Back to School, Bins, and the Holland Marsh

What Barrie’s Talking About: Back to School, Bins, and the Holland Marsh Welcome back to What Barrie’s Talking About - the podcast that digs into the local stories shaping our community. This week, host Dan Blakeley and the Barrie 360 team cover everything from back-to-school challenges to music education, garbage collection changes, and a big milestone for the Holland Marsh. Here’s what’s in this episode: Spotting and Stopping Bullying Back-to-school season is exciting for most kids — reuniting with old friends, making new ones, and settling into a routine. But for some, the start of school can be frightening if bullying is part of their experience. Dr. Tony Volk, Professor of Child and Youth Studies at Brock University, joins Barrie 360’s Ian Maclennan to explain why it’s so important to stop bullying early, the signs parents should watch for, and the best ways to support children who may be struggling. Rolling Out the New Bins If you’ve been staring at those new rolling garbage and green bins sitting outside your house all summer, you can finally put them to use. Starting next week, Barrie’s new waste collection system kicks in. To make sure we’re all ready, Stephanie Mack, Associate Director of Waste Management for the City of Barrie, gives us a refresher on what’s changing, why the city made the switch, and how residents can make the transition smooth. Bringing Music Back to Kids Music programs were once a staple in Ontario schools, but many have disappeared thanks to budget cuts. That’s a loss not only for kids’ creativity but for their overall development. Enter Oliver Balaburski, founder of the Maestro Music Centre in Barrie. He chats with Barrie 360’s Julius Hern about the benefits of music education and how his centre is working to fill the gap for local students. Celebrating 100 Years of the Holland Marsh Bradford West Gwillimbury is gearing up to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Holland Marsh in a unique way. From its history as Ontario’s “vegetable patch” to its cultural significance, the milestone will be marked with a community event you won’t want to miss. Last week, we dug deep into Barrie’s homelessness issue, talking to the mayor, the Busby Centre, and local police. One Barrie resident, Rowley Ramey, appreciated the coverage but wanted to hear more perspectives. He reached out, and we invited him in to share his thoughts. Remember - you can always send your feedback, too. Email us anytime at [e-mail]. Listen to the full episode now for all of these stories and conversations. Subscribe to What Barrie’s Talking About on your favourite podcast platform, and don’t forget to rate and review! Stay connected with us on Bluesky and X at @Barrie360, or visit Barrie360.com for even more local news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices