Gravenhurst Town Council was formally introduced during the 17th Inaugural Meeting, held Tuesday December 2, 2014 at the Gravenhurst Opera House.

Led by a Fred Schulz in highland dress play-ing the bagpipes, Mayor and Council entered the theatre to a full house of onlookers.Dave Weldon, Town of Gravenhurst CAO gave a warm welcome to guests as he opened the session by introducing the newly elected Council of 2014-2018. Reverend Kathleen Mowat provided an Invocation followed next by Council taking their Adminis-tration Oath of Allegiance and Declaration of Office.

Mayor Paisley Donaldson stated during her inaugural address. “I am truly honoured to be addressing you tonight as your Mayor. I am excited to start working with Council

to make the best possible decisions for Gravenhurst.” The Mayor noted that over the past four years, she has seen an incredible amount of change and growth and with that comes challenges and opportunities. “We are a community alive with spirit,” said the Mayor.

During the Inaugural meeting, Jeff Watson was named Deputy Mayor, while Randy Jorgenson was appointed Acting Mayor, Councillors were then named to their respective Boards and Commit-tee, with which they will serve.

The evening concluded with refreshments and a meet and greet with Council in the Trillium Court.

The full Town of Gravenhurst Inaugural Meeting Can be Viewed on Gravenhurst Youtube Channel.

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The Mayor’s Minute

DECEMBER 2014

The Mayor’s Minute The Town of Gravenhurst, 3-5 Pineridge Gate

Gravenhurst, ON Canada P1P 1Z3

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Mayor Paisley Donaldson

Your 2014 -2018 Town Council

Photo: Front (l-r) Sandy Cairns; District Councillor, Paul Kelly; District Councilor, Mayor Paisley Donaldson; Jeff Watson; Ward 5, Erin Eiter; Ward 2. Back (l-r) Bob Colhoun; Ward 3, Randy Jorgensen; Ward 4, Heidi Lorenz; Ward 1, Terry Pilger; District Councillor

Mayor Donaldson We’re accepting Applications until January 20th, 2015

Visit: www.gravenhurst.ca

The PanAm Torch is Coming to Gravenhurst this June!

The Mayor’s Minute - Gravenhurst, ON

Congratulations and welcome to Darren Wigginton, DOMP, RMT, CPT. Darren provides Osteopathy, Massage Therapy and Personal Training and is available at his studio at 140 Muskoka Road South Gravenhurst. He also offers In-home visits. Find out more at www.massageumuskoka.com (705) 205- 1451 — at Massage U Muskoka.

December 2014 Pg.2

Grand Opening- Massage U - Downtown Gravenhurst

The Mayor’s Minute The Town of Gravenhurst, 3-5 Pineridge Gate

Gravenhurst, ON Canada P1P 1Z3

Century Old Quilt Unveiled at Town Hall

Mayor Donaldson was pleased to be a part of a repatriation ceremony of Gravenhurst’s 1915 World War I Quilt from France that once belonged to a Canadian soldier. The cere-mony took place on Remembrance Day, November 11, at Town Hall. The quilt bears the names of 300 local families and will now be permanently on display at Gravenhurst Town Hall for public viewing.

FED-NOR Funding for GravenhurstNovember 28, 2014

Four major funding announcements were announced by Tony Clement, Member of Parliament for Parry Sound-Muskoka on behalf of FedNor at the Muskoka

Boat & Heritage Centre (Grace and Speed) on November 28th. Of those funding announcements;$78,750 will go towards the Muskoka Steamship and Historical Society towards developing a strat-egy for a major expansion of the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre.

Explorer’s Edge, Regional Tourism Organization 12, also received FedNor funding totaling $47,500 for two projects in support of Golf Muskoka and Resorts of North Muskoka.

Additional funding totaling $193,750 will be allocated to the Township of Muskoka Lakes and the Town of Bracebridge for signage and youth interns.

The Emergency Management Program Committee recently met along with Mayor Paisley Donaldson and Jeff Watson, deputy

mayor to participate in an Emergency Planning session at the Town Council chambers. The event was intended to review the Town’s cur-rent Emergency Plan, participate in a mock emergency scenario and hear from an emergency professional first hand who has dealt with a major emergency situation in her community.

“One of the best lines of defense in prepar-

ing for an unexpected emergency or crisis is to have a plan in place and team who clearly understands their role in providing the best possible outcome,” said Larry Brassard, Graven-hurst fire chief, who led the presentation.

During the session Cynthia Ross, Essa Township Fire Chief, shared her community’s experience in dealing with a Tornado that touched down in June of 2014, which devastated the area. Chief Ross shared a step by step account of what happened and how her team respond-ed to the emergency. To view the Town’s current Emergency Plan visit - www.gravenhurst.ca /Be Prepared

Mayor Donaldson and members of the Emergency Management Team huddle to prepare for a mock emergency.

Emergency Planning

After 27 years of service to the Town of Gravenhurst, (all but six months) spent as the Town’s treasurer, Ken Watson retired on November 28 . During a transitional period, Val Sequeira was introduced to staff as the incoming Treasurer and Direc-tor of Corporate Services. On Wednesday December 3rd, a retirement celebration was held in Ken’s honour at Grace and Speed in Gravenhurst, where staff and colleagues had the opportunity to share stories and wish Ken and his wife Heather all the very best!

Ken Watson & Val Sequeira

Mayor Donaldson acted as Master of Ceremonies

Send Off For The Treasurer

Cynthia Ross, Essa Fire Chief

jOIN uS 2DAY!

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Happy New Year!

Editor: jharnett@gravenhurst.ca