Winter farmland near White Lake.
The Globe and Mail published its third annual Canada’s Most Livable Cities report recently and Mississippi Mills topped the list for the Robust Economy segment and was ranked 85th overall among 454 communities across the country from large urban centres to small towns. It ranked 31st out of 100 for small communities. Mississippi Mills Mayor Christa Lowry said the recognition came as a complete surprise but made sense the more she thought about it.
She wasn’t worried that the recognition would spur an unprecedented growth spurt in population but hoped it might draw more of the same type of resident that make the community a perfect place to call home.
The report pointed to the Mills’ median household income of $191K, a much lower crime rate than the national average, the 96% of residents with a regular healthcare provider, its top level safety score, and an 80% mark for the sense of belonging to a local community as strong factors in determining the ranking.
The accompanying story on the report also pointed to the success of the municipality’s micro-grant program as having a positive effect, something Lowry very much agrees with.
Mississippi Mills rose 224 spots since the previous report.
Lowry said there were no plans to add the phrase One of Canada’s Most Livable Cities to the town’s entrance road signs. At least not yet.
Story by Brian Turner
