Business View Civil & Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 11

50 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 11 who have been drawn to the small town charm and proximity to Ottawa. Many are able to work remotely or have set up shop in the offices around the town. “You’d be surprised who is working in the office spaces here in some of these buildings in Mississippi Mills, and you’d really be surprised by the global reach of some of these people and the work they are doing,” Kelly says. “Whether they are naval architects designing for the shipping industry, strategists working for other countries or other entities or municipalities, it stretches across the globe. It’s fantastic stuff. There’s phenomenal business here.” Aside from the uniqueness of its businesses and workforce, Mississippi Mills boasts its own unique heritage and culture. One major claim to fame is being the birthplace of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of basketball. His bronze you’ll find dozens of interesting shops that run the gamut from textiles, clothing, and children’s shops to bookstores, galleries, artisan collections, antiques, and more. “It’s not just your run of the mill town,” says Kelly. “There’s a lot of uniqueness and character here.” The buildings themselves maintain a lot of the town’s history and character. While many old mill towns have seen their mills taken down, Mississippi Mills has retained that heritage, with many former mills being reconverted to condominiums, retail office space. “There’s a lot of really interesting office settings,” Lowry reports. “The folks who walk up and down the main street and are enjoying the shops and I don’t think they have any idea that there are folks working for Shopify and some of the most important and interesting businesses in the office space above.” Mississippi Mills attracts many professionals,