Knows Gravenhurst. Knows the Issues. Knows the Job.

Knows Gravenhurst. Knows the Issues. Knows the Job.

Close-up of smiling elderly man with bald head and white beard, wearing a blue shirt with white flamingo pattern, outdoors by a body of water with trees in the background.

I am committed to Gravenhurst

My wife and I are year-round residents of Gravenhurst who are actively engaged in our community.

My dedication to our community includes the following activities:

  • Volunteer water quality sampler for the Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA) for more than 20years. I put my scientific background to use in service of the environment. Our team samples deep water and near shore sites in Gravenhurst, including Muskoka Beach, Taylor Island, Miller Island and Rankin Island.

  • President of the Lakeshore Drive Community Association (2013 - present). The LDCA is a not-for-profit organization created to oppose excessive waterfront development in our community. We are now focused on a range of issues across Muskoka.

  • Former member of the Board of Directors of the Muskoka Lakes Association (2016-2022) — an organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing Muskoka by advocating for responsible land use.

  • Community member of the Gravenhurst Committee of Adjustment (2022 - present). I am committed to ensuring that the voice of the public is heard and reflected in planning decisions.

About Stephen Sims

  • My grandparents purchased property in Gravenhurst in 1932. I am a full-time resident of ward 2, and have lived here year-round for the last 10 years.

  • Five Generations of Sims family in Muskoka.

  • I have spent every summer of my life in Gravenhurst, a trend continued by my children and my grandchildren.

  • Summer jobs in Muskoka helped shape my work ethic and my values.

A young man in a swimsuit standing in front of a small wooden house with three windows and a door, surrounded by trees.
A black and white photo of a wooden house on a hill surrounded by trees. The house has large windows and a staircase leading up to the entrance. There is a woman with long hair sitting at the bottom of the stairs.
A family walking in a wooded lot during fall, with two seniors smiling in the foreground, and others including a woman holding a child and dogs in the background.

The values that will drive me as councillor are:

Listening, Teamwork, Collaboration and Accountability

Campaign Goals

Yellow signage with black text that reads "Stephen SIMS Ward 2," enclosed within a black circle.

Respect for Growth and the Environment

Bring new businesses to Gravenhurst and support development that will grow our community. Waterfront development needs to respect and protect the environment and the watershed.

Fiscal Restraint

Many in our community are facing financial hardship - with income that doesn’t match the rate of the Town’s budget increases. Council must direct staff to “sharpen their pencils” during preparation of the draft budget.

Short Term Rentals

Short term rentals can benefit property owners. But everyone deserves to enjoy their home without being subjected to irresponsible behaviour. Accountability, enforcement and reasonable regulation is essential.

Speaking out against Provincially imposed MZOs

Fight to ensure the preservation of the features that make Muskoka special. Excessive and inappropriate proposals such as Cliff Bay should not be imposed on our town.

Decisions that affect Gravenhurst should be made in Gravenhurst

Preserving the Health of our Lakes

I don’t just talk about it, I take action!

For over 20 years I have volunteered with the Water Quality Initiative, led by the MLA. Deborah Martin-Downs, a former president of the MLA, recently joined me to carry out water testing in Gravenhurst.

A smiling older man and woman outdoors by a lake, holding various small bottles and a jar, with a forested shoreline in the background.
Two people on a boat by a lake, one woman reaching into the water with a stick, the other standing nearby. Trees and a house are visible in the background.

The areas I test in Gravenhurst include deep water and near shore sites, close to public beach, golf course, marinas, and town roads.

Photos reproduced with the permission of the MLA

My goal is to see Gravenhurst prosper, but to do so with responsible development that ensures we don’t destroy the lakes that feed us or ruin the natural environment that makes Muskoka special.

A pickup truck bed filled with garbage bags, an old tire, and discarded debris, set against a background of trees and cloudy sky.

Neighborhood Cleanup on Earth Day

Our Community Association responded to an invitation by the District of Muskoka to carry out spring cleaning on Earth Day.

This truck load and more was collected from roads in our neighborhood.

Many other community activities supported. Gravenhurst Health Hub initiative. Coldest Night of the Year fundraising and walking. Donating blood at the Legion for Canadian Blood Services. Volunteer duties for the Elderberries Choir….

Advocacy

I have a longstanding record of advocating for the citizens of Gravenhurst, and for the environment

Advocacy for Muskoka woodlands

Members of the Lakeshore Drive Community Association view the destruction of a wood lot in our community.

Cut down the trees, put up a parking lot. 

Read the Banner article here.

Advocacy for fiscal restraint

I have delegated to Gravenhurst Council in Council chambers on numerous occasions.  In 2017, I spoke at the public forum on the proposed budget, voicing opposition to the proposed 7.1% increase in spending. Such a large boost in costs likely exceeded increases in income for the average citizen of Gravenhurst. Fiscal restraint was needed.

