Alcock won’t completely discard running again for mayor, but says it’s “highly unlikely”

With 2026 being a municipal election year, Doppler sat down with Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock to discuss her term as mayor so far, highlights and lowlights, and whether she plans to run again.

The Mayor said she was in a different place when she stated publicly in December that she would not be running again. She said she was exhausted. She had been a caregiver to her partner, who was very ill and died in July. She was sad, stressed, and there was a lot to deal with. “Should I have said anything in December under incredible stress? Probably not,” she said of announcing that she would not be seeking public office again.

Alcock said she is much more comfortable in the role of mayor now than she was in her first year. She also said there are interesting developments at the District level, with the province recently announcing the possible appointment of the District of Muskoka Chair—a decision she said could have huge implications for Muskoka and Huntsville and undermine democratic processes and accountability at the local level. As for restructuring District of Muskoka Council, examining its size and its regional role, she said that is a conversation she would like to be part of and one of the reasons she is reconsidering her decision not to run. She said she may consider running as a District councillor, a role she is familiar with, having already served two terms in that position before becoming Mayor of Huntsville. As for running for mayor once more, she said it’s not entirely off the table, but it is highly unlikely.

Alcock said being mayor is not easy, but you grow into the position, you learn to delegate, and you become more effective. We asked her to tell us about her term as mayor, and here is what she had to say:

Highlights

• As Mayor of the Town of Huntsville, Alcock said she is proud of the council she’s led. Councillors have worked well together, and discussions have been respectful. Council has also worked well with staff and other community stakeholders, creating an atmosphere of collaboration and respect to make the municipality a better place for everyone.
• Alcock also said that despite much controversy, she is glad that council adopted the municipal logo and wayfinding signage. The Huntsville logo is being used by businesses and community groups to great effect, and the wayfinding signs for things like parking are effective as well.
• The Town of Huntsville’s Housing Action Plan is another achievement Alcock is proud of. She said it touches on every department, is innovative, and empowers community members to create more housing, such as secondary units, by providing pre-approved plans.
• The Mayor also said she is proud of her council’s unanimous position on protecting the watershed. She is also glad council agreed to hire a Climate Change Project Co-ordinator, a position shared with the Township of Lake of Bays.
• She is also incredibly proud of the Muskoka Community Land Trust collaborative housing project to be developed on the north side of Florence Street, which will create a mix of 179 affordable housing units. (More to come on this).u
• She also said she’s proud of the physician recruitment initiative adopted by council and led by Councillors Scott Morrison and Bob Stone, despite criticism from some circles. She said it’s an effective program that is creating results.

Lowlights or lessons learned

Communication, communication, communication. Alcock said that communicating properly and seeking community input is key. She used the Rainbow crosswalk as an example and believes the project could have been communicated better. She said she’s also learned that no matter how many people you’ve spoken to about an issue, never make assumptions. She cited the Gandhi Statue as an example. “I did not anticipate some of the comments. I was saddened by some of the comments. I wasn’t hurt by those who said ‘it’s just not us’ or ‘this is not whatever…’ but maybe when you’re embarking on something like that we would’ve approached the whole offer very differently, made that offer very public,” she said, adding that having a policy in place for receiving such gifts would have made the process much easier as well. “We assumed one policy would work for another – not even close. So you learn always.”

Hope for the future

• To see the new Fairvern Long-Term Care Home up and running. It’s an innovative project that Huntsville District council representatives have been championing for a long time and will serve the whole region.
• She said she looks forward to seeing planning for the two hospital sites advance.
• Alcock also said she is very pleased with the Annex Health Clinic and would like to see it expanded and turned into a community health hub.
• Climate impact mitigation strategies: wants to see Huntsville represented in those conversations at the District, particularly through the staff position the Town shares with Lake of Bays.

The next municipal election will be held this fall on Monday, October 26, 2026. 

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