Gravenhurst Council Highlights - Aug. 12, 2025
GHS Bursary goes to Finn MacDonald
Council acknowledged Finn MacDonald as the 2025 Gravenhurst High School Bursary recipient.
On behalf of council, Mayor Heidi Lorenz congratulated MacDonald on receiving the $2,000 bursary.
The town provides the bursary each year to a GHS graduate to help them further their education at the post-secondary level.
The town accepts bursary applications every spring.
MacDonald is attending the University of Ottawa this fall, where he will study political science and philosophy.
Watch the meeting to learn more.
Town staffer Bessie Steele completes Municipal Administration Program
A staff member in the town’s Legislative Services Department has completed the Municipal Administration Program (MAP).
Mayor Heidi Lorenz, on behalf of council, congratulated Bessie Steele, an administrative clerk 2, on completing the program.
MAP is a certificate program through the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario.
Each unit in the program has assignments that involve reading, research, writing, and application, providing individuals with a comprehensive understanding of the municipal sector.
Prior to the start of the council meeting, Mayor Lorenz and Kayla Thibeault, director of legislative services, presented Steele with her MAP certificate.
Watch the meeting to learn more.
Health Human Resources recruiter funding renewal request
Representatives from the Muskoka Almaguin Ontario Health Team (MAOHT) appeared before council.
They requested that the town continue to fund a primary care recruitment program for the next three years.
Hospital foundations, the District of Muskoka, and area lower-tier municipalities such as Gravenhurst have funded the Health Human Resources Recruiter Program for the last three years, but that arrangement expires at the end of 2025.
Funding supports a recruiter position and the related budget.
David Gravelle, the current recruiter, started in December 2024 and has an extensive background in the medical recruitment field.
In the fiscal year 2024-2025, 15 new family physicians and nurse practitioners have joined practices within the health team.
Following the presentation, council passed a resolution that the mayor consider a three-year commitment of $10,000 for the program within the 2026 budget.
Watch the meeting to learn more.
Review the related slide deck.
Hale Muskoka wants events deemed ‘municipally significant’
Eric Abugov of Hale Muskoka asked that council declare three of the local company’s upcoming events as ‘municipally significant.’
The designation is required for the company to obtain Special Occasion Permits through the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to sell alcohol at the events.
Mayor Heidi Lorenz thanked Abugov for the presentation.
Later in the meeting, council discussed the request and agreed to declare the events as municipally significant.
Watch the meeting to learn more.
Watch the discussion later in the meeting.
Mid-year financial update
Council received the 2025 Mid-Year Financial Update Report for information.
“The purpose…is to provide committee with an update on mid-year financial performance versus budget, as well as a status update on some of the planned initiatives that were articulated in the budget, also known as the town’s business plan,” deputy treasurer Theresa Trott wrote in the report.
She later added the update highlights the town’s sound financial management and accountability.
Review the report to learn more.
Emergency Management Program update
Council received the Emergency Management Program Update Report for information.
“The purpose…is to provide committee members with a summary of the Emergency Management Program activities in 2024 and confirmation of annual compliance requirements,” Deputy Fire Chief Todd Clapp wrote in the report.
The document includes a chart outlining activities conducted in 2024 to meet annual compliance.
Clapp noted council has approved the 2025 work plan.
“The focus in 2025 is reviewing corporate continuity of operations practices in addition to ensuring that annual legislative requirements are completed. It’s also worth noting that staff have applied for an emergency exercise exemption this year due to the town’s collective response to the devastating ice storm that occurred in March and April,” he said.
Clapp concluded that Gravenhurst continues to meet emergency management requirements, as per the related provincial legislation.
Review the report to learn more.
Road closing report received, related bylaws approved
Council received a staff report about closing two entrances to Highway 11.
Later, council members passed a bylaw to close the two entrances.
One entrance is Manson/Cowbell Lane, 100 metres north of the Severn River Bridge.
The other entrance is Mitchell Road, 2.7 kilometres north of the Severn River Bridge.
The Province of Ontario has determined that based on technical and safety merits the two entrances should be closed.
Council considered the matter at its April 15 meeting and directed staff to proceed with the closure process.
Residents will still be able to access Manson/Cowbell Lane from an access point 500 metres north of the Severn River Bridge.
Residents will still be able to access Mitchell Road from an access point 2.1 kilometres from the Severn River Bridge.
2026 Budget Review and Guideline
Council members received the 2026 Budget Review and Guideline Report for information.
“The purpose of the [report] is to provide the results of early research and advice on a recommended budget guideline and meeting schedule in accordance with the recent Mayoral Directive to do so,” Director of Finance Wayne Campbell said in the report.
In June, Mayor Heidi Lorenz provided a Mayoral Directive to staff to research and provide advice on the preparation of the 2026 operating and capital budgets.
Historically, the town's budget process involved council appointing a budget chair to work with staff to present a recommended budget.
However, with the introduction of the Strong Mayor Powers Framework as of May 1, 2025, the budget process has undergone a series of legislated procedural changes.
The strong mayor framework includes the following:
- The mayor tables their proposed budget to council.
- Council has 30 days to meet and provide amendments.
- Following proposed council amendments, the mayor has up to 10 days to veto any council amendments.
- Following the mayor’s veto, as applicable, council has 15 days to override it. A two-thirds majority of council is required to override the mayor’s veto. The mayor is able to participate in the vote.
- Upon conclusion of the override process, the budget is deemed passed. There is no longer a final vote from council for the adoption of the budget.
The report includes a schedule for the budget process, along with a budget guideline summary that outlines several factors influencing the 2026 budget.
Additionally, the document includes projections for the 2026 budget, including a seven per cent tax levy increase for next year.
Watch the meeting to learn more.
Council approves Corporate Lease Policy
Gravenhurst council approved a new Corporate Lease Policy for the municipality.
Rob Rosilius, deputy treasurer, said in the related staff report that the policy “streamlines the process for leasing town-owned property through consistent and transparent controls, while ensuring the town’s corporate assets and interests are safeguarded.”
Accessible wayfinding pilot project
Council received the Accessible Wayfinding Pilot Project Report for information and directed the mayor to consider the project as part of the 2026 budget.
Additionally, council directed using the Accessibility Reserve to fund the project, as recommended by the Gravenhurst Accessibility Advisory Committee.
The report, authored by Deputy Clerk Jonathan Gilston, includes background on the pilot project.
The aim of the project is to help people with vision loss navigate the public areas at town hall.
The project will involve using the BlindSquare app, which provides real-time navigation for users through audio cues.
The service uses beacons, placed around an interior location, which communicate via Bluetooth with a user’s phone to indicate where they are in the building.
The project will also include an assessment of town hall to determine how accessibility can be enhanced.
The estimated cost for BlindSquare is $6,423 and the estimated cost for the physical assessment of town hall is $6,500.
Gilston said that based on the outcome of the pilot, further locations for the use of the BlindSquare app will be explored.
Watch the meeting to learn more.
Watch the town’s website and social media channels for further updates.
New bylaw for Gravenhurst Fire Department
Council received for information a report about repealing and updating the Establishing and Regulating Gravenhurst Fire Department Bylaw.
Later, council members approved the new bylaw.
The new bylaw outlines the fire department’s operations, structure, and overall services.
Included in the bylaw is the addition of a Fire Prevention Policy, a recommendation in the town’s Fire Master Plan, completed in 2024.
The Fire Prevention Policy establishes procedures for fire prevention and related public education programs.
Watch the meeting to learn more.
Muskoka Watershed Council update
Councillor Peter Johnston provided his monthly update on the Muskoka Watershed Council.
Johnston is the town’s representative on the watershed council.
He said the council is busy planning for the 2025 Muskoka Summit on the Environment.
The theme this year is ‘Living Smarter.’
The summit will take place Friday, Oct. 3 at the Muskoka Community Lumber Centre in Bracebridge.
Update from the mayor
Mayor Heidi Lorenz provided her monthly update.
Mayor Lorenz said she’s been busy attending such things as community events and lake association meetings.
She noted she is off to the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference, which takes place Aug. 17-20 in Ottawa.
Councillors Sandy Cairns, Jo Morphy, and CAO Scott Lucas will be joining her at the conference.
Following the conference, Lorenz said they will provide council with a report on what transpired.
Appointments to the Accessibility Advisory Committee
Council passed a resolution to appoint two new members to the town’s Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Margaret Martin and Diane Misner will join the committee for the balance of the 2022-2026 council term.
Learn more about the committee.
Council Highlights
Council Highlights is prepared as an overview of the council meeting. For the official record, please refer to the agenda and minutes on the town website at www.gravenhurst.ca.
Watch the meeting
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