Grants and Contributions:

Reducing the Carbon Footprint: Museum Retrofit

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$800,000.00

May 15, 2026 - Mar 31, 2029

This project is a retrofit for the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, a designated National Historic Site, which will increase the building's long-term sustainability. This retrofit will improve energy efficiency, reduce the carbon footprint of the MVTM, and increase long-term viability of the site through investments in grid-connected solar PV, high-efficiency electric heat pumps, improved thermal performance, electrical system upgrade, and WIFI-enabled computerized energy management. Situated in a rural community and serving equity-deserving populations, this historic building has unique original features that make it a valuable piece of tangible Canadian heritage. Retrofit activities must be sensitive to this and use an integrated approach. This project will be a showcase for heritage buildings, in how such an approach to retrofits can both preserve and honour our heritage by ensuring its sustainability as a historic community repository.

Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

The project will support the long‑term sustainability of the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum by improving environmental conditions, strengthening collection conservation, and enhancing the visitor experience, all while preserving the building’s heritage character. The result will be a more comfortable, accessible, and resilient cultural space that maintains its relevance and ensures inclusive access to heritage for current and future generations.

Mississippi Mills, Ontario, CA

278-2026-2027-Q1-00019

Contribution

Grants and Contributions

Not-for-profit organization or charity

Mississippi Valley Textile Museum

Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program - Contributions

The purpose of this program is to improve the condition and broad availability of community buildings across Canada for the benefit of high-needs communities and equity-seeking groups, while also making the buildings ‘greener’ - more energy efficient, lower carbon, resilient, and high performing in the context of climate change. The program focuses explicitly on community buildings with a recognition that these structures and spaces are at the heart of community vitality; they are the places where Canadians gather and mingle, where they access essential services, where they learn and play. The quality and availability of these buildings – along with the services that they provide – make a meaningful difference for fostering inclusion in society and combating systemic inequities. Investments in repairs and construction of infrastructure are also intended to help communities to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 by supporting jobs and economic growth.

Further, the program aligns with Canada’s strengthened climate plan to build and adapt buildings to reduce carbon emissions; and it includes assessment and prompts that seek to quantify GHG emissions reduction, advance best practices in GHG mitigation measures, foster awareness and alignment to green building standards nationally, while encouraging best practices in building design for climate change resilience.

The GICB program will provide eligible recipients with funding for community buildings that will ultimately make them more green (climate focused), improve social inclusion and build back better, while contributing to the economic recovery.