Barrie Bash returns to city with big economic boost
Air quality concerns won't affect the status of a major ball tournament this weekend in Barrie.
The Barrie Bash is a huge event; with it going forward, it's good news for the players and local businesses.
"From what I'm told, it's one of the biggest tournaments in Ontario," said Sean Hayward, Barrie and District Girls Softball Association's president.
The Barrie Bash, which got underway Friday and ends Sunday, is a big part of a busy weekend in the city.
"This weekend in Barrie is huge. You've got Open Air Dunlop kicking off. You've got the air show where we expect tens of thousands of visitors here to watch," said Stephannie Schlichter, Barrie's economic and creative development director.
Planning for the tournament, which uses a lot of volunteers and 13 ball diamonds for five age groups, began all the way back in November.
"We've got 60 teams here this weekend from all across the province. There's a team here from Phoenix. There are teams from Windsor, LaSalle, Palmerston, London and all over the GTA," Hayward said.
The weekend influx of young families into the area provides a significant economic boost for the community.
"They dine, spend money, shop, and really get a sense of what the flavour of the community is," Schlichter said.
"Every hotel pretty much in Barrie is booked up. Carriage Ridge and Horseshoe Resort's all booked up. We've got one team staying in Midland, so it impacts a lot of Simcoe County," Hayward said.
The City is currently developing a new sports tourism strategy to maximize its amenities.
"We have some incredible sports organizations who are really driving regional, national, provincial recognition, so for us, we're looking at how we bring more of that into the community," Schlichter said.
This weekend's tournament is just one of the recent financial boosts sports tourism has provided for Barrie and surrounding municipalities.
The City estimates that the Ontario Minor Hockey Championships at the beginning of April brought in around $600,000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Minimum wage rises in six provinces, but is it enough?
Amid a cost-of-living crisis driving up food bank visits and economic anxiety, the minimum wage increased in six provinces today – but both advocates and critics fear it may not be enough to tackle the overarching problem.
Half of millennials and Gen Z living paycheque-to-paycheque in Canada while stressing about climate crisis: survey
Struggling under the rising cost of living and an ever mounting fear of the climate crisis, young Canadians don’t see a positive future for themselves right now, according to a recent national survey.
Couple and dog killed by bear at Banff National Park
Two people are dead after a bear attack in Alberta's Banff National Park.
Ontario expands pharmacists' prescription powers to include 6 more common ailments
Ontario residents can now access treatment and medication for six more common ailments at pharmacies across the province.
Taylor Swift watches Travis Kelce's Chiefs take on the Jets at MetLife Stadium
Taylor Swift couldn't just shake off another chance to watch Travis Kelce on the football field. The 12-time Grammy Award winner arrived at MetLife Stadium about 40 minutes before kickoff Sunday night to watch Kelce and his Kansas City Chiefs take on the New York Jets.
Federal prisoner with terminal illness granted parole on compassionate grounds to die outside of jail
A terminally ill federal prisoner, who has been fighting for a compassionate release to die outside of jail, has been granted day parole.
'A giant in life': Saskatchewan Roughriders icon George Reed passes away, aged 83
George Reed, one of the most prolific running backs in Canadian Football League (CFL) history and a legend of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, has passed away. He was 83.
5 dead after single-vehicle crash near Swan River, Man.
Swan River RCMP are investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed five people in western Manitoba Saturday afternoon.
Tim Wakefield, who revived his career and Red Sox trophy case with knuckleball, has died at 57
Tim Wakefield, the knuckleballing workhorse of the Red Sox pitching staff who bounced back after giving up a season-ending home run to the Yankees in the 2003 playoffs to help Boston win its curse-busting World Series title the following year, has died. He was 57.
Atlantic
-
Inaugural International Culture Fest in the Valley a resounding success in N.B.
From Cameroon to Indonesia, multiple international cultures, food, and crafts were on display at Rothesay Commons Park for the inaugural festival.
-
Halifax police say arrests made following 'unsanctioned student gathering'
Police say they've made arrests and issued summary offence tickets after an "unsanctioned student gathering" in Halifax.
-
Thousands gather in downtown Charlottetown for Farm Day
Thousands of people gathered in downtown Charlottetown for Farm Day, with many saying it's an important chance to get farmers in front of urban people.
Montreal
-
Major search effort to find 4-year-old child who fell in Mauricie River
A four-year-old child is missing after falling into the Saint-Maurice River in Quebec’s Mauricie region Sunday night.
-
Strike looming for Quebec school support staff
School support workers in Quebec are threatening to go on strike in a matter of weeks, as more than half say they can't afford to pay for the basics of living. From 2020 to 2021, the average salary of a school support staff employee was $24,284 a year, says Andrea Di Tomaso, a spokesperson with the Fédération des employées et employés de services publics (FEESP-CSN).
-
CHUM brings back mask mandate as COVID-19 cases rise
Amid a rise in COVID-19 cases, the University of Montreal Hospital (CHUM) is bringing back its mask mandate starting Monday. The rule applies to anyone entering a patient’s room or care area—including visitors, staff and physicians, a CHUM spokesperson confirmed in a statement to CTV News on Saturday.
Ottawa
-
Gee-Gees claim last-second win over Ravens in 2023 Panda Game
A field goal in the dying seconds of the Panda Game awarded the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees a narrow 18-16 win over the Carleton Ravens.
-
Ontario expands pharmacists' prescription powers to include 6 more common ailments
Ontario residents can now access treatment and medication for six more common ailments at pharmacies across the province.
