the RVH expansion, which includes the Cancer Centre, is being paid for by the ordinary taxpayers of the province of Ontario (over $300 million), the City of Barrie ($55 million), and the County of Simcoe ($20 million). Fund-raising has also played an integral part in the RVH expansion ($35 million). Why the media have chosen to lavish so much attention on Patrick Brown and Stephen Harper when they represent the only level of government not contributing to the cost of building the RVH expansion is a mystery to me.
