Experienced leadership. Deep local roots. A positive vision for Oro‑Medonte.
Oro‑Medonte is a remarkable community, shaped by generations of families, farms, businesses, and neighbours who care deeply about this place. As we grow and change, we have an opportunity to protect what makes Oro‑Medonte special while thoughtfully planning for what comes next. I am running for Mayor to bring people together, listen to different perspectives, and help build practical solutions for our future.
My connection to Oro began at birth.
I was born in Oro, where my family roots run generations deep. My mother was born and raised here, and my grandparents, Effie and Clifford Besse, farmed on Line 3 North. Although my family moved to Barrie when I was little, Oro has always been part of my family’s story. My parents, Edna and Bob Cameron, were married at Guthrie United Church and held their reception, and later an anniversary party, at the hall. My family, including my dad, is buried at Guthrie Cemetery.
I grew up playing hockey at the Oro arena until I was no longer able to play, and my dad, Bob Cameron, coached minor hockey in Oro throughout my childhood. Those experiences, along with my family’s history here, helped shape my deep connection to this community. Oro is my heart and home.
Today, my husband and I call Oro‑Medonte home. Bringing our own farm back to life has become a family project, bringing our whole family, including our adult children, together to do it. Along the way, we’re experiencing firsthand both the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture in our township.
In 2022, my daughter Taye and I also started Livin’ Lake Simcoe, a small business inspired by the place we love. Building a business here has given me another perspective on what it takes for entrepreneurs and local businesses to grow and thrive.
Professionally, I have spent more than thirty years in leadership, administration and governance within the university sector. My work has involved complex budgets, governance, negotiations, risk assessment, conflict resolution, strategic planning and difficult decisions involving many different perspectives.
Now I want to bring that experience home.
I am running for Mayor because I believe Oro‑Medonte’s future deserves thoughtful leadership: leadership that listens before deciding, welcomes respectful disagreement and brings people together to find solutions.
This campaign isn’t about twenty disconnected promises. It’s about how I believe municipal leadership should work: listen carefully, protect what matters, and build thoughtfully for the future. At the centre of that approach is servant leadership.
To me, being Mayor isn’t about having the loudest voice in the room. It is about creating a table where people with different experiences and opinions feel safe bringing their ideas forward. Leadership isn’t about being the most powerful person at the table; it’s about making sure the right people are at the table, that they can speak honestly, and that we can still work together when we disagree. Healthy communities can disagree, and good leaders make room for those disagreements, ask difficult questions, encourage respectful debate, and then help people move toward solutions.
That is the kind of Mayor I want to be.
Make Township government easier to understand and easier to engage with. Residents deserve clear information about how decisions are made and how their tax dollars are being spent. I want to strengthen communication between Council, Township staff and residents through plain-language information, meaningful public engagement, and opportunities for residents from every part of Oro‑Medonte to be heard. Good governance starts with listening.
Our farms, forests, waterfront, rural roads, small communities and agricultural heritage aren’t simply part of Oro‑Medonte’s history; they are part of our future. As our region grows, we need thoughtful planning that protects agricultural land, respects our environment, and preserves the character of our communities. Agriculture is more than beautiful scenery. It is a business, a livelihood, and a vital part of Oro‑Medonte’s identity.
Oro‑Medonte needs to be proactive about annexation and boundary discussions. Our location between growing neighbouring municipalities creates both opportunities and pressures. We shouldn’t approach these discussions from a place of fear or confrontation; we should approach them from a position of preparation. That means a clear, evidence-based strategy that identifies what we need to protect, what opportunities may exist, and what outcomes are in the long-term interests of our residents.
Strong communities depend on the basics working well: roads, drainage, bridges, snow removal, fire and emergency services, recreation, and rural connectivity. These may not always be the most exciting parts of municipal government, but they affect residents every single day. I believe in long-term infrastructure planning that identifies priorities, manages risk, and prepares for future growth. Planning ahead is almost always less expensive than reacting later.
Let’s make Oro‑Medonte a place where good businesses can start, stay, and grow. As a small-business owner, I know what it feels like to navigate regulations, permits, costs and uncertainty while trying to build something. Businesses need reasonable rules, residents need appropriate protections, and those goals don’t have to be in conflict. Economic development isn’t only about attracting the next big investment; it’s also about helping the people who have already invested here succeed.
Municipal issues can be complicated. Development, short-term rentals, agriculture, taxes, growth, infrastructure, boundaries: reasonable people will sometimes see these issues differently. I don’t believe leadership means avoiding those disagreements. I believe it means creating a safe and respectful place to have them. Listen first, ask good questions, respect different perspectives, use evidence, find common ground where we can, and then make decisions and explain them. That’s servant leadership.
I have spent more than thirty years leading, governing, negotiating and solving difficult problems. My education has strengthened that practical experience.
Professionally, I have held senior leadership roles in the university sector, including responsibility for sexual violence response, student community relations, employee representation, operations and administration. I have worked with organizations representing more than 2,500 employees, advised senior executives, managed budgets and teams, participated in complex governance, negotiated agreements, resolved disputes, assessed risk and helped organizations navigate difficult change.
But a résumé alone doesn’t make someone a good Mayor. Leadership is ultimately about people. It’s about listening, judgment, integrity, relationships and having the courage to make difficult decisions while remaining open to other perspectives. That’s what I will bring to Township Hall.
Joanie is hosting a series of drop-in meet & greets across the township — no agenda, no speeches. Just a chance to tell her what matters to you about Oro‑Medonte before Election Day.
Thank you to everyone who came out to the first Conversations with Joanie at HQ Golf & Social on Monday, September 28 — great turnout and even better conversations.
Before asking residents for their vote, I want to earn their trust. That’s why I’m spending this campaign listening. I want to meet residents at their doors, farms, businesses, community events and coffee shops across all five wards.
Tell me what’s working. Tell me what isn’t. Tell me what you want protected. And tell me what you hope Oro‑Medonte can become. We won’t always agree, and that’s okay. A healthy community makes room for different perspectives.
What is the one thing you want the next Mayor of Oro‑Medonte to understand?
This campaign belongs to the people who believe Oro‑Medonte can protect its roots while confidently planning for its future. You can help by volunteering, displaying a lawn sign, hosting a neighbourhood conversation, contributing to the campaign, or simply introducing yourself and telling me what’s important to you.
Oro‑Medonte’s 2026 election is conducted entirely online and by phone, from Wednesday, October 14 at 10 a.m. until Election Day, October 26 at 8 p.m. To receive your Voter Information Letter and cast a ballot, you need to be on the voters’ list beforehand — it only takes a minute to check.
Help us knock on doors, make calls, attend events, or bring neighbours together for a conversation.
Join the TeamShow your support for positive, experienced and community-focused leadership.
Request a SignEvery contribution helps us reach residents across Oro‑Medonte. E‑transfer to hello@joanieformayor.ca — include your name and mailing address.