Janice Laking Obituary, Barrie, Ontario: Former Mayor Remembered for Decades of Public Service

The city of Barrie, Ontario, is mourning Janice Ruth Laking, a former mayor whose decades of service helped shape the community’s development. Laking passed away peacefully on September 29, 2026, at Aspira Waterford Barrie Retirement Living, with her family by her side, according to her published obituary. She was 96 years old, although some local news reports described her as 97.

Her passing marks the loss of a prominent figure in Barrie’s civic history. Laking spent decades serving residents, first as an educator and later as a municipal politician. During her 12 years as mayor, from 1988 to 2000, she was involved in decisions concerning transportation, healthcare, public facilities, education, and cultural institutions.

Her career reflected a long-standing connection to the city where she was born and raised. For many residents, her legacy is closely linked to Barrie’s transformation during a period of population growth and expanding public infrastructure.

From Teacher to Municipal Leader

Before entering politics, Laking built a career in education. She attended Western University in London, Ontario, and later completed teacher training. She began teaching in Petrolia before returning to Barrie, where she joined the staff at Barrie North Collegiate.

She taught and coached at the school for nearly three decades, from 1960 to 1988. During those years, she worked with students and participated in school life beyond the classroom.

Her experience as a teacher and coach gave her direct contact with young people, families, and the wider community. These experiences preceded her move into municipal government, where she would spend much of her professional life addressing local issues.

Laking’s transition from education to politics began in 1972, when she was elected to Barrie City Council as an alderman, the title then used for certain council members.

She served on council for 16 years before becoming mayor in 1988. Her election made her a central figure in the city’s leadership during a period of considerable change.

Twelve Years as Mayor of Barrie

Laking served as mayor from 1988 until 2000. Her tenure coincided with a period of growth that required decisions about transportation, public services, community facilities, and the city’s long-term development.

Municipal government affects residents through everyday services and long-term planning. During her time in office, Laking participated in decisions that influenced how Barrie developed and how residents accessed public amenities.

Her leadership included support for projects involving healthcare facilities, cultural institutions, public safety, and library services. She was also involved in initiatives designed to preserve transportation infrastructure that later became important to regional commuting.

Former colleagues described her as direct, determined, and committed to the city. In a 2019 interview with BarrieToday, Laking compared municipal councils to classrooms, explaining her view that a leader should work to get the best out of the people around the table.

Her approach to public service and her willingness to speak plainly became recurring themes in accounts of her political career.

Preserving the Railway Corridor

One of the projects associated with Laking’s mayoral legacy was the preservation of the Canadian National Railway corridor between Barrie and Bradford.

When the railway tracks faced removal, Laking worked with the city and the provincial government to support the purchase of the corridor. Preserving the route helped protect infrastructure that later became important to GO Transit rail service between Barrie and Toronto.

The railway connection gave commuters another option for travelling between the communities and strengthened Barrie’s connection to the Greater Toronto Area.

The project illustrates how municipal decisions sometimes have consequences extending well beyond the term of a particular mayor. Preserving the corridor helped retain a transportation route that became part of the region’s public transit network.

Local reporting has repeatedly identified this initiative as one of the significant contributions of Laking’s time in office.

Supporting Healthcare and Community Facilities

Laking was also involved in initiatives affecting healthcare and community services.

She helped lead efforts to redevelop the former Royal Victoria Hospital site on Ross Street into what became Victoria Village, a charitable, not-for-profit seniors’ community and mixed-use campus.

The redevelopment gave the former hospital property a new purpose, including services and facilities associated with seniors and community living.

During her mayoral tenure, Laking also supported the relocation of the MacLaren Art Centre to its current home on Mulcaster Street. The gallery became an important part of Barrie’s cultural life, providing a venue for exhibitions, arts programming, and community engagement.

Other projects associated with her years as mayor included the development of a new police station and the downtown branch of the Barrie Public Library.

These initiatives covered different aspects of civic life, from public safety and access to information to arts and services for older residents. Together, they form part of the public record of her time in municipal leadership.

A Commitment to Community Organisations

Laking’s involvement in Barrie continued after she left the mayor’s office in 2000.

She maintained connections with local organisations and supported initiatives related to community wellbeing, education, arts, and services for seniors. Her involvement included the YMCA, Georgian College, the MacLaren Art Centre, and the Sir Robert Barrie commemorative project.

In June 2025, BarrieToday reported on her donation to the YMCA’s fundraising campaign for a new Simcoe-Muskoka facility. Laking spoke about her long relationship with the organisation and the activities she had enjoyed there over the years, including swimming, bridge, and euchre.

The contribution reflected her continuing interest in an organisation she had supported for many years.

After her mayoral career, Laking also served as a citizenship judge and held an honorary colonel appointment with 16 Wing at Canadian Forces Base Borden, according to biographical accounts.

These later roles extended her public involvement beyond municipal politics.

Family Life and Personal Background

Janice Ruth Laking was born Janice McCuaig and grew up in Barrie. Public service was already part of her family history. Her father, Duncan Fletcher McCuaig, served as Barrie’s mayor from 1928 to 1931 and later represented Simcoe North in Canada’s House of Commons.

Her own life combined education, public office, community involvement, and family responsibilities.

She was married to John Laking, a Barrie travel business owner who predeceased her. The couple had a long marriage and raised a family together.

Her published obituary remembers her as a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister. It also describes the importance of family in her life and the values she passed on to younger generations.

While public accounts often focus on her years in politics, her family’s tribute offers a reminder of the personal relationships behind her public identity.

Tributes Following Her Passing

News of Laking’s death prompted tributes from local leaders, former colleagues, and members of the community.

Barrie South-Innisfil MP John Brassard recognised her decades of public service and her contributions to the institutions that serve residents. Other accounts highlighted her involvement in preserving the railway corridor, supporting cultural facilities, and guiding Barrie through years of development.

Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall also paid tribute to her contribution to the city. Local reporting described plans to lower city flags to half-mast in recognition of her passing.

The tributes reflect the range of her involvement in public life. Her work touched several areas of community development, and her influence continued to be discussed years after her retirement from the mayor’s office.

For former colleagues, residents, and people who worked alongside her, her passing provides an opportunity to reflect on the decisions, relationships, and institutions associated with her career.

Funeral and Celebration of Life Arrangements

According to the published family obituary, visitation is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home in Barrie.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, at Collier Street United Church in Barrie. Friends, relatives, former colleagues, and community members will have an opportunity to gather and honour her memory.

The family has also invited those wishing to commemorate her life to consider donations to the MacLaren Art Centre or the Rotary Club of Barrie Charitable Foundation.

Further details are available through the published obituary from BarrieToday. .

Remembering Janice Laking

Janice Laking’s life connected education, municipal leadership, family, and community service. From her years teaching at Barrie North Collegiate to her 12 years as mayor, she remained closely involved in the city where she grew up.

Her record includes work to preserve a railway corridor that later supported GO Transit service, support for the redevelopment of the former Royal Victoria Hospital site, and involvement in cultural and public-service facilities.

Her contribution also continued after she left elected office through her support for community organisations and her later public appointments.

Although residents will remember different aspects of her life, her decades of involvement in Barrie remain a defining part of her legacy.

As family, friends, former colleagues, and residents prepare to honour her memory, her passing marks the end of a life closely connected to the development and civic history of Barrie.

Our thoughts are with the Laking family and everyone who knew Janice as they remember her life, reflect on her years of service, and celebrate the lasting relationships she built throughout the community.