Barrie, Ontario (2006 population 125,000) is located on Kempenfelt Bay, an arm of Lake Simcoe in Central Ontario, Canada. (44°22′48″N, 79°40′48″W) It is the county seat of Simcoe County. The Barrie CMA (Census Metropolitan Area) population is estimated at 175,000 in 2006.

The city's north and south ends are separated by a deep valley which contains the downtown area as well as Kempenfelt Bay. 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. Unique recreational activities, include skiing at nearby Horseshoe Valley, Snow Valley, and Blue Mountain, as well as boating in Kempenfelt Bay. At the north end of Barrie is the Highway 11 and Highway 400 interchange.