Dawn Gallagher Murphy was born in Hamilton,the daughter of an Irish immigrant father who put himself through school to become an Anglican Minister. The family moved to Georgetown,ON where they lived until Dawn was 11 years old,then returning to Hamilton where she finished Secondary School.
Education and career
Dawn Gallagher Murphy attended the University of Western Ontario,obtaining a Bachelor of Arts with a degree in Political Science with a minor in French. After two summers of French immersion school in Quebec,she went to France to study at Sorbonne University where she obtained a Certification in French language. She also attended the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris where she received a Certificate of Business.[3]
Upon her return to Canada,Gallagher Murphy worked as a bilingual customer service and sales agent at Amsco,a manufacturer of hospital equipment. Dawn then moved to the secure payment industry as a bilingual sales manager specializing in the retail banking industry. She went on to become director of sales;responsible for relationship management with Canada’s top banking institutions managing new card portfolio launches and the introduction of digital payments in Quebec,Ontario and the U.S. After ten years,she started a consultancy firm and was on the forefront of migrating the payment technology onto a digital platform including Microchip Technology,Dual Interface (contactless),Mobile and Online Payments.[4]
Political career
Dawn Gallagher Murphy moved into politics in 2018,working with Deputy Premier and Minister of Health,Christine Elliott through the pandemic,supporting people in communities across Ontario,with specific attention to Newmarket—Aurora.[5]
After four years,Elliott retired and Dawn became the Candidate of Record for Newmarket—Aurora. On June 2,2022 Gallagher Murphy was elected as MPP for Newmarket—Aurora with 18,671 votes (44.97%).
Upon being elected,Dawn became Parliamentary Assistant to Syliva Jones,the Minister of Health. She held numerous round table discussions with primary care providers across the province to discuss challenges facing the sector.[6]
From September 2022 to December 2023,Gallagher Murphy was a member of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs which conducted the study for the restoration and rehabilitation of the Legislative precinct (Queen’s Park.).
MPP Gallagher Murphy put forward a Private Members Bill to proclaim the month of June as Senior’s Month. It has passed second reading and is now going to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.[7][needs update]
On April 10,2024,Dawn Gallagher Murphy tabled a Private Members Motion focused on ensuring the transparent and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in government,while considering cybersecurity threats. This motion will build upon the Ontario Trustworthy AI Framework. It received unanimous support from all parties.[8][neutrality is disputed]
On July 3,2024,after six years of planning and hard work,Gallagher Murphy announced the new York Region Mental Health Community Care Hub would be located in Newmarket. This facility will make it faster and easier for people in York Region to connect to high-quality,comprehensive mental health and addictions services close to home.[9]
On December 19,2024,Bill 70,the Seniors Month Act,2024,received Royal Assent,officially proclaiming the month of June as Seniors Month in Ontario. This legislation is a meaningful step in recognizing the invaluable contributions seniors have made—and continue to make—to our communities across the province. Seniors Month will serve as an annual opportunity to celebrate older adults and promote initiatives that support healthy aging and well-being.[10]
In February 2025,Dawn Gallagher Murphy was re-elected as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Newmarket—Aurora with 20,260 votes,earning 47.73% of the vote. Her re-election reflects the continued trust and confidence the people of Newmarket—Aurora have placed in her leadership and dedication to serving the community at Queen’s Park.[11]
Party leaders listed first (in bold italics). Government members in bold denotes cabinet. † Party does not have official party status in the Legislature
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