Pamela Jeffery

Municipal Candidate, Pamela Jeffery

2026 Municipal Election Candidate, Township of Muskoka Lakes – Ward C

My 5 key priorities are:

More About Me:

As a 5th generation Minett, I feel a deep connection to Muskoka.  My great-great grandparents Charles and Fanny Minett built Clevelands House. 

I am the only candidate who brings a 40+ year track record of working inside government at the highest levels to the Council table.   I enjoyed a successful career in public service, community building and advocacy after graduating with my HBA and MBA from the Ivey Business School. 

My career began at Queen’s Park in the Industry Minister’s Office, followed by 20 years in government relations helping executives navigate Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill. I served as Ontario Communications Advisor to Prime Minister Martin (2004 Election) and helped the late Ken Dryden transition to politics! I went on to create the Women’s Executive Network, a community of 22,000 women and serve as CEO.  I am a community builder, serving on 13 volunteer boards including CAMH and Trent University.

A Closer Look:

1. Growing up with such deep family roots in Muskoka, what experiences here have had the greatest influence on the person you are today?  Early in my career, I was interested in going to Queen’s Park and working for a Cabinet Minister Premier David Peterson formed government in 1985 with the support of the NDP.  In the spring of 1985, I sat on my Grandma and Grandpa Minett’s dock looking at the water for a week trying to decide what to do.  I decided to go for it!  I quit my job and called the Premier’s Office (my mother Nancy Minett had the most profound influence on my career because she was the one who encouraged me to go to Business School and she told me to call the Premier’s Office).  I didn’t want to call the Premier’s Office but she explained that since I had been a campaign volunteer for David, it might help me get an interview.  So, I called and I was amazed they called me back to set up an interview.  I worked for the Industry Minister for two years, then went back 4 days after the 1987 Election to begin my MBA at Western University.  I then pursued a career in business.  Sadly, my mom passed away from cancer at 47 three weeks before I graduated from the MBA program.      

2. After spending decades working with governments, executives and community organizations, what have you learned about bringing people with different perspectives together to get things done?  I have learned the value of listening, empathy, and considering what all the stakeholders have to say when identifying and evaluating options.  Once the option is chosen, it is being clear on timelines, budget, milestones and key performance indicators (KPIs) and who is best to lead.  Next is providing the project lead with the resources to get the job done and removing any barriers that stand in their way.   Throughout, it is communicate, communicate, communicate so everyone knows what is going on and establishing a mechanism for feedback!    Last, always celebrate with everyone who took part.  Life is too short not to celebrate accomplishments.  

3. Is there a particular experience from your career or community involvement that changed the way you think about leadership? Leadership comes in many forms and I believe great leaders are gracious leaders.  The hockey legend and Canadian icon Ken Dryden comes to mind as one of those gracious leaders.  In 2004, I had the privilege of helping Ken Dryden transition to politics.  He was brand new to politics and the Prime Minister’s Office wanted to make sure it was a smooth process.  I was a little nervous but he put me at ease with his kindness.  I accompanied him  to interview after interview where he was speaking from the heart and giving long, long answers.   He did not, and would not, deliver sound bites!  He liked history, thoughtful commentary and felt that context was very important.   A few years ago, the journalist Steve Paikin wrote: When Ken turned 75, I sent him a happy birthday email and congratulated him on having such a meaningful impact on so many different aspects of our country’s life. He wrote a beautiful reply: “Thanks, Steve. It’s very nice of you to notice. It kind of snuck up on me a bit. I think of birthday milestones as those that end in zero, but I guess this one qualifies. We all have in mind that what we do next we want to be even more meaningful and useful. So here’s to you, too. And thanks, again.”   Steve wrote, [H]ow can you not adore a guy that lovely?

Ken Dryden changed the way I thought about leadership because he injected a graciousness into politics and public debate that helped bring Canadians together.    

4. What have you learned from the people of Muskoka—whether neighbours, community members or people you’ve worked alongside—that you would carry with you to the Council table?  I would like to answer this question in a slightly different way by focusing on my Muskoka ancestor Fanny White who I never met.  She and my great-great grandfather founded Clevelands House after leaving England in the mid – 1860s for a new life.  He died in his early 50s after falling off the ladder while building the third storey of the hotel (he had been a carpenter), leaving her a widow with four boys.  “Mrs. Minett” took over the growing business, running the hotel for about a decade until her second son Seymour Arthur and his wife Sarah Alice took over operations.  I learned about the importance of resiliency and hard work from her and all the other early Muskoka settlers like her.   Farming on granite was impossible so they figured out a new plan. There’s always an answer.      

5. Away from your professional experience and campaign priorities, what would you like Ward C residents to know about you personally and the kind of representative you would hope to be?  Well, I have a wonderful husband who always supports me in whatever adventure comes our way!  We have a blended family of 5 children and 9 grandchildren.  In my spare time, I love reading, travel, cooking, walking, swimming, yoga, cardio and knitting!  I love country music (even have Johnny Cash’s autograph) and live theatre.  Drawing on Ken’s words, I hope to be the kind of representative that makes a meaningful and useful contribution towards making Muskoka a beautiful place for generations to come.   So, here’s to you, Ward C residents.  We’re in this together.

MSM Connect Municipal Election Candidate Spotlight Interview:

In this MSM Connect Spotlight Interview, Cheryl Patterson speaks with Muskoka Lakes Ward C municipal election candidate Pamela Jeffery about her decision to run for Council and her priorities for the community. The conversation explores development pressures, protecting Muskoka’s natural environment, climate change, the local economy, housing, responsible growth, and what residents can expect from her as a representative if elected.

To connect with Pamela Jeffery or learn more about her campaign, visit her website at: pamjeffery-muskoka.ca