Truth, Land, Reconciliation: Barrie Walks as Annexation Debate Sparks Local Oro-Medonte Opposition

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time for reflection and education across Canada. In Barrie, the Barrie Native Friendship Centre commemorated the day by organizing a walk at the Spirit Catcher near Lake Simcoe, bringing community members together to honour survivors and remember the children who never returned home from residential schools.

Josie Fiegehen, Cultural Resource Coordinator at the Barrie Native Friendship Centre, spoke with Simcoe Community Media about the importance of ensuring reconciliation efforts extend beyond a single day of recognition. She emphasized that true reconciliation requires sustained action and accountability from all Canadians.

Fiegehen urged non-Indigenous Canadians to read and respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, noting with concern that only nine have been fully implemented since the report’s release in 2015.

“It’s not just one day of the year that we acknowledge this truth,” she said. “You can wear your orange shirt any day of the year. In fact, I encourage it — take this truth outside of this one day, because this is the way we live. This is our truth, and we live it every day.”

Meanwhile, residents in Oro-Medonte continue to voice opposition to the City of Barrie’s proposed annexation plans. On September 29, 2025, the City formally launched the public phase of its annexation process with a statutory public meeting held in accordance with the Municipal Act. The session marked the start of community consultation on the proposed boundary restructuring, which involves lands in the Township of Oro-Medonte, Township of Springwater, and the County of Simcoe.

The proposal would see approximately 870 hectares (2,150 acres) of land added to the City of Barrie to support projected employment and population growth through 2051 and beyond. While the plan has backing from developers and some landowners, it has also drawn strong opposition from rural residents, environmental groups, and Indigenous advocates who have raised concerns about the loss of farmland, ecological impact, and insufficient consultation.

Jane Voorheis, a representative of the advocacy group Friends of the Future, has been a leading voice against the annexation. In a recent interview with Simcoe Community Media, she reaffirmed the group’s commitment to protecting local land and community character.

Neil Swanson, an Indigenous community member, spoke about the importance of environmental stewardship in the discussion. “We’re stewards of the land, so we’ve got to make sure that our impact is less,” he said.

The final decision on the annexation will ultimately rest with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Before the matter reaches the province, however, the framework agreement must first receive formal approval from all affected municipalities.