Alectra commits $11.45M for Barrie’s growing power needs
Alectra crews work to restore power in Barrie, Ont., in this file image. (CTV News)
Alectra Utilities has pledged a $11.45 million investment in infrastructure upgrades to improve the reliability of electricity services in Barrie.
"As the city continues to expand, Alectra is committed to upgrading and modernizing the electricity infrastructure to ensure consistent and dependable service for both residential and commercial customers," a press release stated.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
The power company has several projects planned for this year in Barrie, including updating old infrastructure like poles, transformers and switchgear to help limit disruptions and stabilize the power supply.
"By investing in innovative technologies and modernizing our infrastructure, we are not only reducing the risk of power outages but also enhancing the resilience of Barrie's energy grid to support future growth and development," said Chris Hudson, senior vice president of operations at Alectra.
The company will also upgrade substations with automated switches so that power can be restored quickly when there's an outage.
Overall, Alectra plans to spend about $297 million on capital improvements across its 17 service areas this year "to renew aging equipment and install new infrastructure to handle growing demand."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING Live updates: Hurricane Milton leaves path of destruction in Florida
Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction and immobilizing critical infrastructure. The extent of the damage is not yet known.
U.S. Republicans condemn hurricane conspiracy theories spread by their own party
As U.S. officials struggle to push back against misinformation about natural disasters hitting the country, at least three congressional Republicans condemned conspiracy theories repeated by fellow members of their party.
Hurricane Milton plows across Florida, pounding cities and whipping up tornadoes. At least 4 dead
Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, pounding cities with ferocious winds and rain, and whipping up a barrage of tornadoes. It caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit.
Ontario man 'devastated' he owes $18,000 after 2 loans were fraudulently taken in his name
An Ontario man said he feels 'devastated' after learning his identity was stolen to take out two fraudulent loans under his name.
opinion
opinion Melania Trump reveals surprising pen pal friendship with King Charles III
In her column for CTVNews.ca, royal commentator Afua Hagan writes about the pen friendship we didn't see coming, between Melania Trump, the former first lady of the United States, and King Charles III.
Twin boys born conjoined celebrate 1st birthday after separation surgery
Twin brothers who were born conjoined recently celebrated their first birthday after undergoing successful separation surgery.
Company must refund $1-million deposit after failing to complete West Vancouver home on time, court rules
A West Vancouver company has been ordered to repay a homebuyer's $1-million deposit after it failed to complete construction on the property in time.
Women say they were kicked off of Spirit Airlines flight for what they were wearing
Two Orange County women are speaking out after they say they were kicked off of a Spirit Airlines flight because of what they were wearing.
WATCH
WATCH Lightning flashes seen from space as Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida
Timelapse video of satellite imagery shows an impressive number of lightning flashes over Florida as Category 3 Hurricane Milton made landfall on Wednesday.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Kitchener
-
Person struck by GO train in Kitchener has died, police confirm
One person was struck by a GO train, near the Kitchener station, on Wednesday morning.
-
Blast from decades past: What we found inside the walls at CTV Kitchener's former home
A former employee of CTV Kitchener has found a few memories buried in the walls of our old home at 864 King Street West.
-
Experts say lithium batteries are safe – if used properly
Lithium batteries, found in everything from cellphones to electric vehicles, have become a part of our daily lives – but recent fires have prompted concerns about their use.
London
-
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING Live updates: Hurricane Milton leaves path of destruction in Florida
Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction and immobilizing critical infrastructure. The extent of the damage is not yet known.
-
'How many lives we need to continue losing?': Son of fatal crash victim calling for intersection changes in Thamesford
This latest crash was the second fatal and third serious accident at this intersection in the past couple of months - when asked, locals said that the intersection is 'kind of blind.'
-
Knights win in OT
The London Knights were in Owen Sound Wednesday with some reinforcements back in the lineup.
Windsor
-
Entegrus workers head south to help with hurricane relief
A team 14 staff members from Entegrus are on their way to Florida to assist in the restoration of power to thousands of customers affected by hurricanes Hele and Milton.
-
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING Live updates: Hurricane Milton leaves path of destruction in Florida
Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction and immobilizing critical infrastructure. The extent of the damage is not yet known.
