JAZZ AND BLUES TAKES OVER CITY
THE BARRIE ADVANCE
Leigh Blenkhorn
June 06, 2007

Hundreds of musicians are invading the city for the 12th-Annual Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival. Between June 7 and June 18, musical performances will take place daily across the city at various venues. The festival kicks off Thursday with an opening night dance gala at the MacLaren Art Centre featuring Tony Springer.

New this year to the festival is Barrie Cares, a night in support of the AIDS society of Simcoe County. Barrie Cares runs June 13 starting at noon at the Centre Stage in Heritage Park. Robin Monroe, organizer of the Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival, said it’s important for the festival to help other local organizations and the AIDS Society is a great cause. “I wanted to do something at the festival, maybe a pride day or something like that, but then I was told about Gerry Croteau at AIDS society, so I called him up,” said Monroe. “We talked about turning it into a fundraising event, and then I realized the sky’s the limit with this thing.”

The theme for Barrie Cares is Women and HIV. Gerry Croteau, executive director of the AIDS Committee of Simcoe County, said the theme relates directly to the area. “Bringing awareness to Simcoe County, where we have three to four Aboriginal communities,” he said. “We want to bring to the forefront of peoples’ attention.”

Barrie Cares features guest speakers such as provincial Liberal candidate and former federal cabinet minister Aileen Carroll, and Laverne Monette, the executive director of the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy. There will also be a fashion show, performances from a variety of musicians and a panel discussion.

For more information on the Barrie Blues and Jazz Festival and a schedule of events, visit www.barriejazzbluesfest.com.

BARRIE CITY COUNCIL UPDATE
City Clerk's Office - June 5, 2007

The Following Matters Were Dealt With at the Council
and General Committee Meetings held on June 4, 2007.

COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS (Continued)

Councillor A. Nuttall announced an open house will be held on June 12, 2007 at the Southshore Community Centre from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to discuss traffic in the Sandringham Drive and Hurst Drive areas.

Councillor L. Strachan advised that provision of water services on Tiffin Street and Miller Drive was approved by General Committee on June 4, 2007 and will be considered for adoption by Council on June 11, 2007. If anyone wishes to make a deputation in opposition to the recommendation to advise the City Clerk’s office in writing by noon on Wednesday, June 6, 2007.

Councillor J. Lehman announced that he and Councillor J. Moore will be holding an open house on June 27th, 2007 at the Southshore Community Centre to showcase the City Centre Revitalization plan involving the Downtown, Waterfront and Allandale Station Areas. He noted that further details will follow.

Councillor J. Lehman announced that the Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival is presenting the inaugural “Barrie Cares Festival” in support of the AIDS Committee of Simcoe County. The event is co-sponsored by radio station 107.5 Kool FM. The event takes place on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at
the Centre Stage in Heritage Park from 12 noon to 11:00 p.m.
Tickets are $5.00 and available at the Park.

There's Something About Gay Barrie, Ontario

GAY WEST 905 / THE INSIDE STORY
http://gaywest.905host.net/files/newsletter.php

Saturday April 14, 2007
By Don Quixote, Editor

Barrie is a city of 128,430 residents (Census Canada 2001), the 35th., largest municipality in Canada. It is located on Kempenfelt Bay an arm of Lake Simcoe in Central Ontario. It is the county seat of Simcoe County. The city's north and south ends are separated by a deep valley which contains the downtown area along Kempenfelt Bay. At the north end of Barrie is the Highway 11 and Highway 400 interchange. Many consider this the gateway to northern Ontario resort destinations.

Tourism plays an important role in the local economy. Barrie's waterfront is at the heart of its tourism industry, with events like the Kempenfest Arts and Crafts festival attracting more than 300,000 people. Recreational activities include skiing at nearby Horseshoe Valley , Snow Valley, Mount St.Louis Moonstone, and Blue Mountain as well as boating in Kempenfelt Bay.

The city also boasts several beaches including Minet's Point Beach, The Gables, and Centennial Beach. Barrie's waterfront is currently under heavy construction, with the relocation of several roadways to provide more greenspace and parklands along the lakeshore. Being strategically situated between Toronto and Muskoka on Highway 400, Barrie is also considered the gateway to northern Ontario resort destinations (referred to as cottage country).

I have been doing research on Gay Barrie Ontario. I sent a few feelers out to Toronto's Christos Metropolitan Community Church, MCC Simcoe (website is closed, is the church congregation gone too?) and the LGBTQ group at Barrie's Georgian College about three weeks ago, but nobody replied.

Barrie Ontario, probably has a big LGBT population. One could estimate it as 10% of the city population, or roughly 12,000 dykes and homos. So what are they doing community wise. Not much it appears. Unless they are out in the countryside at night, in some wooded area with a can of bug spray, swapping spit and playing peek-a-boo?

The best gay bar Barrie was the Spot, but that closed several years ago. Recently "Club C'est La Vie" closed as the owner refused to have the building under pinned, so that they could build a parking lot beside it (popular opinion was that they were forced out, but public record shows otherwise).

No exclusive gay bars exist in Barrie anymore, but there are many gay friendly places. If you want a fierce cocktail visit Oscar's at 52 Bayfield Street and Collier or Manhattan's 147 Dunlop St. East. For fabulous eats in a lounge/jazz environment check out Fitzy's Crab Shack (143 Dunlop Street East) located right beside Manhattan's. All 3 of these establishments are located in the downtown core.

Saturday night dancing? Then you you have to hit up the Queens Hotel, 94 Dunlop Street East. Mixed College crowd? Then your off to the Roxx nightclub, 46 Dunlop St. West(both owned by the former Mayor).

Since Club C'est La Vie" closed I have received word that the Monthly Oro Dances (Oro Medonte Community Centre(arena). Hwy 11 and the 4th Line of Oro)once hosted by G.L.A.S(Gay & Lesbian Alliance of Simcoe County ) pre-spot days have once again returned to Simcoe County.

Also the Barrie boys hang out in the gay.com/chat "Northern" chatroom...may be a good option if your looking for a date, hook up or more information on their scene. You must be a member to enter chat rooms.

Barrie's last Pride Day celebration was in 2004, nothing has happen since, shame really. Can't these 12,000 fags get their act together for 2007?

The only group that is active is The AIDS Committee of Simcoe County, they have event, planned for Wednesday April 18 to Friday April 20, 2007 - Opening Doors Conference at Bayview Wildwood Resort, 1500 Port Stanton Pkwy. Severn Bridge, ON 1-800-461-0243 and Saturday September 29, 2007 - Walk For Life on Centennial Beach, Time: Starts at 6:30 PM.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival presents Barrie Cares Heritage Park, Barrie. Time: 12:00PM - 10:00 PM.

Barrie Cares is a fundraisier in support of the AIDS Committee of Simcoe County and the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Bringing HIV/AIDS Awareness locally and globally is a daunting work that has been the mission of both the AIDS Committee of Simcoe County and the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

The theme for the first annual Barrie Cares is Women and HIV. Will highlight the issues of both Aboriginal and African women as they really are. Some of the days activities will include a luncheon, invited guest speakers, a fashion show and of course many musical acts throughout the day.

* Schedule of times and guest speakers to follow. Please visit their web site again for updates on this event as well as some of our other events that are listed.

* All listed events are subject to change. For further info contact ACSC @ 722-6778 or email to acscexecutivedirector@rogers.com The AIDS Committee of Simcoe County www.acsc.caCity of Barrie homepage: www.city.barrie.on.ca