In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday the Town is sharing some fun & fascinating Mississippi Mills trivia. These tidbits of local info will include stories about local sports stars, award recipients & other residents who have helped put Mississippi Mills on the map. We’ve included quirky or funny stories, tragic historic events, geographic info and more recent history too. Learn how some of our local clubs started and how our individual communities began.
63) Watch for Almonte coming to a Movie Theater Near You
In 2016 a Sony Pictures production, Awakening the Zodiac (formerly titled Z), directed by Jonathan Wright and starring Shane West (Salem, A Walk to Remember) and Leslie Bibb (Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Talladega Nights was filmed in Mississippi Mills. This thriller tells the story of a down-on-their luck couple who discover a serial killer’s film reels and find themselves in the killer’s crosshairs. The production company has finished work on the film have delivered it to Sony. Awakening the Zodiac is expected to have a limited theatrical release.
64) A Pakenham’s NHL Connection
Pakenham resident Randy Stephen Pierce played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1977 to 1985. The Stewart Community Centre proudly displays one of his jerseys.
65) Mayor Dorothy Finner
Dorothy Finner was Almonte’s first and only female Mayor. She served three consecutive terms from 1988 to 1998. Prior to 1988 she held two terms as an Almonte Councilor. After amalgamation Ms. Finner served one term as Mississippi Mills Councilor for the Almonte ward. Dorothy continues to live in Almonte and is an active community volunteer.
66) Mississippi Mills is a big part of Lanark County
The Municipality of Mississippi Mills covers just over 500 square kilometers of land within Lanark County making up aprox 1/6 of the land mass. The entire County covers 3,024.20 square kilometers.
67) On the Road Again
Canadian icon Wayne Rostad, known for his award-winning CBC television show On the Road Again, was a long-time resident of the Pakenham area. Mr. Rostad was appointed Member of the Order of Canada in 2003 and was Inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
68) Remount Detachment near Pakenham
The RCMP breeds its horses at Remount Detachment near Pakenham, Ontario. They are 16 to 17 hands high; weigh between 523 kg (1150 lbs.) to 635 kg (1400 lbs.) and up until recently were 3/4 to 7/8 Thoroughbred, the stallions being registered Thoroughbred while the broodmares were part Thoroughbred. In March 1989, Black Hannoverian broodmares and stallions were purchased to improve the horses’ bloodlines. Young horses, called remounts, begin their training at three years of age. When they turn six, they start Musical Ride training and take their first trip.
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/fs-
69) Councilor Edwards is a Canadian Sprint Canoe Athlete
Did you know that Mississippi Mills Councillor John Edwards represented Canada at two Olympic Games? February 2017 Edwards received a lifetime achievement honour during the World Paddle Awards.
Edwards grew up paddling locally with the Carleton Place Canoe Club and competed in the Summer Olympic Games twice: Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976. He was also domestic development director with Canoe Kayak Canada from 1999 to 2015. Edwards is the current chair of the International Canoe Federation’s (ICF) Paracanoe committee and spearheaded the Paracanoe inclusion in the Paralympic Games.
70) Almonte Fair has Carleton Place Roots
Did you know the first Almonte Fair was held in Carleton Place! One of the oldest fairs in the Ottawa Valley, continuously in operation each year without a break. It began in Carleton Place, not Almonte, away back in1840 when the Bathurst District Agricultural Society was formed.
www.almontefair.ca
71) The Tait McKenzie Memorial
The Tait McKenzie Memorial, at the Mill of Kintail on the 8th line of Ramsay is one of the most important historic and artistic sites in Canada, as well as one of the most beautiful. A fine example of pioneer stonework this is former home of the Ramsawy-born man R. Tait McKenzie.
72) The Story of Clayton’s Joe Baye
Joe and his wife Miss Ellen Slack and their two babies arrive to Ramsay Township one day and camped at the narrows between Clayton and Taylor Lakes. This was at the south end of where the Floating Bridge once was. Joe’s father, then an elderly man was with them. The location was a good one it was on a point with a view of the lakes and more important there were ducks, deer, fish, muskrats and frogs in abundance. He was known to be a good axe man and soon built a log house in which he lived the rest of his life. Joe Baye had more friends than most men because he was a very friendly. He made his living in a traditional native Canadian manner by hunting fishing and trapping. His catch of muskrats in the spring sometimes ran into the hundreds. In 1928 Joe Baye died and was sadly missed by all who knew him.
Credit: Ramsay Reflections 1836-1979
73) Almonte’s Lions Club
Thirty five community minded citizens started the Almonte Lions Club in 1947. Locally this club continues to proudly serve the community raising funds to support local causes and help those in need.
https://www.facebook.com/
74) Evermore earns National Attention
Mississippi Mill’s Wedding Venue Evermore was recently named one Canada’s Loveliest Wedding Venues For 2017. Only 50 venues spread out across the entire country made the list. Why they love it “Once the home of Dr. James Naismith the creator of basketball, today Evermore is a picturesque wedding venue with 45 acres of land and a rustic barn from the 1980s. With landscaped grounds, waterfalls and even a bocce ball court, your guests will never want to leave.”
http://www.weddingbells.ca/
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75) Heritage Mall’s History
The site of Almonte’s Heritage Mall (beside Heritage Court) has an interesting history. The area where the parking lot is was once and open air market and attracted both visitors and townspeople. Buyers and vendows coming to do business could accommodate their horses at a stable in the building. Horse stalls were set along the stone wall, irons rings for teethering horses were at one time visible along the stone.
76) Artist Mary Alexandra Eastlake
Artist Mary Alexandra Eastlake (sister of James Mackintosh Bell) was a Canadian painter most notable for her portraits of children, as well as a jewelry designer and producer. Ms. Eastlake made Almonte her home following extensive travel throughout Europe and Asia. Eastlake passed away in 1951, but her work can still be seen hanging in the National Gallery of Canada.
http://cwahi.concordia.ca/