-
Fighting breast cancer one step at a time
More than 2,000 participants took over the National Research Council location on Montreal Road Sunday, running to fight breast cancer, at the CIBC Run for the Cure.
Toronto
-
Police search for suspects after armed robbery at Mississauga outlet mall
Officers from Peel Regional Police are searching for two suspects following an armed robbery at an outlet mall in Mississauga.
-
Nearly 500 tenants from 5 apartment buildings in Toronto are now on rent strike
More than 100 tenants at 1440 and 1442 Lawrence Avenue West will go on rent strike Sunday joining the ranks of nearly 500 residents who have been withholding payments since early summer.
-
Ontario expands pharmacists' prescription powers to include 6 more common ailments
Ontario residents can now access treatment and medication for six more common ailments at pharmacies across the province.
Kitchener
-
Hundreds gather in Breslau, Ont. for unveiling of COVID Wall of Memories
A large crowd of over 600 people gathered in Breslau Sunday afternoon around a memorial wall covered with the names of those who died during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
Most read stories of the week: Hit and run trial, encampment cleared, changes for CTV Kitchener
Sentencing in a hit and run trial, a Cambridge encampment being cleared, and some big changes for CTV Kitchener round out the most-read stories of the week.
-
Ontario's minimum wage just went up. Here's what you need to know
Nearly a million minimum wage earners in Ontario got a pay bump today.
London
-
‘Hope for a cure’: Cancer survivors and supporters gather for annual Run for the Cure
A powerful moment as dozens of cancer survivors gathered for a photo at Victoria Par in London, Ont. ahead of the CIBC Run for the Cure.
-
‘It’s a great feeling’: Golden Knights Staff from St. Thomas, Ont. get day with Stanley Cup
The Luce family from St. Thomas, Ont. had four chances to hoist the Stanley Cup, before they finally tasted victory this summer.
-
Alleged vandals cause $100K in damage to lakefront cottage
Huron County OPP is investigating after a seasonal cottage was allegedly wrecked by vandals causing more than $100,000 in damage.
Northern Ontario
-
Ontario city home to Nazi soldier that visited Parliament shares mixed emotions
North Bay, Ont. is currently home to a man who was honoured with a standing ovation in the House of Commons during a visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but whose presence in Parliament later caused global outrage and embarrassment when details emerged about his past as a Nazi soldier during the second World War.
-
Half of millennials and Gen Z living paycheque-to-paycheque in Canada while stressing about climate crisis: survey
Struggling under the rising cost of living and an ever mounting fear of the climate crisis, young Canadians don’t see a positive future for themselves right now, according to a recent national survey.
-
Sewing retreat in Timmins brings people together to make quilts for residential school survivors
A patchwork of people from various places and cultures have come together for a sewing retreat event in Timmins, Ont. making quilts for residential school survivors.
Windsor
-
Racing goes to the Weiner dogs at Leamington Raceway
A beautiful day of furry, fast-paced fun was had at the Leamington Raceway where the Lakeshore Horse Racing Association hosted the seventh annual Weiner Dog Races on Sunday.
-
Ruthven Apple Festival returns for 44th year
Many people made their way to the county this weekend for the return of the Ruthven Apple Festival.
-
Chatham-Kent police warn drivers to watch for wildlife
Chatham-Kent police are reminding drivers to be more vigilant on the roads and watch for wildlife.
Calgary
-
Couple and dog killed by bear at Banff National Park
Two people are dead after a bear attack in Alberta's Banff National Park.
-
Thousands of Calgarians Run for the Cure
Thousands laced up in Calgary and across the country Sunday for the annual Run for the Cure.
-
Flames assistant GM Chris Snow dies from ALS complications
Calgary Flames vice-president of data and analytics and assistant general manager Chris Snow has died of complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Saskatoon
-
'A giant in life': Saskatchewan Roughriders icon George Reed passes away, aged 83
George Reed, one of the most prolific running backs in Canadian Football League (CFL) history and a legend of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, has passed away. He was 83.
-
'You could hear a pin drop': Contract vote derailed in Prince Albert after surprise disclosure from city
Inside workers in Prince Albert have delayed a vote on a tentative contract after the city disclosed surprise plans for “sweeping” structural changes to its workforce.
-
Suspects in Saskatoon emergency scam identified themselves as law enforcement, police say
Saskatoon police are warning the public about alleged fraudsters identifying themselves as police officers as part of a grandparent, or emergency scam.
Edmonton
-
Red Deer school board trustee won't apologize for posting 'brainwashing' meme: Lawyer
The lawyer for a Red Deer School Board member says she won't be saying sorry after posting a meme comparing teaching children about the LGBTQ2S+ community to brainwashing in Nazi Germany.
-
'People really need the help': 24-hour small scale food bank opens in Edmonton
Free non-perishable food items and books are now available 24 hours a day in northwest Edmonton – for anyone who needs them.
-
Highway 44 closed after fatal crash near Hondo Sunday
Highway 44 near Highway 2 was closed after a fatal crash near Hondo on Sunday.
Vancouver
-
B.C. Conservative leader defends residential school comments as criticism grows
The leader of the Conservative Party of BC is defending a social media post about parental rights denounced as insensitive, hurtful and political on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
-
Metro Vancouver moms concerned about group of youths assaulting people at random
A group of parents afraid for their children’s safety—and their own—has banded together to find ways to stop random violence.
-
'They deserve to live': Group rallies to stop euthanasia of Granville Island rabbits
Dozens of animal welfare activists gathered on Vancouver’s Granville Island Sunday to protest the controversial decision to trap and euthanize the area’s growing rabbit population.
