Gravenhurst to sever IT service from the District

The town says they have outgrown the service provided by the District of Muskoka

The Town of Gravenhurst received information about severing the 20-year IT service delivery ties with the District of Muskoka, in the September 16, 2025, Council meeting.

The Town currently shares IT service delivery with the District, as does the Town of Bracebridge, unlike other area municipalities no longer in the arrangement. However, according to staff, “we have outgrown services with the Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] with the District of Muskoka.”

In 2024 Gravenhurst and Bracebridge released a joint Request for Proposal (RFP) for a consulting firm to conduct an IT Service Delivery Review and provide recommendations for future processes, improvements, and modern service delivery.

The RFP was awarded to Perry Group Consulting Limited, a firm specializing in technology and digital strategies for municipalities.

Staff reported that a review was since conducted by the group to analyze current needs and to provide recommendations for growth of the Town’s IT and modernization program.

The results confirmed “the need for a focused investment in digital transformation to enhance online services, streamline citizen interactions, and expand self-service capabilities which are the critical next steps in advancing digital readiness.”

They explained that the transition would require a new secure and responsive service model because current one “is not meeting the needs of the lower-tiers.”

President of the consulting firm, Ben Parry, said that the Town is using the District as a Market Service Provider (MSP), however, it’s “not set up to be an MSP in that regard.”

According to the staff report, “The Towns have a strong foundation for future modernization efforts including a commitment to digital transformation, recognition of IT evolution, progress in digitization and a compliment of staff dedicated to transformation to enhance online services.”

A new model would include modern cloud-first infrastructure, cybersecurity, and reliable, proactive, and independent service delivery, and is estimated to take approximately 24 months for implementation, plus more time for monitoring and planning afterwards.

Staff indicated that the current model with the District costs $798,247.00, and the new MSP option would be $878,031.00, plus one-time costs during the transition period.

“Costing for this work will be obtained and considered in the future capital budget submissions,” adds the report.

Mayor, Heidi Lorenz, emphasized that the transition is not about the District, “they have been great,” but rather about future needs of the Town.

Councillor, Peter Johnston, concurred, saying “we’re moving into an extremely different world.” He added, “The District understands…we’re at a period of evolution.”

He said he’s seen significant changes with IT in the 2 years since he’s been on Council. He added, “I think artificial intelligence is changing the world dramatically. New IT servicing will have to incorporate that.”

Council approved the IT Service Review and Strategy ‘in principle’ and will consider it for implementation with an MSP IT model in collaboration with Bracebridge moving forward.

Next steps involve the Town exploring alternative models and costing, in addition to a transition agreement with the District.