-
'A lot of carnage': Witnesses testify in first day of careless driving trial of Windsor man
Brett Iler pleaded not guilty to six charges Wednesday as a result of a double fatal collision in the 2022 RetroFest Classic Car Cruise.
Northern Ontario
-
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING Live updates: Hurricane Milton leaves path of destruction in Florida
Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction and immobilizing critical infrastructure. The extent of the damage is not yet known.
-
Ontario man 'devastated' he owes $18,000 after 2 loans were fraudulently taken in his name
An Ontario man said he feels 'devastated' after learning his identity was stolen to take out two fraudulent loans under his name.
-
Fatal collision under investigation in Muskoka
Police in Huntsville are investigating a deadly single-vehicle collision that happened Tuesday morning.
Sault Ste. Marie
-
International mining conference underway in Sudbury
An annual international mining conference is underway in Greater Sudbury, Ont., marking the first time the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Conference of Mining Regions and Cities has been held in North America.
-
Northern Ontario farmer breaks giant pumpkin records, taking top prizes in competition
Jeff Warner from Aidie Creek Gardens in the northern Ontario community of Englehart has a passion for growing big pumpkins and his effort is paying off in more ways than one.
-
Video shows dumpster diving black bear at Tim Hortons
A woman in Greater Sudbury, Ont., said "It doesn't get more Canadian than this" when she spotted a black bear dumpster diving at a Tim Hortons last month.
Ottawa
-
NEW THIS MORNINGNEW THIS MORNING 5 things to know about the Ottawa Senators this season
The Ottawa Senators kick off the 2024-25 NHL season tonight at Canadian Tire Centre. CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at what you need to know about the Senators this season.
-
Ottawa public school board shuffling teachers as it deals with 1,100 student drop in elementary enrolment
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) says enrolment was 1,130 students below projections in elementary schools in September, including 750 fewer Kindergarten students.
-
Kanata residents living in 'horror' from rat infestation
Halloween is right around the corner, but residents of a South Kanata community say they've been living in what feels like a horror movie for over a month.
Toronto
-
Police investigating after one person found dead at Brampton home
Peel Regional Police say homicide detectives have been notified after a person was found dead at a home in Brampton last night.
-
Canada's 'sluggish' housing market in recovery mode following interest rate cuts, Royal LePage forecast predicts
Royal LePage’s latest housing market forecast predicts a real estate rebound that will see Canada’s “sluggish” markets in recovery mode by spring following a third straight interest rate cut.
-
Ontario man 'devastated' he owes $18,000 after 2 loans were fraudulently taken in his name
An Ontario man said he feels 'devastated' after learning his identity was stolen to take out two fraudulent loans under his name.
Montreal
-
Minister confident of turning the tide on mental health in Quebec
Although he acknowledges that there is still a lot of work to be done in mental health, Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant is confident that he has succeeded in reversing the trend.
-
Old Montreal fire: another building owned by same landlord shot at overnight
Three young people aged 17, 19 and 20 were arrested after shots were fired late on Tuesday near Old Montreal.
-
Port of Montreal dockworkers begin overtime strike as contract talks continue
Dockworkers at the Port of Montreal began a halt to all overtime work this morning in a pressure tactic targetting their employers as contract talks continue.
Atlantic
-
Fourteen-year-old girl pleads guilty to manslaughter in Halifax teen's stabbing death
A 14-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old boy near a Halifax mall earlier this year.
-
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING Live updates: Hurricane Milton leaves path of destruction in Florida
Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction and immobilizing critical infrastructure. The extent of the damage is not yet known.
-
Man, woman from British Columbia die in Cape Breton crash
A man and woman from British Columbia died in a two-vehicle crash in Baddeck Inlet, N.S., on Monday evening.
Winnipeg
-
Human smuggling charge laid against Winnipeg man: RCMP
A 42-year-old Winnipeg man has been charged with human smuggling following an investigation near a Canada-U.S. border crossing in Manitoba.
-
New bill to regulate sale of machetes, other long-bladed weapons in Manitoba
A bill restricting the sale of long-bladed weapons was introduced in Manitoba Wednesday by Justice Minister Matt Wiebe.
