Council Highlights – August 12, 2025

Council reconvened last night after summer recess. A motion was put forward related to the Mississippi Mills Conservation Authority’s (MVCA) plans to divest the Dr. James Naismith and Dr. R. Tait McKenzie collections at the Mill of Kintail Museum. At a July 16, 2025 meeting of the MVCA Board, a draft strategy for the Mill of Kintail was tabled with the proposal to divest the collections and convert the museum into a water resource management education centre. In response, Council passed a three-part motion to:

• Request an opportunity for Mayor Lowry to make a delegation to the next available MVCA Board meeting;
• Authorize the Mayor to have conversations with potential funding partners, conservation-based organizations, historical groups, municipalities, the Province of Ontario, federal entities and others to advocate for the proper care and preservation of the collections; and
• Direct staff to request plans, studies and documents related to the development of the Mill of Kintail strategy, particularly those involving the 2021 resolutions of the MVCA Board on this subject.

This matter was first discussed in 2019 after Bill 108 (More Homes, More Choice Act) was passed which made changes to the mandate of conservation authorities. Museum operations and historical collections are not considered core (Category 1 services) under this mandate. Non-core services classified as Category 2 or 3 under the Conservation Authorities Act and are managed by municipal agreements. Since January 1, 2024, the Mill of Kintail Museum and other non-core services have been managed by an agreement between the MVCA and its 11 member municipalities, where museum operations are funded by direct contributions from member municipalities. For more information, please see the August 13, 2025 Statement from the Office of the Mayor. 

Two public meetings were held related to zoning by-law amendments for 1214 Ramsay Concession 12 and municipal housekeeping updates. Council will consider these items in a future meeting.

Committee of the Whole also heard the following items, which will be brought forward for approval at a future Council meeting:

• An information update on the Mississippi Mills Childcare Expansion Project.
• The appointment of Councillor Jane Torrance to the Carleton Place & District Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as Council representative.
• A recommendation report for zoning changes to municipal lands for housing related to the Housing Accelerator Fund initiative.
• The updated Municipal Facility and Asset Naming Policy.
• Changes to the Procedural By-law related to Council and Committee of the Whole meetings and Strong Mayor Powers legislation.
• Quarterly reports for Corporate Services, Mississippi Mills Childcare Services and the Clerks Department.

 Upcoming Meetings:

• Hybrid Council Meeting – Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to follow Council.
• Hybrid Council Meeting – Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to follow Council.

For more information:

Ashley Kulp
Communications Coordinator
613-256-2064
akulp@mississippimills.ca