As a resident of Barrie, ON, Canada, I am deeply concerned about the safety and cleanliness of our downtown area. My family has lived here for generations, and it's heartbreaking to see the place we love deteriorate. I have two young children who we planned to raise in this city. However, the increasing prevalence of homelessness, drugs, weapons and crime in downtown Barrie is making me question whether this is a safe environment for them.

This isn't just my personal concern; it's an issue that affects all families living here. This isn't the Barrie we grew up in or want our children to grow up in. It's not uncommon now to encounter people under drug influence or being harassed on a visit downtown.

According to Statistics Canada (2019), there has been an increase in both property crime and violent crime rates in Barrie over recent years. This trend needs to be reversed urgently.

We call upon local authorities to take immediate action - implement stricter law enforcement measures against drug use and illegal activities; provide better support systems for homeless individuals; initiate regular clean-up drives; improve lighting around public spaces at night; install more CCTV cameras for surveillance.

Let us reclaim our city from these negative influences so that our children can grow up safely as we did before them. Please sign this petition if you believe that every child deserves a safe environment where they can thrive without fear or danger lurking around every corner.