-
WSD apologizes over message displayed during professional development day
The superintendent of the Winnipeg School Division (WSD) has apologized over a message displayed during a professional development day on Wednesday.
Calgary
-
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING Live updates: Hurricane Milton leaves path of destruction in Florida
Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction and immobilizing critical infrastructure. The extent of the damage is not yet known.
-
Man charged with arson following Calgary townhome explosion still in hospital
Calgary police say more charges are expected against a man accused of intentionally starting a fire that caused an explosion in northeast Calgary over the weekend.
-
Calgary Flames have 'no quit' mentality as season begins: Backlund
The Calgary Flames were already preaching the importance of resilience a single game into the NHL season.
Edmonton
-
Edmonton Oilers thumped in season-opener a second straight year
It was a familiar start to the NHL season for the Edmonton Oilers.
-
Alberta MLA comparing transgender students to poop welcomed back by UCP
Jennifer Johnson, Lacombe-Ponoka legislature member, has been welcomed back into the United Conservative Party (UCP).
-
Congested roads a 'ticking time bomb,' say residents of fast-growing Edmonton neighbourhoods
Residents of communities like Allard say there are traffic snarls on local roads every morning, leading to dangerous driving.
Regina
-
'Was a really dumb mistake': Sask. Party MLA nominee apologizes for using racist slur
A Saskatchewan Party candidate publicly apologized on Wednesday after it was revealed that he used a racial slur in caucus offices a year and a half ago.
-
Regina girl diagnosed with rare genetic condition faces limited treatment options
For Scarlett Hicks, everyday life is challenging, as the two-year-old lives with a long list of medical conditions.
-
Increased RCMP presence in Whitewood over robbery with firearm
Saskatchewan RCMP say a larger police presence in Whitewood is related to a report of robbery with a firearm.
Saskatoon
-
'Was a really dumb mistake': Sask. Party MLA nominee apologizes for using racist slur
A Saskatchewan Party candidate publicly apologized on Wednesday after it was revealed that he used a racial slur in caucus offices a year and a half ago.
-
Overcapacity: Saskatoon ER worker says 'people would die' waiting for care in the event of a disaster
Healthcare workers rallied outside St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon Wednesday, advocating for better conditions in emergency rooms.
-
'I'm lucky where I'm at': Sask. woman intends to stay in Sarasota amid Hurricane Milton
Milton is shaping up to be a monster of a storm, expected to strike Florida as a Category 3 hurricane, just weeks after Hurricane Helene hit the region.
Vancouver
-
'I'm incredibly lucky': Man who stole Vancouver police cruiser hit cyclist
It all happened within a matter of seconds. Christopher Taylor was biking near an East Vancouver park on a leisurely Sunday morning when he looked left to see a police cruiser barrelling toward him.
-
Parents of 13-year-old who died in B.C. homeless camp share their story in Ottawa
The parents of a teen who died of a suspected drug overdose are calling on the government to improve addiction and mental health care.
-
B.C. Green leader makes public safety announcement, misses Vancouver rally
On the heels of a commanding performance at the only televised leaders’ debate of the 2024 provincial election, the leader of the BC Green Party was scheduled to speak at a lively rally after making a public safety announcement in downtown Vancouver, but lost her voice and missed it at the last minute.
Vancouver Island
-
UVic PhD candidate working to bring first ever portable microplastics test kit to market
Abbas Motalebizadeh is a PhD candidate at the University of Victoria’s Mechanical Engineering Department and on Wednesday he was at the Victoria International Marina to test the Inner Harbour for microplastics.
-
Did John Rustad witness an overdose death on his way to the B.C. leaders' debate?
During the campaign, BC Conservative Leader John Rustad has repeatedly said people are "dying on the streets" in the province – and on Tuesday he claimed to have witnessed that very thing in downtown Vancouver while he was on his way to the leaders' debate.
-
Hollywood star Mark Ruffalo lauds B.C. Green Party in leadup to election
American actor and environmental activist Mark Ruffalo is weighing in on British Columbia politics, lauding the B.C. Green Party's stance on fossil fuels ahead of the Oct. 19 election.
