Welcome back to another episode of What Barrie’s Talking About from Barrie 360 — the podcast that brings you the stories that matter most to our community. Hosted by Dan Blakeley, this week’s episode covers a bit of everything: film, politics, community spirit, and local creativity. From the return of the Barrie Film Festival, to a heated discussion over Barrie’s annexation plans, and the mission behind Barrie Families Unite, there’s plenty to catch up on. The Barrie Film Festival Returns It’s back! The Barrie Film Festival kicks off today, bringing a lineup of screenings, galas, and special events for movie lovers across the city. Barrie 360 takes a look at what’s planned for this year’s festival, including featured films, local filmmakers, and some can’t-miss events that make it one of Barrie’s most anticipated annual celebrations of cinema. Whether you’re into indie flicks, documentaries, or big-screen storytelling, there’s something for everyone as the red carpet rolls out once again. Simcoe County Warden Weighs In on Barrie’s Annexation Plans The debate over Barrie’s proposed annexation of portions of Springwater and Oro-Medonte continues — and this week, Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke joins Barrie 360’s Ian MacLennan to share his take. Clarke isn’t thrilled about the idea, warning that the townships and the county could use those same lands for their own future growth. With public meetings and council votes now happening in both townships, this conversation has real implications for the region’s next decade. Find out what the Warden had to say about how this could affect residents across Simcoe County. Barrie Families Unite — Home Sweet Home 2025 Barrie Families Unite is on a mission to raise $20,000 to support its incredible programs that help local families thrive, no matter their circumstances. To get there, the group is hosting Home Sweet Home 2025 — a fundraising event happening October 23rd at Traditions Banquet Hall on John Street. Ian MacLennan sits down with event manager Amber Macauley and executive director Nikki Glahn to talk about what the event means, what the money will go toward, and how the organization continues to empower individuals and families throughout Barrie. Meet Local Author Bryan Jorgensen He’s back at it! Barrie-based author Bryan Jorgensen has just released his fifth novel, Fitzroy’s Revenge. He dropped by to chat with Barrie 360’s Julius Hern about what inspired the new book, what readers can expect from this latest story, and how his writing has evolved since his earlier works. If you love discovering local talent — or just need something new to add to your fall reading list — this is one to check out. Catch the full episode of What Barrie’s Talking About wherever you get your podcasts, or listen right on Barrie360.com. If you like what you hear, subscribe, rate, and review to help more people in our community discover the show. And don’t forget — follow Barrie 360 on Bluesky and X (Twitter) for more stories, local events, and breaking news updates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices