Barrie Watersports finds new home along shores of Kempenfelt Bay

The new location for jet ski rental business Barrie Watersports, which is more north towards Centennial Beach in Barrie, Ont. in June 2026. (CTV News/Jocelyn Martin)

A popular Barrie jet ski rental business whose location has been at the centre of controversy has a new home.

Barrie Watersports, which was originally located towards South Shore nestled next to Rotary Islands—a habitat meant to be for fish and birds—has motored a little bit more north.

After pushback from environmental groups that launched a petition online to have the jet ski business relocate, the City moved Barrie Watersports more down the shoreline closer to Centennial Beach.

• Mayor responds to community push-back against jet ski business location

“We didn’t mean to upset anyone over there,” says Shaun Talbot, the owner of Barrie Watersports.

He says he’s grateful to the City for allowing him to stay in business.

“The city handled it the best way they could,” says Talbot. “Kudos to city staff and council members for keeping us around.”

Talbot says he received the permits on Thursday. Last month, the direction to staff from the mayor was to relocate the business somewhere between the Centennial Park water fountain and Tiffin Street Boat Launch.

Talbot says, overall, he’s happy with the new spot.

However, he says he will have to watch the wind more in this new location, since the former spot was slightly more sheltered.

“The waterfront in Barrie is susceptible to direct easterly winds,” says Talbot.

The Rotary Islands location was more sheltered, whereas this more open location will naturally get more wind.

He says he and his staff will have to monitor winds every four hours.

The new location doesn’t come without some complaints from other groups of people.

The new area is a popular dog-walking spot, where people will bring their dogs for a stroll and maybe a swim, launching from the shore right where Barrie Watersports is. Talbot says he’s had some negative feedback from dogwalkers saying the dock is an obstruction.

His next task, he says, is to appease the dog-walking community in the area.

“We’ll keep dog treats and cold water and, hopefully, we won’t get too much slack,” says Talbot.

He says he wants to make the dock available to anyone needing to launch a paddle board or kayak. He also welcomes swimmers to come onto the dock, which is equipped with a swim ladder.

That area used to have stairs for people to use, whether it was for swimming or boating, but those have been removed with rocks in its place.

The jet ski rental business has mostly moved – they just have to add a few finishing touches like some palm trees and Barrie Watersports plans to open for rentals this weekend and hopes to run through to September.

“You’re on the water – we’re here to be part of that,” says Talbot.