Read the Banner article here.

My Background

  • PhD in neuroscience (McMaster University)

  • Professor of Medicine & Dentistry (Western University), teaching the next generation of doctors and dentists (29 years)

  • Biomedical scientist who managed a successful research program studying bone and muscle

Proven Leadership Skills:

  • Interim Chair of Department of Physiology, University of Western Ontario

  • Associate Vice-Provost in the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

  • Two terms on Western’s Board of Governors

A man with glasses, a suit, and a colorful tie smiling in front of a projected medical presentation about cancer, with anatomical images and text on tumor metastasis.

“Many people think a career in research and academic leadership is sitting and thinking. These are important elements of one’s success, but it is the fortitude, the discipline and desire to discover and help others that transfers to everyday life.

A long life of listening and learning has benefits, and it is those values, those principles that are transferable to civic duty.”

Perseverance

I enjoy participating in sporting events, including marathons, half-marathons and triathlons.

These races demand perseverance and focus.

Gravenhurst triathlon features our glorious wharf setting, Wenonah II, and ‘rolling’ bike and run routes.

Jump—swim—bike—run

Close-up of a finisher's medal from the 2023 Gravenhurst Triathlon, awarded for first place, hanging on a wooden surface beneath a race bib with handwritten details and a finisher's certificate partially visible.
Three men standing on a winner's podium with medals around their necks at a triathlon event. The man in the middle, wearing a bright yellow and white running outfit and a yellow cap, is celebrating with arms raised. The man on the left, wearing black shorts, a white and red shirt, and a red cap, is smiling. The man on the right, in a red long-sleeve shirt and black shorts, is also smiling. A backdrop behind them features various sponsor logos and the event name.
A wooden rod hanging on a wall with numerous marathon and race medals and ribbons attached.

We Enjoy Muskoka Year Round

  • My wife and I live in Muskoka full-time

  • The joys are balanced by seasonal challenges

  • Winter storms

  • Spring flooding

  • We are blessed to live in a community that steps up and supports one another during times of need

Two people in life jackets and outdoor attire stand in the water next to a boathouse, with a boat on the shore nearby. The boathouse has a sloped roof and two windows, and is partially submerged during high water.
Snow-covered yard with trees in the background and a small snow-covered ramp or platform. There is a snowblower in the foreground, partially covered with snow.
A man with a white beard wearing a red jacket and green waterproof pants and boots striking a pose in front of a modern fireplace with a stone surround, above which is a wooden mantle with decorative items and a large floral painting. The room has a cozy, decorated ambiance.

I too live with the ongoing needs for road maintenance, snow clearing, and garbage pickup. There is work to be done.

Support the Town of Gravenhurst

A construction site with rocks in the foreground and a small orange excavator next to a modern black house with large windows, surrounded by green trees.

My wife and I recently built a home in Gravenhurst

We supported businesses and the economy of our Town using:

  • Gravenhurst Builder

  • Gravenhurst tradespeople

  • Gravenhurst equipment operators

  • Gravenhurst building supply companies

  • Gravenhurst quarries

  • Gravenhurst Landscapers

‘We put our money where our heart is’

Principles Worth Standing Up For

Whether Gravenhurst is your home all year or the place your family returns to every summer for its memories,

We All Have a Stake in its Future.

Families have invested their savings, their time and built their Muskoka dreams.

We must:

-      Protect the waterfront.

-      Protect neighbourhood character.

-      Maintain quality municipal services.

-      Keep taxes under control.

-      Support responsible development.

A man and a young child holding hands outside in a wooded area on a clear day. The man is dressed in a black vest and red long-sleeve shirt, while the child is wearing a blue jacket, gray hat, and carrying a blue backpack.
Three people kayaking on a large lake, all wearing life jackets and sunglasses, with a forested shoreline and small house in the background on a clear, sunny day.
Winter in Muskoka has its fascinating moments
Recent winters in Muskoka present challenges for snow clearing
RMS Segwun and Wenonah II at sunset at the iconic Gravenhurst wharf
Stephen's motorcycle parked on gravel road on a break riding to Muskoka
Photo of loon taken by Stephen Sims
RMS Segwun and Wenonah II, 2026
Stephen paddles a kayak with granddaughter riding along
Cocktail party on the dock, with members of the Lakeshore Drive Community Association meeting their neighbours in happy discussion
Sims family wedding photo on the dock in Muskoka
Stephen Sims departing triathlon corral to begin the bike ride during Gravenhurst triathlon
Stephen Sims on completion of sprint triathlon
Stephen Sims riding his bicycle during Gravenhurst triathlon

Contact

Have a Question?

Want a sign?

Send Stephen your question and let’s figure out the best way to grow Ward 2 together.

FB: 2026 Ward 2 Candidate Stephen Sims

stephensims4ward2@gmail.com

StephenSims4Ward2.com