Supporting Our Community. Planning Our Future.

Candidate for Gravenhurst Town Council Ward 1

Responsible Leadership.
A Thriving Gravenhurst.
Environmental Stewardship.

I am running for Town Council because I believe Gravenhurst is at a pivotal moment in its future. I see a struggling downtown and proposed developments that threaten the very reason so many people make Gravenhurst their home, or second home.

For more than 25 years I have helped not-for-profit organizations make thoughtful decisions, manage resources responsibly, and plan for the future. That experience has taught me how to listen, bring people together, navigate complex issues, manage risk, ask difficult questions, turn strategy to action, and make decisions with the long-term in mind. I will bring my experience with strategic planning, governance, financial management, policy development, and advocacy, to Town Council to ensure that Gravenhurst is a vibrant, welcoming, and beautiful community for generations to come.

Platform Pillars

Responsible Leadership

Growth with purpose. Development with responsibility. Decisions with the long-term interests of Gravenhurst in mind.

Building consensus and achieving results by:

✓ Listening

✓ Collaborating

✓ Asking questions

✓ Using evidence

✓ Being fiscally responsible

✓ Measuring results

✓ Communicating

A Thriving Gravenhurst

Building a strong, year-round community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

I will deliver on Gravenhurst’s Official Plan to:

✓ Support local businesses and entrepreneurs

✓ Attract year-round investment

✓ Prioritize affordable housing

✓ Provide more opportunities for youth

✓ Enhance arts, culture, recreation and tourism experiences

✓ Improve infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists

Environmental Stewardship

Protecting our lakes, waterfront and natural environment.

I will fight to:

✓ Protect our lakes and natural shorelines

✓ Preserve our natural environment

✓ Support responsible waterfront development

✓ Build for climate resilience

✓ Plan for the future

About Elizabeth

For more than 30 years, Elizabeth has been visiting friends and family in Gravenhurst and greater Muskoka. Her connection to the community deepened when her father moved to Gravenhurst making it his home for the final years of his life. When the opportunity finally came, Elizabeth moved to Gravenhurst herself – making the community she had loved for decades her permanent home.

Elizabeth has also contributed her expertise through volunteer governance and community service. She has served as Faculty Representative to the Board of the Victoria Conservatory of Music and as a Board Member of Choral Canada. These experiences strengthened her appreciation for collaborative governance, thoughtful decision-making and the important role that community organizations play in building vibrant communities.

Elizabeth's love of Gravenhurst extends beyond its arts and community life to its natural beauty. When not at her desk, you can find her playing the piano, hiking, cycling, paddle boarding and birdwatching in and around Gravenhurst. Her hiking adventures have taken her to the Camino in Spain, the Mourne Mountains in Ireland, trails throughout the Scottish Highlands, and has included completing all 904 kms of the Bruce Trail in Ontario!

Gravenhurst has been part of Elizabeth's life for more than three decades. She is ready to put her experience, energy and love of this community to work for its future.

I am committed to:

  • Listening before making decisions.

  • Being transparent and accountable.

  • Making evidence-informed decisions.

  • Working collaboratively with Council, staff, community organizations, and residents.

  • Planning not only for today's needs, but for future generations.

  • Meaningful relationships with Muskoka’s Indigenous communities.

  • Regular communication through monthly e-newsletters and quarterly community forums

My Commitment

If elected, I will be an accessible and responsive Councillor who values open communication and respectful dialogue.