Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It has a motto of "The People are the City". It has a curved, flat valley that surrounds part of the Kempenfelt Bay. This valley contains the highly urbanized downtown area that separates the north and south parts of the city. Around the valley are steep slopes that have also become urbanized in recent years.

The work force economy in Barrie is unique in that 32% of the population commutes out of the city to work while an outsider population of 28% commutes into the city to work leaving only about 4.26% of net commuting work force.

Barrie's terrain and proximity to the Great Lakes makes the city ideal for tourist activities that involve snow up in the slopes - ice fishing, snow tubing, skiing, and snowboarding among others. The city is also home to several resorts and recreational facilities that provide activities (cycling, horseback riding, hiking, skiing, etc.) for visitors and regular residents alike.