Headquarters:
City Hall, 70 Collier Street, Barrie, ON
Year founded:
1854
Number of employees:
1,800
Phone:
416 219 1593
Email:
jbray@pier4.ca
Website:
Barrie.ca
LinkedIn:
ca.linkedin.com/company/cityofbarrie
“We target wealth managers and RIAs that are looking for ways to differentiate in their offering and cater to a growing number of high-net-worth individuals looking for alternative investment vehicles such as private equity investment”
Kevin Collins
CEO and Founder
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CITY OF BARRIE
Christine Gianino
Director of Human Resources
Melanie Zak
Manager of Organizational Development & Employee Experience
Karen Wray
Manager of People & Partnerships
Leadership
With more than 20 years of progressive HR leadership experience, Christine Gianino is director of human resources for the City of Barrie and a Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE). She has extensive experience across the public sector, including leadership roles with the Ontario Public Service and the City of Vaughan, and has worked in municipal government for more than a decade.
Gianino is recognized as an innovative and collaborative leader who is passionate about enhancing the employee experience, strengthening organizational capability, and leading with integrity.
Director of Human Resources
Christine Gianino
Melanie Zak is a strategic and people-focused HR leader serving as manager, organization development and employee experience at the City of Barrie. She is passionate about organizational effectiveness, employee experience, and workplace culture, and known for leading with authenticity, empathy, and vision while aligning people strategies with organizational priorities to drive impact.
Zak brings a strong focus on wellness, inclusion, belonging, and sustainable workplace practices, with a passion for coaching, empowering people, strengthening culture, and supporting organizational success.
Manager of Organizational Development & Employee Experience
Melanie Zak
As the manager of people and partnerships at the City of Barrie, Karen Wray brings over 15 years of experience in municipal HR. Beginning her career as a labour relations specialist in 2008 and moving into leadership in 2015, she is known for building strong, respectful relationships across the organization and with union partners.
Wray is recognized as a trusted leader who focuses on practical, people-centred solutions that strengthen collaboration and drive positive outcomes for employees and the organization.
Manager of People & Partnerships
Karen Wray
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Karen Cooper
Manager of Health and Safety
Karen Cooper is an experienced health and safety manager supporting all aspects of workplace safety across diverse environments. She brings expertise in hazard and risk analysis, safety management systems, disability management, emergency management planning, and workplace training.
Cooper is known for ensuring legal compliance and advancing proactive safety cultures in both industrial and construction settings. She is a trusted partner committed to protecting employees and strengthening organizational resilience through practical, results-driven safety solutions.
Manager of Health and Safety
Karen Cooper
Amy Frost-Tribe
Supervisor of HR Projects and Operations
Amy Frost-Tribe is the supervisor of HR projects and operations at the City of Barrie, leading strategic HR technology and transformation initiatives. She has led complex project planning and governance activities.
Known for turning complex challenges into practical, people-focused solutions, Frost- Tribe drives initiatives that improve processes, strengthen employee experience, and support organizational change. She is recognized as a collaborative, forward-thinking leader committed to innovation and continuous improvement in municipal HR.
Supervisor of HR Projects and Operations
Amy Frost-Tribe
The City of Barrie is a vibrant, progressive, and growing community with deep connections to our heritage, to nature, and to the opportunities surrounding us. Our community values quality of life – the ability to play year-round in 300 hectares of park space; our beautiful waterfront; our lively downtown core; and the nearby hills, wetlands, and forests.
We also value connections – to our neighbours and the community, to our road and rail network, and to the opportunity Barrie provides to enjoy life.
Everything Barrie has to offer, from the water we drink to the roads we travel on, has one thing in common – municipal workers. City staff have a career they take pride in, knowing that every day, they make a positive impact on an entire community. We are one team with one goal, and we all work together to create and maintain a great community.
“[Automation] has resulted in productivity gains far greater than 80 percent and allowed our customers to grow their business by handling a greater number of clients, client portfolios, and assets under management”
Kevin Collins
CEO and Founder
Laura Adams
Supervisor of Talent Acquisition
Susan Vaneenoo
Supervisor of Payroll and Pension
Emily Dufresne
Emily Dufresne
Supervisor of HRIS & Benefits & Tech Lead
Sarah M Stewart
Associate Vice President,
Leasing and Call Centre Operations
Laura Adams is supervisor of talent acquisition with the City of Barrie’s HR department. She leads recruitment strategies and talent initiatives that support hiring across a wide range of municipal services. With a background in recruitment and labour relations, Adams focuses on improving hiring processes, enhancing candidate experience, and supporting workforce planning. Known for her collaborative approach, she works closely with HR colleagues and leaders to strengthen recruitment practices and support organizational priorities.
Supervisor of Talent Acquisition
Laura Adams
Susan Vaneenoo is supervisor of payroll and pension with the City of Barrie’s HR department. She oversees payroll operations and pension administration, ensuring accurate, timely compensation and compliance with organizational and legislative requirements. Vaneeno brings a strong foundation in payroll processes and financial coordination, supporting system improvements and addressing complex payroll matters.
She collaborates with HR, finance, and project teams on initiatives such as payroll testing, policy updates, and system enhancements. Known for her practical approach and attention to detail, Vaneeno plays a key role in maintaining reliable payroll services and supporting workforce operations across the organization.
Supervisor of Payroll and Pension
Susan Vaneenoo
Emily Dufresne is supervisor of HRIS & Benefits and HR technology Lead with the City of Barrie’s HR department. She leads HR technology initiatives, including system implementation, testing, and process improvements that support modern workforce operations.
Dufresne brings expertise in HR systems, benefits administration, and data-driven decision-making, helping to streamline workflows and enhance user experience. She collaborates closely with HR, IT, and project teams on initiatives such as SuccessFactors adoption planning and system enhancements. Known for her solutions-focused approach, Dufresne plays a key role in advancing HR technology and ensuring reliable, efficient systems across the organization.
Supervisor of HRIS & Benefits & Tech Lead
Emily Dufresne
Greg McAweeney is an accomplished commercial leader with over 20 years of experience spanning digital strategy, customer experience, strategic marketing, brand building and B2C/B2B sales across financial services, telecommunications and insurance. He joined Helia in 2022 as chief commercial officer, where he leads growth strategy and drives key partnerships. Prior to Helia, McAweeney served as CCO at HCF and held senior sales and service roles at Rabobank across Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA from University College Dublin and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Chief Commercial Officer
Greg McAweeney