The city was named in 1832 after Sir Robert Barrie, who was in charge of the naval forces in Canada and frequently had to portage from Lake Simcoe to Georgian Bay through the city.
Several manufacturers are currently located in Barrie and Canadian Forces Base Borden is nearby. In recent years Barrie has become an outer suburb of Toronto and is unofficially considered part of the Greater Toronto Area.
Official City of Barrie Website http://www.city.barrie.on.ca