A celebration of Almonte kicks off Mississippi Mills bicentennial year
A celebration 200 years in the making kicked off in Almonte, Ont. on Saturday with the first big event of the bicentennial year in Mississippi Mills.
Community activities, performances, displays, and contests were held across Almonte to celebrate the town's past and present.
"Our goal is to celebrate every corner of the municipality," Mississippi Mills Mayor Christa Lowry said.
"Certainly, there's a real appreciation of the heritage and history of the area that seems a lot of the residents hold dearly."
Comparative photos showcasing historic and present locations in Almonte were on display at the local library. Many residents also came out to design "My Mississippi Mills" banners that will hang in the library for the next year.
"Having people come together, celebrating the community, and being with their neighbours which many people have missed for quite a while," the library's CEO Christine Row said.
Puppet performances of Almonte's two most famous residents could be found at the library and Heritage Court - Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, and R. Tait Mckenzie, a physician, educator, artist, athlete, and soldier.
"We have a lot of stories to tell," Lowry said. "And whether it's stories like Dr. James Naismith with the invention of basketball; whether it's R. Tait Mackenzie who was one of his good friends."
Live musical performances were also on throughout the day at the legion and local businesses like Levi's Home Hardware.
"It is a business, but it's also more than that to us. It's part of our soul to be able to be part of the community," said Stephane Bourre, store manager at Levi's.
The hardware store has been a staple in Almonte for the last 40 years and was once owned by former mayor and community builder John Levi. It regularly hosts Remembrance Day displays inside the store as well.
Along with its famous former residents and affinity for puppets, Almonte was born out of the mill in industry. Many former mills can still be seen in town, now converted into modern day amenities.
"When you start understanding what [Almonte] is from and how it's based around hard-working Canadians that came out here because the land was affordable; to see that's where it grew from is nice," said Bourre.
The Celebrate Almonte event is one of dozens of events celebrating Mississippi Mills bicentennial year. A list of the year's upcoming events can be found here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.