Huntsville stands at an important moment in its history. Our community continues to grow, bringing new opportunities as well as new challenges. Residents are looking for leadership that is experienced, practical, and focused on the everyday issues that matter most to families, seniors, businesses, and workers across our town. After 12 years serving on Council, I am ready to step forward and lead Huntsville as Mayor.
My roots in this community run deep. I was born and raised in Huntsville, raised my family here, and spent my career serving the people of Muskoka. For 20 years, I volunteered as a firefighter in Huntsville, and I later completed a 35-year career as a paramedic and Commander. Those experiences taught me the importance of teamwork, accountability, and staying calm under pressure. Most importantly, they reinforced the value of serving others and always putting people first.
Throughout my time on Council—first representing Brunel Ward and more recently serving as District Councillor and Deputy Mayor—I have worked hard to listen to residents and bring forward practical solutions. I believe local government works best when it stays connected to the community and focused on delivering results.
That is why my approach as Mayor will focus on getting back to basics.
Residents deserve a Town Hall that is open, transparent, and accessible. Too often, people feel disconnected from local government or uncertain about how decisions are made. I want to change that by improving communication between Council and the public, increasing opportunities for community engagement, and ensuring residents have a stronger voice in shaping Huntsville’s future. An open-door approach to leadership will always be a priority for me.
Transparency must also be strengthened. I believe residents deserve a clear understanding of how their tax dollars are being spent and how decisions are being made. That is why I will support a full financial and governance review of the Town of Huntsville and ensure the findings are communicated in a way that is easy for residents to understand. Accountability builds trust, and trust is essential for strong local government.
Healthcare continues to be one of the most urgent issues facing our region. Access to family doctors and frontline healthcare services affects every resident, especially seniors and young families. Huntsville has already taken important steps through doctor recruitment initiatives, and I will work with Council to ensure those efforts continue beyond 2027.
Affordable housing is another challenge that requires immediate attention. Young families, workers, and seniors are increasingly finding it difficult to afford housing in our community. Council has already made progress by partnering with organizations such as Muskoka Community Land Trust and Brunel Road Management to support new affordable housing projects, but there is still much more work to do. One way we can assist is by reducing development charges to zero for purpose-built rental housing projects to help increase supply and encourage investment in the housing our community needs most.
At the same time, growth must be managed responsibly. Huntsville’s lakes, rivers, forests, and green spaces define who we are as a community. Protecting the natural environment while supporting sustainable development must remain a priority as we move forward.
Affordability extends beyond housing alone. Families are struggling with rising grocery costs, taxes, and everyday expenses. Supporting local food banks, building stronger partnerships with local farmers and growers, and looking for ways to better align property tax increases with the cost of living are all practical steps that can help ease the burden on residents.
Huntsville has always been a strong and resilient community. What makes this town special is not only its natural beauty, but the people who call it home. As we continue to grow, we must protect the small-town character, community spirit, and quality of life that residents value so deeply.
I believe Huntsville’s best days are still ahead. With experienced leadership, responsible growth, and a renewed focus on transparency, affordability, and community engagement, we can build a future that works for everyone.
I am ready to lead, and I am ready to serve Huntsville as your Mayor.
Armour said he’ll be filing his nomination papers with the municipality at 11 a.m on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
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Dan Armour. Best of luck.
I think the statements in your comment will be echoed, to some degree, by all those other candidates. A move to ‘transparency’. For the tax payer to understand and approve(?) of where the money goes. Attention to healthcare. The importance of housing and what to do about it. How to manage growth. And wondering how to help people struggling with everyday expenses. However. I think these should have been priorities of the last two or three or four mayors.
I find that all these are regional, district, provincial, federal and pretty much international problems. Find a solution and you’ll be famous. Kinda’ like Emilio Estevez said in ‘Young Guns’. Yoo hoo! “I’ll make you famous.”
It has been mentioned before that our town and district is ‘strong and resilient’. I agree. But it has been from necessity. We’ve had to be.
But if you are suggesting there will be fewer “unanimous resolutions’ from council under your leadership, then I’m all for it. With the exception of a couple of councilors, and from time to time, most just seem to go with the flow. We need some people with ideas that aren’t that average.
Man! We have had some real dumb decisions that seem to have been ‘unanimous’. I feel like Charlie Brown in ‘Peanuts’. “Augg!!! I can’t stand it.”
Hi Paul thanks for the question, easy answer is no. I own my home in Brunel ward and have since 1985. My family is spread out all over Ontario and know one is in real state
Dan
I’ve known Dan Armour since he was a young boy living in Hillside, and what you see publicly is exactly who he is privately. He has always been there when people need him, and I’ve always respected the calm, steady, and genuinely caring way he treats others. He has conducted himself well in politics, and whenever I have reached out for guidance, he has been there.
One of the things I admire most about Dan is how deeply he loves his family. The respect he has for his wife, the pride he has in his children, and the way he shows up for this community all come from the same place. He genuinely cares about people and about doing the right thing.
That’s why I’ll proudly support Dan for Mayor of Huntsville. Not solely because of politics, but because of the kind of person I know him to be. In local leadership, character matters, and Dan has earned my respect for a very long time.
Mr Armour: This is in no way personal as I am striving to have all candidates answer these questions Do you or you immediate family have any vested interest in real estate other that your primary residence. Specifically, do you own real estate in the district other that your family home (e.g. rental property or STRs)? Do you or anyone in your immediate family derive income from the real estate business? As noted previously, these situations would necessitate you recuse yourself from much of the Town’s planning and development issues.
Thank you in advance
No question, Dan is the best qualified person to take over the job. Thanks for this Dan.
Congratulations Dan, your wealth of knowledge and experience in so many of our key areas of the community should give you a huge vote of confidence with the voters of Huntsville.