Gravenhurst Council Highlights - Sept. 16, 2025
Town staffer recognized for CBCO designation
Council congratulated Deputy Chief Building Official Matthew Wale on achieving his Certified Building Code Official (CBCO) designation through the Ontario Building Officials Association.
The designation is in the following areas:
-
Housing
-
HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
-
On-site sewage systems
To achieve the designation, Wale was required to complete training, provincial testing, and obtain extensive municipal experience.
The CBCO program is an enhancement to the baseline Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Qualification examination requirements.
Wale has been with the Town of Gravenhurst for seven years.
He started out as a septic reinspection student, then came back directly out of college as a building official and is now in his current role as deputy chief building official.
Mayor Lorenz said council is proud of Wale’s accomplishments and she thanked him for his service to the town.
Town finance team member achieves CMM1 designation
Speaking on behalf of council, Mayor Heidi Lorenz congratulated Theresa Trott on obtaining her CMM1 (Certified Municipal Manager 1) designation.
Trott is the town’s manager of accounting and a deputy treasurer.
The CMM accreditation is offered through the Ontario Municipal Management Institute.
The Certified Municipal Manager program offers local government employees a career recognition and development system, and a legal professional credential.
The purpose of the program is to recognize staff management capabilities.
A point system, capturing all education, seminars, and conference workshops is used to establish metrics for the CMM credential. Job responsibilities are also a factor and identify ways for an individual to grow and develop professionally.
According to the Ontario Municipal Management Institute, more than 2,800 local government administrators have earned one of four levels of the CMM designation.
Accredited members represent over 30 municipal professions and include all levels of responsibility.
Trott has been a valued staff member since 2008.
Mayor Lorenz thanked Trott for her service.
GFD recognizes two citizens for their assistance
The Town of Gravenhurst formally thanked two local men – Craig Howard and Jim Davis – for their assistance during a large brush fire in August.
Mayor Lorenz said that on Aug. 4 the Gravenhurst Fire Department was called to a large brush fire on Silver Lake Shores.
The outcome could have been vastly different had these two individuals not stepped forward to assist.
Kyle Steele, fire prevention officer for the fire department, said the two men were monumental in terms of their assistance.
Their help ensured the department had a successful firefight and the fire was under control in a decent amount of time and without any major loss.
For their actions, the department presented each man with a certificate and challenge coin.
Challenge coins are ceremonial items that contain an organization’s emblem or insignia. They reflect membership or affiliation – in some fashion – with the organization.
Council approves sign bylaw exemption
David Trethewey, representing Trinity United Church, requested the organization receive an exemption from the town’s sign bylaw.
The exemption would allow the church to install a digital sign on its property to communicate with the congregation and the public.
Staff recommended denying the request because the bylaw does not permit such signs in the designated Business Improvement Area.
Council debated the request and, in the end, approved the exemption.
Robinson Quarry request
Rob Robinson, of Robinson Quarry, a local business, made a presentation to council.
Robinson asked council to direct the Infrastructure Services Department to enter into a formal agreement with the business so it could pipe water under Sedore Road.
He said they have a water problem at their quarry on the east side of Sedore Road.
He said they pump the water from the quarry to different ponds on the property, however, the ponds are now full.
Robinson said they want to place a pipe under Sedore Road and transport the water to property they have on the west side of the road.
Andrew Stacey, director of infrastructure services, said he has no objection to the request, but required direction from council.
Mayor Lorenz thanked Robinson for the presentation.
She said staff will prepare a report on the request for council’s consideration at its October meeting.
Shriners celebrating half-century
Tony Armstrong, speaking on behalf of Muskoka Shrine Club, made a presentation about the organization’s upcoming 50th anniversary.
He said he had no formal request for council, but did want to chat about what the Shriners do to support the community.
Armstrong said they host a number of events, including a sports dinner, a golf tournament, surf and turf dinner, and the sale of Christmas cakes.
These events are designed to raise money for Shriners Hospitals, a network of hospitals that provide care for children. He noted local children have access to the hospitals.
The events also support the organization’s transportation fund, which covers travel-related expenses when children seek care at Shriners Hospitals.
He noted that in 2026, the Muskoka Shrine Club will host a convention – known as Spring Ceremonial – from June 11 to June 14.
They will welcome as many as 1,000 Shriners and others from across Ontario.
The event will include such things as a golf tournament, a tour on the Wenonah II, a dinner and concert, and much more, including a parade in nearby Huntsville.
Mayor Lorenz thanked Armstrong for the presentation and great work the Shriners do in the community.
Council Oks ‘Council at Invited Special Events Policy’
Local resident Jim Davis spoke to council about a ‘Council at Invited Special Events Policy’ that would be considered by local elected officials later in the meeting and approved.
He raised concerns about the legality of the policy, and the need for it; and asked council to hold off on its approval of the policy until there could be answers to his various points.
He also shared, in part, concerns about the policy from Muskoka Lakes Association president Ken Pearce, whose comments were also submitted in advance.
In May, council directed staff to craft the policy and bring it forward for consideration.
The intent of the policy is to ensure council members have equitable attendance at invited events; and that an illegal council meeting does not happen at an event by having too many members present, as per provincial stipulations about such occurrences.
