Mississippi Mills is truly an inspiring place to live. There are community champions in our midst taking on exciting projects with a commitment to make Mississippi Mills even more magical. I would like to share a bit of background and an update on what has transpired over the last 16 months.
How it Came to Be
Building On Common Ground (BOCG) is an initiative that sprang from a Learning Again in Almonte community symposium in November 2024. The vision and key goal is the following: “BOCG works in collaboration with all Mississippi Mills stakeholders to create projects and initiatives that enhance the growth of Mississippi Mills with intention and integrity.”
Moving Forward
Throughout 2025 we held collaborative meetings with municipal representatives and staff to help identify and update strategic vision activities for our community. We also held regular meetings with BOCG committee members and stakeholders to generate and identify initiatives that would enrich our community.
We partnered with Learning Again in Almonte, who offer learning opportunities that align with the identified initiatives so that our community champions could be more informed and empowered. This inviting and collaborative approach inspired people to share their ideas and identify a framework for action.
Current Projects
Secondary Dwelling Units (SDU). A team of local citizens works with Mississippi Mills to fully understand the SDU guidelines, researching other jurisdictions and using current local case studies to support SDUs, providing more accessible housing options to our community. This initiative has been taken on in very practical, supportive ways by the Municipality. The next step to consider is an education piece to be initiated by Learning Again in Almonte.
Mississippi Mills Welcome Team. A volunteer outreach-based project to foster a sense of belonging and community for newcomers by providing them with essential resources, information, and connections to local businesses, services and people, helping them integrate smoothly into the community. The goals of this initiative are to overcome the anxiety of starting in a new place and to establish a positive connection from the outset. In addition, newcomers are encouraged to share their ideas and/or expertise to the Mississippi Mills community.
Early Stage Projects
Rebound Closure in Mississippi Mills — What’s Next? A small committee has formed to take an in-depth look at what type of reuse model could evolve now that the Rebound is closed. We are collaborating with the municipality, exploring other reuse centers around the county (and beyond), and engaging our community by writing inspiring and informative articles that explore the components of the reuse model.
One Mississippi River Restoration Project. A small committee of Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists, Mississippi Mills Youth Centre members, Indigenous community members, conservation authority members etc. has formed to spark a friendly challenge to communities living within the Mississippi watershed. The goal is to inspire each community to take concrete action and propose potential solutions to local issues on the Mississippi River. Events could include river cleanups, municipal and county remediation projects, and individual citizen and group proposals to mitigate current and future challenges the Mississippi and its communities will face.
Particularly now that Minto’s Weavers Way is underway, we want to broadcast that Mississippi Mills is a friendly town that is inviting, collaborative and innovative. Supporting new community members who move to Weavers Way is in part why BOCG exists, and we want to provide opportunities to contribute to our collective strategic vision. By posting articles in theHumm and The Millstone, we wish to activate and invite ideas into the collaborative space.
Get Involved
Join the conversation in person at our next meeting on April 23 from 7–9pm at the Mississippi Mills Library.
Please confirm your attendance by sending an email to buildingoncommonground@gmail.com.