My condolences to Barry’s, three daughters and three grandchildren, I’m very sorry to hear about your loss. Although I have not seen Barry in many years, I met him when I was 16 I was going out with his friend Blair, who I married, we used to go pick Barry up all the time and drive around with him. We’d go to Harvey’s and hang out with all our friends. A lot of good memories I know he will be greatly missed. 💞🕊️☹️

I first met Barry about ten years ago after he came to our house in Toronto to help our family with some urgent renovations at my parents' house. He was a friend of my sister, Maryanne. After our father fell and broke his hip and was due to arrive home from the hospital, we were panicked to get the house accommodated to meet his needs. All it took was a simple discussion between Maryanne and Barry, and then he was on his way to Toronto to rescue us. Preparing a platform for a wheelchair lift into the house, creating a walkway to the house, modifying the front porch, modifying doorways, bathrooms, etc. etc.

He quickly became a part of the household and stayed at the house while he worked diligently to help my parents. Nightly tea with Mom and Dad was a ritual at 5 p.m.. Barry's tea of course had a special touch (if you know what I mean).

I lost track of how long he stayed and all the projects he worked at that house, but it wouldn't be his first rescue mission to help our family. Several years later, he was there again when my mom had to be taken to the hospital due to a serious infection. Recently he stayed all night with me while I was at the hospital with my partner. Just to support me. That's the type of man he was - always there to help a friend in need.

Barry was always looking for work to do, and there was no shortage of jobs with the Canning family. We kept him busy with projects at my house too, cottages up north, and several in Milton as well. Those are the ones I can remember. He quickly became a member of our extended family. Always first to help out, with a smile and some smart comment. Always a jokester, looking for fun. Such a positive, kind guy with a heart of gold.

For the last year and a half or so, he became a permanent fixture at Mom's house in Scarborough. He took up residence and helped out around the house in between in latest passion of riding his motorcycle. We loved having him there. My mom's support workers and he quickly made fast friends and he had them baking him banana bread every week as one of his perks. We are all feeling his absence now, the house just isn't quite the same without him.

I could go on and on about Barry, and how much he has done for our family and our extended family. I enjoyed his positivity, his zest for life, his work ethic, and his loyality, and most of all his friendship. I would say we were lucky to have known him, but my parents would always correct me and say we were BLESSED. That's how I think of him, blessed to have known THE LORD. Thank you Tracy, Emily and Breanne for sharing your Dad with us. It was an honour to know him. Rest in Peace Barry, you've certainly earned it. (but I really hope you are riding around on an ATV or motorcycle!)

Mary Louise Canning

So sorry for your loss.  Sending love and hugs to you all.

I want to take a moment to reflect and honour my Uncle Barry and the impact he had on my life.

Barry was the man who taught me how to be a man when I needed it most. He taught me to get up and go to work even when I didn’t want to. He taught me the value of early mornings, hard work, swinging a hammer, and showing up at 6a.m. when responsibility was calling.

He was the kind of man who opened his door to anyone who needed help, without judgment and without expecting anything in return. If you needed a hand, Barry gave it. If you needed guidance, he gave it straight!! He lived with those old school morals, and he carried himself with quiet strength.

Uncle Barry was very respected and loved by his friends in the fire department and throughout the construction industry , not just for the work he did in the community , but for the man he was at home or at the pub with his buddies.  He earned that respect the hard way, through consistency, integrity, and showing up for others.

I will carry some of those little life lessons he taught me for the rest of my life and I’m always grateful for how he treated me when I needed a chance.

Rest easy, Uncle Barry.  I’m sorry it’s been so long.  You will be deeply missed and never forgotten!!

With love,

Roman “Viggz” 

My dad Doran Collins was Barry's cousin, my family and I grew up with the Lord family.  Tracy and I were always together when we were little. We spent a lot of time at halls lake and hanging out at aunt pat and uncle poly's. Barry's was the MC at my wedding back in the 80's. He was a wonderful person, very generous and kind, funny as well. 

He enjoyed his Gibson Rye and spending time with our family with Tracy in tow. We always had so much fun together.  

My family got to visit with Barry not too long ago when my sister and brother passed away,he and Tracy showed up and we all shared wonderful memories. 

Barry will be greatly missed by us all. 

Rest in peace Barry 

Sometime I forget what day it is but I always remember growing up with Barry. We went to St.Teresa school, were alter boys at the Church, played ball hockey on 13th Street. We went on a camping trip and somehow ended up at Barry's Grand parents farm!

When we moved from NewToronto to Lakeview I was worried I wouldn't see Barry that much anymore but we kept in touch and ended up with a new circle of friends!

Thanks for the good times and memories!

Rest In Peace old friend.

Jim MacEachern

Oh Barry, 

We never did play guitar together or have a photo contest of who would take the best photo lol . I will learn some songs in your memory and play them on your birthday every year moving forward. 

You were a great man, a great friend and always some I could talk to about anything and for that I am forever humbles and grateful to you ❣️ 

I am still kind of numb knowing that you are  not a phone call away but I can still look to the Universe and talk to you over the party line, 2 long rings it will be from me to you.

I'm sorry we didn't have a few more years together but one thing for sure is I have always loved you like a father and I am sure our paths will cross some day and we can play our guitars any time we want. 

I will eternally be grateful to Tracey for thinking about me and allow me some of their precious moments to say my good bye and I will see you again  one day.

Thanks to all of your daughters for sharing this very intimate time with me to kiss you, leave some tears on your arm and whispering I love you but I never hung up the phone without saying it or ended a text without saying I love you ❣️

I will always play a song for you towards the universe and hope you will hear me.

Most important thank you for your service.

I will love you for always and forever and remember you fondly.

Love you with big hugs and kiss xoxo 

❣️🤘🎸

My oldest brother Jim MacEachern grew up with Barry in New Toronto. When my family left New Toronto for Mississauga back in the late 50's Barry ended up coming as well. They got hired in the fire service around the same time in the 70"s and Barry used to come to our house alot during the years and became a real "family friend" . My father Andy MacEachern loved Barry and always welcomed him for a beer at our house on 4th Street.. Other freinds like Pete Dourty, Gary Smith, Marshall Thompson and others all hung around together as fire fighters for years. We are going to miss him.