The City of Barrie, Ontario, is holding a public meeting on March 25, 2026, to review plans for a large hospital expansion that includes a new nine-storey tower and hundreds of new parking spots. The meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. to discuss changing the land-use rules for several properties on Georgian Drive, Quarry Ridge Road, Gallie Court, Dunsmore Lane, and Penetanguishene Road.
Mayor Alex Nuttall introduced the proposal using “Strong Mayor” powers, which is a tool from the province used to speed up local projects. Some of the land involved in the plan was recently added to the city on January 1, 2026, after being transferred from the neighbouring townships of Oro-Medonte and Springwater.
The project aims to double the size of the existing Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre to help fix long-term issues with space and parking. The expansion includes a new nine-storey building for patients and a 119,000-square-foot medical services building that will be built in partnership with Northwest Healthcare Properties REIT.
The plan also features a parking expansion on 67 acres of land, which would provide between 800 and 1,000 new spots for cars. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting to learn about how these changes might impact traffic and construction in their local neighbourhoods.
