City council set to consider building landmark sign
Barrie city council is set to revisit a call to build a large landmark sign in the city's downtown core.
The motion was first brought forth by city councillor Mike McCann earlier this year to build a large 8-foot sign reading 'I Heart Barrie.' McCann says the idea comes from the popular 'Toronto' sign located at Nathan Phillips Square.
"Every great town has a great landmark sign," says McCann. "Barrie has one of the best waterfronts, I think, in the world. I think this will be a great landmark sign to unite the city and also will inspire the city, and for the worst-case scenario, it will be fun!"
On Monday night, city council will consider a staff report into the idea, either giving it approval or not. While McCann originally called for the sign to be in Meridian Place, the new report suggests that it be placed at nearby Heritage Park.
If approved, McCann will have to begin securing the necessary funding of $200,000. He says that businesses have already reached out to him, expressing their support for the sign.
"I love Barrie. The business community loves Barrie," says McCann. "Quite frankly, all the residents love Barrie. So why not unite, be inspired and have a sign that actually shows the love for your city?"
McCann will be asking to amend to increase the size of the sign from 8 feet to 10 feet.
If approved, McCann will have to have the funding in place by September. It would then be installed by summer 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries 'Roots,' has died. He was 87.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Luxury cruise line selling world cruise suite for US$1.7 million
Luxury operator Regent Seven Seas Cruises is raising their price tag to eye-watering levels, with a suite on an upcoming 140-day world voyage costing US$1.7 million.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
A Filipino villager is nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peace
A Filipino villager has been nailed to a wooden cross for the 35th time to reenact Jesus Christ’s suffering in a brutal Good Friday tradition he said he would devote to pray for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and the disputed South China Sea.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.