Get to know Jo
Don’t see an answer to your qestion here? Reach Jo at: joanne.m@rogers.com.
Voting and the election
When is election day?
Monday, October 26, 2026. Advance voting dates and methods are set by the Town of Gravenhurst, check with the Town Clerk’s office.
Who can vote for Mayor?
The Mayor is elected by all eligible Gravenhurst voters, not by ward. Eligibility, the voters’ list and proof-of-address requirements are administered by the municipality.
How do I check that I’m on the voters’ list?
Through the Town of Gravenhurst. If you’ve moved, changed your name, or bought property in the municipality recently, it’s worth confirming before October.
Can seasonal residents and property owners vote?
Non-resident property owners and tenants may be eligible under provincial rules. Confirm your specific situation with the Town Clerk rather than relying on a campaign page.
Jo’s record and plan
What has Jo done on Council?
Two terms, eight years, with a record built on local infrastructure advocacy. Before Council she was President of the Muskoka Bay Property Owners Association, leading waterfront stewardship work.
Why a second ice pad, and what will it cost?
Because demand for hockey, figure skating and family recreation already exceeds one pad. The cost is not something a candidate should invent: the commitment is to bring forward a costed business case, publish it, and let residents see the numbers before Council votes.
Isn’t downtown revitalization just planters and paint?
Beautification is one of three moves, and the smallest. The other two are filling vacant units through a “Business Back to Main Street” program and capturing spending from the returning Northlander train.
Does supporting growth mean weakening lake protection?
No. Responsible waterfront stewardship means clear, consistent development standards that protect water quality and shoreline, set out up front, so applicants and neighbours both know where they stand.
What happens to the Lookout Point stairs?
Rebuilt, with a defined scope, a cost and a construction window residents can hold the Town to.
Signs, volunteering and donations
How do I get a lawn sign?
Email the campaign with your street and the team will arrange delivery, and pickup after election day.
How can I volunteer?
Email with what you can do and when, door-knocking, sign runs, phones, or an hour at an event. Nothing is too small.
Can I donate, and how?
Yes. Contact the campaign team and they’ll walk you through it. Municipal campaign contributions are governed by the Municipal Elections Act; contributions are recorded and receipted, and the campaign files a public financial statement after the election.
Will you add me to a mailing list if I email?
Only if you ask. See the privacy policy for what the campaign does and doesn’t do with your contact details.
About Jo
How did you end up in Gravenhurst?
In her own words: “In 2014, we sold our home in Markham and bought a year-round cottage on Lake Muskoka. At the time, I had a broken leg and was on crutches, which certainly made moving into cottage life a little more interesting! When I saw the steamship go by the first time, that solidified the decision, this was definitely home!”
Was the switch to Muskoka living easy?
“Those first winters were cold, but with a wood fireplace, plenty of warm socks and a sense of humour, we made it work.”
Do you live here year-round, or is this a cottage?
Year-round, full time. “It didn’t take long for us to fall completely in love with Gravenhurst and the community around us. Like many others who have made Muskoka their permanent home, we eventually replaced the cottage and built the year-round home where we live today.”
How long have you served the Town?
Jo has been a member of Council since 2018, twice elected, and before that served as President of the Muskoka Bay Property Owners Association (MBPOA), close to a decade of service to Gravenhurst in total.
Who’s at home?
Jo and her husband Geoff live in Gravenhurst, along with their Golden Retriever, Indy. A wife, mother and grandmother, Jo has dedicated herself to family and the preservation of treasured traditions, and brings the same steadfast care and purposeful approach into her community work.
What in your background prepares you to be Mayor?
A career in business, an analytical mind, and an innate desire to add value, alongside strong regional relationships built over years on Council and on the MBPOA board. That combination is aimed squarely at creating opportunities for the Town and revitalizing the heart of Gravenhurst.
Why do the lakes come up so often?
Because Jo cares deeply about the lakes and their ecosystems, and knows that protecting the lakes means protecting the Town. It is where her public service started, and it is the reason waterfront stewardship is a pillar of this campaign.
Any second thoughts about the move?
“What started as a move to Muskoka more than a decade ago became something much bigger; it became home. And it’s still one of the best decisions we ever made.”
This website
Are the images on this site real?
The photographs are real. Some images of future projects are conceptual renderings created with AI assistance, and each one is labelled “concept only” where it appears. The AI and visual disclosure page explains this in full.
Do the concept images mean my building has to change?
No. They do not imply required upgrades, mandates or official municipal designs for any private property or business. Participation in any future beautification program would be entirely voluntary.
Who runs this website?
The Jo Morphy Campaign Team. It is the official campaign website, authorized and paid for by the campaign.
Anything to do with how, when and where to vote is administered by the Town of Gravenhurst, confirm details with the Town Clerk’s office. Where an answer depends on a Council decision that hasn’t happened yet, this page says so rather than guessing.