The Municipality of Mississippi Mills will take over operation of the Mill of Kintail Museum in 2028, securing the long-term future of the nationally significant collections inside. The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority has accepted the town’s proposal to assume management of the site, ending months of uncertainty that began when provincial funding rules threatened to scatter the artifacts.
The museum houses the collections of Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, and Dr. R. Tait McKenzie, a sculptor and pioneer in physical rehabilitation. Both men grew up as childhood friends in Ramsay Township, and the mill served as McKenzie’s summer home and studio. The site, located at 2854 Ramsay Concession 8, has been a heritage destination since Major James and Irene Leys purchased the property in 1952 and created a memorial museum. The conservation authority acquired it in 1972, and the Naismith collection became permanent in 2017.
The push for a local solution came after Ontario’s Bill 108, the More Homes, More Choice Act of 2019, reclassified museum operations as non-core for conservation authorities and required separate municipal funding. The authority signaled it would divest the collections, raising the possibility that loaned items could be returned to institutions like Pennsylvania State University and McGill University. Annual operating costs were projected at about $92,070, funded through a mix of municipal levies, a provincial grant, and fees and donations.
Mayor Christa Lowry and council responded to strong community support, unanimously passing a motion in August 2025 to find a way to keep the collections in Mississippi Mills. “The feedback we heard from our community was crystal clear: Residents wanted these nationally significant collections to remain at the Mill of Kintail Museum,” Lowry said in a statement from the Municipality of Mississippi Mills. “The community’s passion and support reinforced the need to put forward a strong proposal.”
With the agreement now in place, residents can expect continued access to the museum under municipal control. The transfer in 2028 will ensure the Naismith and McKenzie artifacts remain in the community where their stories began.
