Barrie Wayfinding Strategy

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Consultation has concluded

The City of Barrie is working with Cygnus Design Group to improve the city’s wayfinding signage system.

What is ‘wayfinding’ you ask?

Simply put, wayfinding is the signage and similar directional tools that help you identify where you are, find what you are looking for, and confirm you have arrived at your desired destination.

This project involves developing a wayfinding system that will direct visitors and locals using all forms of transportation to the downtown Barrie area and its attractions, including public parking, institutions and parks, as well as to help them navigate through the downtown and waterfront to easily find specific destinations.

Project Goal

The goal is to develop a Wayfinding Strategy that will:

  • direct residents and tourists to downtown Barrie and attractions from key travel decision points within Barrie's transportation network.
  • help pull waterfront users to the downtown for shopping and dining.
  • orientate within the waterfront and downtown areas.
  • provide direction to available parking.
  • increase/improve signage aimed to increase visitation from waterfront, marina and waterfront trails to other specific features and areas such as the downtown.

Improving the City's wayfinding system was identified as a key action item as part of the City of Barrie's 2020 Tourism Master Plan. Wayfinding was also documented in the Invest Barrie's COVID-19 Economic Recovery Action Plan and the 2020 Parking Strategy as recommendations to attract patrons to the downtown.

Related Project Currently Underway: Waterfront Strategic Plan

The City of Barrie is undertaking an update to its 2015 Waterfront and Marina Strategic Plan(External link) (excluding the marina portion of the plan), and wants to hear from local stakeholders and members of the public. Find out more about this project.

Phase 1: Developing the strategy

The City asked residents to share their experience navigating around Barrie using the existing signage through an online survey that closed Thursday, April 14. Feedback will be used to guide recommendations in the Wayfinding Strategy.


The City of Barrie is working with Cygnus Design Group to improve the city’s wayfinding signage system.

What is ‘wayfinding’ you ask?

Simply put, wayfinding is the signage and similar directional tools that help you identify where you are, find what you are looking for, and confirm you have arrived at your desired destination.

This project involves developing a wayfinding system that will direct visitors and locals using all forms of transportation to the downtown Barrie area and its attractions, including public parking, institutions and parks, as well as to help them navigate through the downtown and waterfront to easily find specific destinations.

Project Goal

The goal is to develop a Wayfinding Strategy that will:

  • direct residents and tourists to downtown Barrie and attractions from key travel decision points within Barrie's transportation network.
  • help pull waterfront users to the downtown for shopping and dining.
  • orientate within the waterfront and downtown areas.
  • provide direction to available parking.
  • increase/improve signage aimed to increase visitation from waterfront, marina and waterfront trails to other specific features and areas such as the downtown.

Improving the City's wayfinding system was identified as a key action item as part of the City of Barrie's 2020 Tourism Master Plan. Wayfinding was also documented in the Invest Barrie's COVID-19 Economic Recovery Action Plan and the 2020 Parking Strategy as recommendations to attract patrons to the downtown.

Related Project Currently Underway: Waterfront Strategic Plan

The City of Barrie is undertaking an update to its 2015 Waterfront and Marina Strategic Plan(External link) (excluding the marina portion of the plan), and wants to hear from local stakeholders and members of the public. Find out more about this project.

Phase 1: Developing the strategy

The City asked residents to share their experience navigating around Barrie using the existing signage through an online survey that closed Thursday, April 14. Feedback will be used to guide recommendations in the Wayfinding Strategy.