Under the policy, the mayor, as the head of council and the official representative of the municipality, may attend any invited special event.
The selection of additional members attending with the head of council to invited special events is prioritized by the following:
- Ward councillor of the area the event represents
- Equal distribution of district councillors at events
In the absence or conflict with the mayor’s schedule, the deputy mayor may be requested to attend.
Under the policy, the mayor’s executive assistant is responsible for overseeing the coordination of attendance.
Later in the meeting, before approving the policy, council members had an in-depth discussion.
New elevator for Gravenhurst Opera House
Council approved awarding a contract for a new elevator at the Gravenhurst Opera House.
Hytrac Elevator Co. Ltd. is the lowest compliant bidder at a cost of $228,210.92, excluding HST.
Council also approved redirecting $110,000 in funds to address a budget shortfall and to allow for a contingency fund.
Council wants policy that allows for its meeting recordings to be kept indefinitely
Council asked staff to prepare a policy for consideration that will allow all recordings of council meetings to be kept for an indefinite timeframe.
Under the current policy, meetings are only kept for a 12-month period with all recordings removed after the inauguration of the next council.
Livestreaming of meetings – and recordings – started in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, the town has made considerable investment in technology to livestream and record meetings, which are available for viewing on the town’s YouTube channel.
Councillor Erin Strength put forward the request, noting in her resolution that by keeping the recordings indefinitely there is enhanced transparency.
Councillor Randy Jorgensen, who seconded the resolution, said while minutes are the official record there is a lot to be gained from an archival perspective by having the recordings available indefinitely.
Council approves IT review recommendations
A review of how information technology (IT) services are delivered at the Town of Gravenhurst is complete and council has approved moving ahead, in principle, with the recommendations.
In a nutshell, the review recommends abandoning the current District of Muskoka-provided information technology services arrangement and, with the Town of Bracebridge, also part of the review, going with a market services provider, essentially a stand-alone company that provides dedicated IT services and solutions; and hiring a dedicated full-time on-site local IT person for each municipality.
The new approach is slightly more expensive than the current arrangement.
Costs would be $878,031, compared to $798,247 with the district, however, the result would be a more comprehensive and responsive service.
Work on the IT review started in 2024 when Gravenhurst and the Town of Bracebridge hired Perry Group Consulting Ltd. to conduct the review.
Along with approval of the recommendations, council has authorized the clerk and chief administrative officer to manage the transition.
“Administration concludes that the IT Service and Strategy Report as prepared by the Perry Group has clearly identified that while our current IT arrangement has treated us well historically, the status quo…arrangement is no longer meeting the needs of the corporation for comprehensive and progressive IT services. It is the recommendation of the Perry Group and administration to transition to a managed service provider model, complemented by a locally employed IT coordinator. This model will deliver improved service reliability and responsiveness, increase cybersecurity readiness and resilience, enable long-term scalability, agility and modernization and remain cost-comparable to the current model over time,” writes Kayla Thibeault, legislative services director.
Bracebridge council has not yet made a final decision on the matter.
2024 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
Council received the 2024 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for information.
Council approves user fees and charges for 2026
Council received for information the 2026 User Fees and Charges Report and later passed a bylaw implementing the rates and fees for next year.
Parking bylaw update
Council approved an update to the town’s Parking Control Bylaw.
AMO report: Councillor Morphy
Councillor Jo Morphy provided a report on her attendance at the recent Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa.
The conference was Aug. 16-19.
Housing Task Force and public art update: Councillor Hunter
Councillor Christina Hunter provided an update on the Housing Task Force.
She also provided an update on the latest public art display at the municipal office, featuring paintings by Norman Robert Catchpole.
Doors Open update: Councillor Jorgensen
Councillor Randy Jorgensen provided an update on the upcoming Doors Open event in Gravenhurst.
Doors Open is Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Through the event, the public has free access to a variety of sites in the community.
Update from the Mayor
Mayor Heidi Lorenz provided her monthly update.
The mayor said the Gravenhurst Seniors Centre is celebrating its 75th anniversary on Sunday.
The event is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The centre is at 480 First St. N.
As well, the mayor noted the Gravenhurst Autumn Arts Tour is Sept. 27-28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Additionally, the mayor said Coffee with Council takes place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 27 in the Terry Fox Auditorium at the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre. This is a drop-in event.
In other news, the mayor provided a brief update on the disposition of the provincially-owned Muskoka Regional Centre property in Gravenhurst.
She said the town continues to await next steps from the developer and province.
In the meantime, she said, council members have been listening to community feedback regarding the developer’s plans for the site.
Mayor Lorenz said at some point council will take a position on the proposal for the property and the related Ministerial Zoning Order; this will involve a Gravenhurst town staff report when the timing is appropriate.
She said until such time as there is a revised proposal to evaluate, which the town understands is being worked on after the initial public feedback, the town has nothing to take a position on.
Library board appointment
Council appointed Tyler Boswell to the Gravenhurst Public Library Board for the balance of the 2022-2026 term.
Boswell is filling a space that became vacant due to a resignation.
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
Contact Us
Town of Gravenhurst
3-5 Pineridge Gate
Gravenhurst ON P1P1Z3
T: 705-687-3412
TF: 1-855-687-3412
info@gravenhurst.ca