What I bring to Armour Township and the Almaguin Highlands
My connection to Armour Township goes back to 1999 and my connection to the broader region of the Almaguin Highlands and Muskoka spans a lifetime. In terms of the local community, I served as president of the Three Mile Lake association for 16 years, have been advocating for regional healthcare on a volunteer basis in the Almaguin Highlands since 2009, and I have served on Armour Council since 2018. I bring with me an extensive background that I feel serves the citizens of Armour and the Almaguin region well. Outside my current municipal life, my career spans 40 years in Information Technology and business management, which included building an IT services company, holding a leadership role in Healthcare IT (both within the Ministry of Health and in the private sector) and later providing best-practice and governance consulting to organizations across North America. My service on Armour Council includes the last 4 years as mayor.
My real passion is municipal government and how it serves the community. At its best, this public service is incredibly important in shaping the future and protecting future generations. It requires vision, but it also requires positive energy. I am a tireless worker, and I fuel this with that positive energy. This can’t be done alone and it requires a team to work toward that vision. I am a leader by nature but the most rewarding and effective part of municipal work is being part of a highly effective and positive team.
Looking back on this past term of council as mayor, my vision centred on how Armour Township could be part of a broader, collaborative approach across the region. My roles as chair of the Almaguin Highlands Health Council (representing 10 municipalities) and as chair of the South East Parry Sound Planning Board (representing 6 municipalities) demonstrate this view of the bigger picture. I am proud of my leadership role in support of the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) hospital redevelopment project through the municipal ‘local share’ initiative, including raising $9.5-million combined from the Almaguin region. My work on many healthcare-related committees as part of the newly-named Muskoka Almaguin Ontario Health Team further demonstrates commitment to the broader community. Advocacy work with MAHC and with the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, as well as all of the municipalities across Almaguin and Muskoka has been in efforts to improve healthcare across the entire region through collaboration.
Armour Township maintained the lowest residential tax rate in the Almaguin Highlands region while meeting the goals of its 4-year Strategic Plan. Services were enhanced and expanded while maintaining the line on taxes. This is made possible through a collaborative approach between Council and staff, transparency with the citizens, and trust in those relationships. I will continue to bring my approach of calm and thoughtful decision-making, collaboration and transparency, and a team-based approach which includes the rest of Council, staff in Armour, our citizens, and the many community stakeholders across the region. My clear focus for the next term will be on expanding regional cooperation to create a region that is prepared for the future. We need to move past the era of small municipalities acting as 'islands' and work toward further collaboration and cooperation with a positive outlook to the future. Healthcare, economic development, protection of our environment and watershed, proper planning and housing - these items do not respect borders, they require vision.
I also have an on-going job during the election, after the election, and during any time I spend in office. That is, to continually learn. Understand the policies which impact us, future plans which need discussion, current challenges that our citizens, our business partners and our community service organizations face. I will also continue my own personal path (on my time and my dime:)) taking municipal courses through the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO). This knowledge is just another tool in the toolbox.
The Almaguin Highlands region includes active, vibrant communities. At the same time, the region is vast geographically, and deeply connected to the natural environment that makes this area so special. When you live in a place as beautiful and unique as our region, it is natural to be cautious about change. We want to protect what makes it special. At the same time, thoughtful and well-managed progress is important if we want our communities to remain strong, sustainable, and vibrant for future generations. That means planning carefully, being transparent, listening to residents, and considering the long-term impacts of the decisions we make. We cannot pursue growth at any cost, but we also cannot stand still. The challenge is finding the right balance — protecting the character and natural beauty of the region while ensuring our communities continue to thrive. My years in municipal government, together with my 16 years as president of the Three Mile Lake (Armour) Association, have given me a strong appreciation for both responsible planning and environmental stewardship. Those experiences continue to shape my belief that the Almaguin Highlands' future depends on balanced, thoughtful decision-making that reflects the values of the people who live here.
I would be honoured to serve again as your Mayor in the Township of Armour.
