BARRIE, ONT. Just like the Blue Jays, the Central Ontario Reds spring training is in full swing. But shovelling snow out of batting cages isn t a ritual the Jays have to go through at Dunedin. Kirby Smith, an instructor with Smith Brothers Baseball Central in New Lowell, was determined to get a move on with practice outside in the snow, rather than wait for Monday when more relaxed pandemic restrictions will allow teams to practice inside. I know a lot of the kids were looking forward to this, and even the coaching staff, Smith said late Saturday afternoon. I ve been out here for about five hours of training myself. I m frozen to the bone, but it s been a very fun day.
BARRIE, ONT. One by one, they appeared in downtown Barrie on Saturday morning. Black balloons blown up or cut out of paper, taped in store windows and to lamp posts. March 6th is Black Balloon Day, an international event to remember lives lost to drug overdose and advocate for change to prevent future deaths. The balloons are marked with the names of those who have died, with messages of hope and understanding. Christine Nayler helped organize the Black Balloon Day effort in Barrie. Her son Ryan died from drug poisoning in November. It is a public health emergency that needs to be addressed, Nayler said.
BARRIE It s been more than a year since Barrie city council approved the Barrie Molson Centre to be renamed the Sadlon Arena, but now, the home of the OHL s Barrie Colts is starting to actually look the part. Formerly known as the B.M.C., on Thursday, crews installed the arena s new name in silver lettering, along with a small maple leaf placed on the building s left side, which can be seen from the corner of Bayview Drive and Mapleview Drive. Council approved the 10-year naming rights agreement in November 2019, with a deal worth more than $1.7 million.
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BARRIE, ONT. The Simcoe Muskoka health unit lists 29 COVID-19 cases and one new UK B.1.1.1.7 variant case Friday. Twenty more cases screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing the total number of cases that need further testing to confirm to 401. No new deaths were reported. The health unit reports a total of 132 infections for the week, down from 256 the week prior. There are currently three active school outbreaks, Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Bradford, St. Theresa s Catholic School in Midland and Maple Grove Public School in Barrie. Additionally, there are eight institutional outbreaks, six in seniors facilities, one in a Bradford childcare centre, and one in a unit at the superjail in Penetanguishene.