Welcome to another edition of What Barrie’s Talking About, the podcast that brings you the stories shaping our city and the people making moves in our community. Hosted by Dan Blakeley and produced by the team at Barrie 360, this week’s episode is packed with conversations that matter — from affordable housing progress to one rising country star hitting the Kempenfest stage. Georgian College Adjusts to Tough Times Post-secondary institutions across Ontario are feeling the pinch — and Georgian College is no exception. With lower international student enrolment and tighter funding across the board, adjustments are being made to keep programs going and support students. Barrie 360’s Ian MacLennan sat down with Georgian President Kevin Weaver to get a real sense of how the college is navigating these challenges — and what kind of support may be coming from the province to help turn things around. Bree Taylor Hits the Kempenfest Stage She’s bold, she’s talented, and she’s got something to say. Up-and-coming country artist Bree Taylor is set to light up the Kempenfest stage this weekend, and we’ve got your exclusive preview. Logan Miller catches up with Bree ahead of her performance to chat about her sound, her message, and what fans can expect when she hits the stage by the waterfront. If you're heading to Kempenfest, you won’t want to miss this! Affordable Housing Projects Gaining Momentum in Simcoe County Housing remains one of the biggest issues in our region — but progress is happening. Slowly but surely, new affordable housing units are being built, and projects that have been years in the making are finally coming to life. Ian MacLennan checks in with Mina Fayez-Bahgat, General Manager of Social and Community Services for Simcoe County, to get an update on where things stand and what’s next for housing in the region. Empower Simcoe Launches Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative Empower Simcoe is launching a new program aimed at making our community a more inclusive and equitable place for everyone. As our region grows and becomes more diverse, the initiative is designed to ensure no one gets left behind — and that everyone has a chance to contribute and thrive. Dr. Claudine Cousins, CEO of Empower Simcoe, shares the vision behind this important new initiative in a thoughtful conversation with Ian MacLennan. Big thanks this week to contributors Ian MacLennan and Logan Miller, with tech support by Matt Latter. And of course, thanks to YOU for tuning in. 💬 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review What Barrie’s Talking About — available wherever you get your podcasts. 📲 You can also keep up with us on X (Twitter) and Bluesky, or check out more local news and the Daily Kickstart podcast on Barrie360.com. Catch you next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices