Gravenhurst Council Highlights - June 17, 2025

Asset management plan update

The town is creating a new asset management plan.

As part of the project, the town conducted a community engagement exercise to determine the public’s level of satisfaction with town assets and how they are serviced.

Tuesday, a consultant working with the town presented council with the results of the community engagement exercise.

Elio Ibrahim of Public Sector Digest, the consulting firm working on the project, walked council through the findings, collected through the town’s Engage Gravenhurst online platform earlier this year.

Feedback collected from staff regarding town assets was also presented.

Watch the presentation to learn more.

Work on the development of the plan continues.

Watch for further updates.

Town staffer awarded CRS designation

Council congratulated Paul Dobias, the town’s public works and operations foreman, on receiving his Certified Road Supervisor (CRS) certification through the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors.

Mayor Heidi Lorenz presented Dobias with his certificate from the association and thanked him for his dedicated service to the municipality.

According to the association, the Certified Road Supervisor (CRS) designation is awarded to individuals who have met the education and experience requirements as set out in the program. It is an objective validation of an individual’s familiarity with public works technologies, applicable regulations, and current supervisory and management techniques.

Watch the presentation to learn more.

Elexicon community update

Elexicon, the company that provides electricity to several areas of Gravenhurst, provided an update on its activities.

Stephen Vetsis, vice-president – regulatory affairs and stakeholder relations, provided the update.

As part of his presentation, Vetsis touched on the company’s response to the two major storm events in Gravenhurst this past winter.

Mayor Lorenz thanked the company for its commitment to the community.

Watch the presentation to learn more.

Business owner says downtown Gravenhurst needs help

Kim Evans, owner of Blooming Muskoka, a flower shop in Gravenhurst, made a presentation to council about the future of the downtown.

She talked about how downtown Gravenhurst has struggled the past few years and suggested ways that things could be improved.

Following the presentation, council passed a resolution directing staff to investigate and report on the regulatory tools that may be available to the town to support and promote a vibrant downtown core.

Watch the presentation to learn more.

Integrated Watershed Management presentation

Glenn Cunnington, manager of watershed programs for the District of Muskoka, provided council with a presentation on integrated watershed management (IWM).

Cunnington’s presentation provided an overview of what is IWM and what it could mean for the Muskoka River watershed.

Integrated watershed management is the process of managing human activities and natural resources in a watershed, while considering economic, social, environmental, developmental, and climate change issues.

He said eventually there could be an IWM plan for the region but at this point staff at the municipal level, along with First Nations representatives, are engaging in preliminary discussions about how they can work together and what issues could be addressed regarding integrated watershed management.

Mayor Lorenz thanked Cunnington for the presentation.

Watch the presentation to learn more.

Later in the meeting, council passed a resolution receiving for information a Town of Gravenhurst staff report about IWM next steps.

The resolution also stated the town supports, in principle, pursuing an IWM approach for the Muskoka River watershed.

Additionally, through the resolution, council directed staff to participate in the establishment of an Integrated Watershed Management Accord.

Read the related staff report.

Watch the discussion.

Noise bylaw exemption

Council granted an exemption to the town’s noise bylaw.

The exemption will allow a disc jockey to play music past the allowed time of 11 p.m. for a wedding at 326 Bethune Dr. N. on June 21.

The event is to conclude by 1 a.m. on June 22.

See the staff report to learn more.

Council Oks updated bylaws

Council members approved two updated bylaws for the town – the Clean and Clear Bylaw and the Property Standards Bylaw.  

They also repealed two older versions of the bylaws.

“The proposed Clean and Clear Bylaw is a bylaw intended to ensure property owners maintain their land in a clean, clear and safe condition and is intended to be used for minor property-related violations,” manager of bylaw services Kristen Ford said in a staff report. “For larger property maintenance and occupancy issues, the proposed updated Property Standards Bylaw addresses concerns pertaining to exterior and interior maintenance standards and includes tenanted properties, abandoned or damaged properties, as well as naturalized gardens.”

To learn more about the new bylaws, see the staff report or review the Clean and Clear Bylaw and the Property Standards Bylaw.

Watch the related discussion.

Update on proposed parking bylaw

Gravenhurst council members received for information a report on the town’s proposed new parking bylaw.

Council members directed staff to post the draft bylaw on the town website so the public can review and comment.

As well, council directed staff to report back on the public consultation following its conclusion and to then present a final draft bylaw for consideration.

“The proposed bylaw includes parking provisions and regulations for on-street, municipal parking lot, accessible, designated fire route and private parking provisions for designated private parking lots that have accessibility parking restrictions, as well as other parking related provisions,” manager of bylaw services Kristen Ford said. “The bylaw includes the required schedules for the regulated parking spaces, as well as the restricted time frames for on street and municipal parking lots.”

To learn more, review the staff report and the draft bylaw.

Watch the related discussion.

New agreement between town and YMCA

The YMCA will continue to have a home at the town’s Centennial Centre, offering an array of recreational programs and services to the community.

Council members authorized staff to sign a five-year agreement with the YMCA and authorized staff to renew the agreement for an additional five years following a satisfactory review by the two parties.

To learn more, see the related staff report.

Watch the related discussion.

Update from the mayor

Mayor Heidi Lorenz provided her monthly update.

Mayor Lorenz noted flags were at half-mast in memory of former staffer Todd Rumble, who passed away recently.

Mayor Lorenz passed along condolences to Mr. Rumble’s family.

As well, the mayor noted the Gravenhurst Car Show at Gull Lake Rotary Park on June 14 was well attended.

She said lots of other great events are happening and suggested people visit the town’s website to learn more.

Mayor Lorenz invited everyone to attend the town’s Canada Day celebrations.

She also thanked people for attending the recent Mayor’s Tea at the Gravenhurst Opera House and congratulated local resident Bruce Hemphill on being named an Ontario Senior of the Year at the tea.

As well, she thanked town staff, in particular Nicole Gray, for helping organize the 41st annual event.

Mayor Lorenz said the town is hosting an open house on Thursday, June 26, form 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., for local artists to learn about the gallery wall program.

Watch the update.

 

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