Welcome back to What Barrie’s Talking About — the podcast that digs into the stories shaping our community. This week, host Dan Blakeley and the Barrie 360 team cover everything from Barrie’s homelessness crisis, to policing in South Simcoe, to a celebration of Mexican culture right here at home. Mayor Nuttall Declares a State of Emergency With hundreds of people living in homeless encampments across Barrie, Mayor Alex Nuttall says the situation isn’t improving — and can’t be solved by the city alone. This week, he declared a state of emergency in hopes of unlocking new resources and support from other levels of government. He sits down with Barrie 360’s Ian Maclennan to explain what the declaration means, how it works, and what he hopes the outcome will be. Meet South Simcoe Police’s New Deputy Chief The South Simcoe Police Service has welcomed a new Deputy Chief as it begins a review and update of its strategic plan. We get to know the new addition to the leadership team and hear what’s ahead for the service as it looks to the future. Celebrating Mexican Independence Day Get ready to celebrate Mexican Independence Day in Barrie! This Sunday, Cocina Mexicana is hosting a fiesta at its Mulcaster Street restaurant and at Meridian Place downtown. Organizer Ricardo Sierra shares with Barrie 360’s Julius Hern what’s planned for the day — from food and music to community pride and tradition. Listen to the full episode now to hear these stories and conversations in detail. Subscribe to What Barrie’s Talking About on your favourite podcast platform, and don’t forget to rate and review! For more local stories, follow us on Bluesky and X at @Barrie360, or visit Barrie360.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices