The Navy League is pushing ahead to secure a spot on the south shore of Kempenfelt Bay and is hoping to get community support to go to council.
A petition has been sent out by the Navy League’s youth cadets, asking the City of Barrie for a multi-use facility to be built on Lakeshore Drive between Military Heritage Park and Minet’s Point Road and to be included in the city’s waterfront master plan.
The Navy League long ago outgrew its facility on Simcoe Street, near the Spirit Catcher, and branch president Diane Chislett said it is time to move forward.
“We have 23 years left on the building we are currently in, so the planning needs to start moving forward for both locations,” she said.
“The City of Barrie strategic waterfront plan has fantastic plans for where our little boathouse is currently that not only beautifies the public space but adds a place for the community to gather for events such as the recent air show, fireworks, Ribfest and summer enjoyment, just to name a few," Chislett added.
"Moving us opens this up but also puts our cadets in a far better location on the side of the lake for non-motorized boat activities.”
Chislett said it also puts the Navy League closer to Military Heritage Park, which holds significance for the organization.
“We need a four-season building to increase programming, which adds to further learning and opportunities for the Barrie cadets. In Barrie, every year, we have over 200 youths ages nine to 18 go through, not including over 700 that come to us from central Ontario,” she said.
"We are currently working on size and structure for this youth building, co-ordinating with all the cadet units in Barrie, which we are hoping to have classrooms and a large enough area to hold gatherings," Chislett added.
The petition also mentions an “outdoor recreation field and meeting space,” which is why the Barrie Soccer Club (BSC) is also sharing the petition through its members.
Will Devellis, who is the BSC president, told BarrieToday the club is helping by gathering the soccer community’s support and getting behind this project, saying they “want to be good partners in this development.”
Devellis says more fields for kids to play on would be positive for their physical and mental health, but he isn't thinking about what a project could look like, saying the talks are in the early stages.
“I think right now the goal is to get the community and council behind this. The design is still in its early stages. I’m confident that Barrie Soccer Club, along with the Simcoe County Rovers FC, will have some input on what it will look like and what facility needs we may have,” said Devellis.
"Overall, we are looking to have a community-based facility that can be used by various user groups and, hopefully, be home for the youth soccer players and club in our city," he added.
Also mentioned in the email from the BSC is that the semi-pro Simcoe County Rovers FC is supporting this cause.
Rovers CEO Peter Raco explained why.
“Any time we can get behind something that helps kids to keep physical while learning to work together and have fun, that’s a plus for us,” he said. “The Navy League is doing great things in this community, as is the Barrie Soccer Club, and should there be more fields for people to play on, that’s fantastic.”
The email to BSC members says the proposed soccer fields on the waterfront would allow the club and the Rovers to “continue building leading sport organizations in the heart of Barrie and become an integral part of the community.”
Chislett says she's happy to see the BSC and Rovers get on board, saying both the Navy League and those who oversee soccer in the city share a common goal.
“They realize how important it is to have a youth building on that side of the lake. Sports is also a valuable tool that teaches young people teamwork, leadership and an active lifestyle,” she said. “Both programs work towards the betterment and advantage of young people, giving them opportunities that otherwise they cannot achieve such as scholarships, travel, and lasting friendships from all over Canada and sometimes beyond.”
With the petition still having to go before council, Chislett said she doesn’t know when a facility could be built, if it even will be, but she is “hoping for five to eight years maximum.”
“I have made a promise to cadets that I will see this through to the end,” she said.
In November 2017, a group led by businessman Jamie Massie and the Barrie Baycats proposed for a family-oriented complex on the south shore and were asking council for a feasibility study to be approved.
The study was to look into any area of Barrie that may be able to house such a facility, with the motion passing 9-1 in favour of a study. Only then-councillor Bonnie Ainsworth voted against.
BarrieToday reached out to the city on Friday to find out what the result of that study was, but it did not respond before this story was published.
