Dozens displaced from Barrie women’s shelter after arson: police

BARRIE — Police say dozens of residents of a women’s shelter in Barrie, Ont., have been displaced after a fire that investigators believe was intentionally set.

Police say a 44-year-old woman has been charged with arson in the blaze that forced more than 40 people to flee the shelter on Maple Avenue on Sunday morning.

Four people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka says the fire caused “significant damage” to Joyce Kope House, an emergency shelter and transition home for women in Barrie.

The agency says the women have been temporary relocated and it’s asking for urgent donations of women’s clothing, winter gear, personal hygiene supplies and other items.

Police say the arson suspect has also been charged with failing to comply with a probation order.

The Elizabeth Fry Society said the fire damage is “heartbreaking.”

“Each year, Joyce Kope House provides safety, shelter, stability, and hope to hundreds of women experiencing homelessness, crisis, and unimaginable challenges,” the agency wrote in a Facebook post.

“For many, it is more than a shelter. It is a place to feel safe, to heal, and to begin rebuilding their lives.”

The agency said monetary donations are also appreciated and will help address the immediate needs of displaced women, as well as shelter repairs.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2026.

The Canadian Press