Simcoe—Grey

Simcoe—Grey covers a wide band of territory across the western half of Simcoe County and into southern Grey County, linking the ski-resort community of Collingwood and the Blue Mountains escarpment to the fast-growing towns of Alliston, Tottenham, and Beeton in the Town of New Tecumseth. The riding also takes in Wasaga Beach—home to the world's longest freshwater beach at fourteen kilometres—along with the townships of Clearview, Springwater, Essa, and Adjala-Tosorontio.

Candidates

Terry Dowdall (Conservative) — A longtime resident of the riding who moved to the area roughly three decades earlier to purchase the Baxter Corner Store, which he continued to own and operate. Dowdall served eighteen years on the Township of Essa council, rising from councillor to deputy mayor and then mayor, and held positions as Simcoe County deputy warden and acting warden. He won the Conservative nomination in 2018 after incumbent Kellie Leitch chose not to seek re-election.

Lorne Kenney (Liberal) — A Collingwood business owner who spent much of his earlier career in public service with Labour Canada and as a senior official with the Ontario Premier's Council. Kenney also taught economics and Canadian studies at Seneca College before settling in the riding, and had previously stood as a provincial Liberal candidate in the area.

Sherri Jackson (Green Party) — A Creemore-area resident and first-time candidate who won the local Green nomination in a three-way contest. Jackson had operated a Montessori school and a publishing company before entering the race.

Ilona Matthews (NDP) — A small business owner who had lived in Simcoe—Grey for twenty-five years, operating a tutoring service. Matthews had served as president of the local NDP riding association since 2012 before stepping forward as the party's candidate.

Richard Sommer (People's Party) and Tony D'Angelo (Veterans Coalition Party) also contested the riding.

About the Riding

The riding's economic engine runs on four cylinders: tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and a surging commuter economy fed by the Greater Toronto Area's northward expansion. Honda of Canada's manufacturing plant in Alliston—producing vehicles since 1986—remains one of the region's cornerstone employers, supporting thousands of jobs directly and through its supply chain. The Blue Mountains and Collingwood form a four-season recreation destination centred on skiing, mountain biking, and waterfront activities, while Wasaga Beach draws hundreds of thousands of summer visitors. Between these population centres, the townships support crop production, livestock operations, and a traditional agricultural economy.

By 2019, the riding was experiencing intense growth pressure as families and retirees moved north from the GTA, attracted by comparatively lower housing costs and the quality of life along Georgian Bay. This influx was straining local health care services—residents faced shortages of family physicians—and putting pressure on roads, water systems, and schools. The contest marked a transition for the riding, as Dowdall sought to succeed Leitch in what had been a Conservative stronghold since the riding's creation.