Loaves and Fishes: Called to Compassion - Sunday, October 19, 2pm

Engage Barrie
6 days ago
2 min read

St. Mary's Parish has organized a protest of the City's anti-homeless bylaw, to show love and compassion over division and condemnation, in support of our most vulnerable neighbours

Posted on behalf of our friends at St. Mary's Parish, in alignment with our Founding Principle of local community-based organizing, and Values of empowerment, equity, inclusivity and diversity:

Details At a Glance:

What

A protest of the City's anti-homeless bylaw

When

Sunday, October 19, 2pm

Where

Spirit Catcher, 24 Maple Ave., Downtown Barrie (waterfront)

Why

To show support of our most vulnerable neighbours
Bring sandwiches, bottles of water, etc.

Who

Hosted by St. Mary's Parish - please contact them for further information, we are not involved in the organizing, just sharing the details

From the Organizers:

In 2023 the City of Barrie proposed a motion to introduce a bi-law to forbid helping anyone in any way on public land through the provision of food, clothing, shelter or medical care. There was a significant outcry against this bi-law and Council sent it back for review. However, on Wednesday October 1st 2025, without any public consultation, it passed three readings at the same meeting.

Please see the attached poster for details of a planned protest of this bi-law on Sunday October 19th at 2:00 p.m. at the Spirit Catcher in Downtown Barrie. We seek to show love and compassion over division and condemnation.

Praying for a good turnout in a show of support for our most vulnerable neighbours. Please join us. Make a sandwich. Bring a bottle of water. Give and receive!

Loaves & Fishes: Called to Compassion
Join us on Sunday October 19th at 2:00 pm at the Spirit Catcher
In protest of the restrictions (listed below) by the City of Barrie on a compassionate response to the significant crisis in homelessness and poverty, we will gather on the date at time above in an act of reclaiming our public space as a compassionate place. Meeting at the Spirit Catcher in Barrie, we will distribute food and refreshment. Please bring with you a sealed food item and refreshment to give to somebody else as a simple act of public defiance against the bi-law.
Provision 5.1.0.0 states, "No person shall erect, set up, stand or otherwise place a tent, shade structure / other temporary structure / other similar item on any City property unless authorized by the City."
Provision 8.0.0.0 states, "No person shall give away or otherwise provide at no charge, items, products, samples of items or products, or any other similar item to members of the public from any City property, unless authorized by the City. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any federally, provincially or municipally funded organization or any registered charitable organization or any individual that is giving away or otherwise providing food, water, clothing or medical attention, at no charge to members of the public, shall not be deemed to be in contravention of this section."
Bill No. 110 By Law Number 2025XXX of the City of Barrie

Title: Compassion in Action
Brown Tablet: If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbour. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought, thinking. The seventh year, the year of remission, is near, and therefore view your needy neighbour with hostility and give nothing, your neighbour might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt. Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth. I therefore command you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbour in your land.' Deuteronomy 15.7-11 (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised)
Dark Brown Tablet: The Quran 9:60 Alms tax is only for the poor and the needy, for those employed to administer it, for those whose hearts are attracted to the faith, for freeing slaves, for those in debt, for Allah's cause, and for 'needy' travellers. This is an obligation from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
76:8-9 (Surah al-Insan): "And the righteous among you are those who offer food to the needy, the orphan and the captive."
Tan Tablet: Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?" And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, [a] you did it to me." - Matthew 25:34-40

Engage Barrie Organization will often post on behalf of our community partners and other organizations, as long as they fall under our "equitable, empowered, engaged" umbrella, and align with our mandate and policies.

Please be aware that the views and opinions expressed by our friends and partners do not necessarily reflect any official position of Engage Barrie Organization.