Four Years of Ground-Level Journalism in Simcoe County: Community-Focused Journalism, made possible by CACTUS and the LJI program

Four Years of Ground Reporting in Simcoe County – Deepak Bidwai, Simcoe Community Media

For the past four years, I’ve been on the ground in Barrie and across Simcoe County, covering stories too often neglected or underrepresented. The trust built through deep community connections has allowed me to share voices that have long been hesitant to engage with media, often because of decades—and in some cases centuries—of misrepresentation.

This past quarter, Barrie faced one of its most devastating crises when two unhoused residents were brutally murdered at the Flat Rock encampment. In response, Simcoe Community Media, with support from volunteers, launched a dedicated series to provide comprehensive coverage of the tragedy and the broader issues of homelessness, housing, and public safety.

We have continued to report directly from encampments, engaging with residents, advocates, political leaders, and health experts to present a clear, human-centred understanding of this complex issue. During the overlapping overdose crisis, we marked International Overdose Awareness Day with Grief Into Action, documenting events from Midland to Barrie and highlighting grassroots harm-reduction efforts.

Our Library of Lived Experiences series also grew, featuring stories like HIV-positive advocate Justin Anantawan on identity and activism, Dustin Pineau (aka Slick) on survival and struggle, and Samantha Loney’s Métis memoir Daughter of the Country, brought to life on stage.

Indigenous stories have remained central to our coverage—from the Barrie Theatre Festival’s spotlight on Indigenous voices to the 2025 Truth and Reconciliation Flag Raising and suicide prevention efforts led by Indigenous leaders. Samantha Loney has reported extensively on these issues, including homelessness and community safety.

Jaya Bondre-Bidwai contributed to civic and cultural coverage, documenting Barrie students’ historic win at the Provincial Debate Championships and India’s 79th Independence Day celebrations at City Hall. As Barrie grows into Ontario’s second-largest South Asian community outside the GTA, we’ve reported milestones such as the opening of Barrie’s first Gurdwara, a powerful symbol of inclusion and service.

Environmental concerns have been another focus, particularly the region’s looming landfill capacity crisis. We conducted in-depth coverage with municipal leaders, including Penetanguishene’s mayor, who called for urgent regional action.

Since 2021, first through Barrie Community Media and now Simcoe Community Media, our civic journalism has consistently elevated community voices often excluded from mainstream coverage. Through series like Shining Water with the Barrie Native Friendship Centre, Life Stories with Moms Stop the Harm & Ryan’s Hope, Métis Minutes with Samantha Loney, South Asian Coverage with Jaya Bondre-Bidwai, City Hall Snapshot, and Election Stories, we’ve highlighted urgent civic issues: housing, homelessness, addiction, food security, mental health, Indigenous culture and history, Black and Muslim experiences, racial equity, and LGBTQ2S+ representation.

This work has sparked thousands of community conversations online, influenced council decisions, and ensured grassroots voices are heard by both the public and policymakers. None of it would have been possible without the extraordinary support of CACTUS and its leadership. We are especially grateful to Executive Director Cathy Edwards, Director Dean Reeds, and Director John Savage, whose sustained encouragement has been invaluable. Their commitment has enabled us to build lasting trust with diverse groups—including Indigenous, Black, South Asian, LGBTQ2S+, and unhoused communities—and ensure their voices help shape Barrie’s future.

Under the leadership of Angela Vos, Simcoe Community Media is better positioned than ever to serve our community with impactful, inclusive, and trustworthy journalism.

Communities & Partners
Barrie Native Friendship Centre; Gilbert Centre; Ryan’s Hope; Moms Stop the Harm; Simcoe Greenbelt Coalition; Engage Barrie; UPlift Black; Innisfil Indian Association; Jordan’s Life; Indigenous Harm Reduction Network; John Howard Society; Canadian Drug Policy Coalition.

Officials / Institutions Engaged
Barrie City Council; Mayor Jeff Lehman (past); Mayor Alex Nuttall (present); Provincial Ministers Doug Downey and Andrea Khanjin; Federal Minister of Mental Health & Addictions Ya’ara Saks (exclusive access at Gilbert Centre); MPs, mayors, and councillors across Simcoe County.

Audience Response & Reach (Samples)

• Instagram, Truth and Reconciliation Day (Oct 2022): ~11,300 engagements

• Warming centre/homelessness advocacy IG: 5,000+ views; public thanks from housing advocates

• Tiny Residents Push Back Against $25M Town Hall Plan (YouTube, Apr 2025): 4,000+ views in a town of 13,000

• Multiple stories reaching hundreds of views; strongest platform: Instagram

Community Impact

• Public engagement: Investigations and video reporting have reached thousands, including 11,000+ engagements for Truth and Reconciliation Day and 5,000+ for warming centre coverage.

• Influencing decision-makers: Sustained coverage of Barrie’s punitive homelessness bylaws (May–Sept 2023) galvanized public opposition and contributed to council revoking them.

• Breaking barriers: We were the only outlet to fully cover key events such as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and International Overdose Awareness Day.

• Amplification by leaders: Our Shining Water podcast was shared by local councillors, and our reporting secured exclusive access during Minister Ya’ara Saks’ visit to the Gilbert Centre.

• Representation: As the only visible-minority civic journalist consistently covering City Hall in Simcoe County, we have brought fresh perspectives and credibility, building trust across marginalized communities.

• Amplifying Black voices and arts: Coverage of UPlift Black, Barrie’s first Black Poet Laureate, and cultural events such as Rap Is Poetry promoted inclusion and broadened recognition of Black leadership.

Local journalism is not just about reporting events—it is about fostering dialogue, bridging divides, and creating accountability. Thanks to CACTUS and the LJI program, we’ve been able to give voice to communities long left unheard, shape public debate, and strengthen civic life in Barrie and Simcoe County.