The 21-year-old Barber shocked current world record holder Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) and 2013 world champion Raphael Holzdeppe (GER) by taking gold with a mark of 5.90m.
Holzdeppe, who also cleared 5.90m took silver on a count back, while Lavillenie sattled in third with a mark of 5.80m.
It's the first medal ever won by a Canadian in pole vault at worlds.
The last time a Canadian reached an Olympic podium was in 1912, when William Halpenny earned bronze.
Watch Shawn Barber Interview After Winning Gold