Photo: Mississippi Mills
On July 24th, the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) announced they had accepted a proposal from the Municipality of Mississippi Mills to assume operations of the museum at the Mill of Kintail which houses the nationally significant collections of James Naismith and R. Tait McKenzie. The transfer of the collections and museum operations is planned for 2028.
Mayor Christa Lowry says residents made it clear they wanted the historic collections to stay where the two Ramsay Township boys once lived, played and dreamed before going on to leave their mark on the world.
The museum’s future was thrown into question after provincial funding changes left MVCA unable to commit to long-term operations.
The conservation authority launched a search for a new operator in 2025, with the municipality’s proposal ultimately being selected. Lowry noted her community’s proposal wasn’t the only one the MVCA received and she was grateful to them for creating a process that allowed for and encouraged open discussion and collaboration.
MVCA says the museum, archive and conservation area will continue to operate under the partnership, while the Municipality plans to work with community partners and volunteers beginning in 2027 to help shape the museum’s future and preserve the Brothers of the Wind collections for generations to come. Lowry says she’s looking forward to the next steps, which involve negotiating a lease with the MVCA.
She urges everyone to stay connected to help create the vision.
Over more than five decades, the MVCA expanded and cared for the R. Tait McKenzie collection before acquiring the James Naismith collection in 2017. Along with hosting countless exhibitions and events, MVCA preserved the historic mill building and its collections.
After purchasing the neighbouring Monette property in 1986, the authority created a climate-controlled archive in the Gate House. Both the museum and archive will continue operating under the new partnership.
Story by Brian Turner
