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Becoming an Elected Official/Member of Council is a great way to serve your community, but it requires a lot of time and effort. This information guide gives you some information on what may be expected and required as you decide on whether to run for the upcoming municipal election.
This guide is meant to give you some quick and basic information about the roles, commitments, and expectations about being a Member of Council. It is not a substitute for the actual by-laws, policies, plans, or other relevant documents. It is recommended that candidates consult relevant statutes, regulations, and by-laws, or obtain legal advice for clarification.
The Township of Russell Council consists of a mayor and four councillors. The Township holds a municipal election every 4 years, or as required, as set out in the Municipal Elections Act to fill the following positions:
Members of Council in the Township of Russell are elected by general vote (“at-large”). This means there are no wards within the Township; all elected officials represent the entire community instead of specific geographic areas within the community.
For specific information on the roles, boundaries, and requirements pertaining to the offices of School Trustees, interested candidates should contact the relevant School Board.
If you have any questions about the election process, please contact the Clerk’s Elections Office at elections@russell.ca.
On October 14, 2025, Council adopted By-law 2025-121 authorizing the use of Internet and telephone as alternative voting method during the 2026 municipal elections. These are the same alternative voting methods that Council has adopted since the 2014 Elections.
Upon filing your nomination paper with the Clerk, you will be provided with a Candidate’s package, which will include information such as your preliminary calculation of maximum campaign expenses, voting election policies and procedures, different forms such as the Financial Statement – Auditor’s Report that you need to file, and other pertinent information.
Information pertaining to election signs can be found in the consolidated Sign-By-law 2016-052 (s. 7.1.1).
To help you understand the election process and what you need to know, consider these resources:
The Clerk shall report the “unofficial results” of the municipal election when received from the Service Provider as soon as practicable after 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the Town Hall located at 717 Notre Dame Street, Embrun, Ontario, and/or any other location as deemed appropriate by the Clerk. The “official results” of each Candidate shall be available at the Town Hall as soon as possible after Voting Day and posted on the Township’s website.
Members of Council serve as elected officials for four years and the new term commences on November 15, 2026. Elected officials must take an oath of office before they can begin any duties as a Member of Council.
The Inaugural and 1st Regular Council Meeting will be on November 16, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Each Council member will be provided with an iPad/laptop, cellular telephone and an email address generic to the Township.
Each new Council member will also be provided with an orientation manual or information with respect to the community profile, service responsibilities, organizational structure, corporate symbols, municipal council, municipal departments, employee programs and services and financial overview.
Elected officials (including the Mayor and Councillors) represent the population by making decisions on policies and priorities of the Township. Community needs and issues can include:
The general role of a Council member is to:
A Council member cannot:
A Council member has to read any information provided, seek additional information or public opinion and ultimately decide on many standard, complicated and/or controversial issues. Many of those decisions will have long-term consequences for the Township’s Corporation and/or directly onto residents that extend beyond your four-year term of office and should be made in the best interest, the long-term health and well-being of the community or the Corporation.
The general role of a Head of Council (Mayor) is to:
Council has one employee: the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). All direction to municipal staff must flow through the CAO. This ensures clarity of direction, consistency in administration, and protection of staff from conflicting or informal instructions.
The CAO serves as the sole link between Council and the organization. Council establishes policies and strategic direction, and the CAO is responsible for advising Council and ensuring those decisions are implemented effectively through the administration.
Members of Council do not direct staff individually. Requests for information, follow-up, or action must be made through the CAO, who will assign work, manage priorities, and ensure appropriate responses.
Unlike a Chief Executive Officer in the private sector, who typically receives direction from a unified board, a municipal CAO works with a Council composed of individual members with diverse perspectives. The CAO’s role is to provide professional, non-partisan advice and translate Council’s collective decisions into coordinated administrative action.
The CAO is responsible not only for the day-to-day operations of the municipality, but also for organizational leadership, strategic implementation, and ensuring that municipal resources are aligned with Council’s priorities.
A successful Council–CAO relationship is built on mutual respect, trust, and professionalism. Council relies on the CAO for objective advice and effective execution, while the CAO relies on Council to provide clear direction through formal decisions.
The Code of Conduct is a requirement of the Municipal Act. The purpose of a code of conduct is to provide guidelines to council members and local boards, to create a safe and healthy workplace that promotes a high level of job satisfaction and respectful environment. The Township believes that it is the shared responsibility of all employees and council members to work towards the constant improvement of our workplace environment. Council members can assist the Township in maintaining an exemplary work environment, by conducting themselves in an ethical and professional manner at all times.
This policy is also a requirement of the Municipal Act. It provides guidance by setting principles and practices that will ensure a respectful, tolerant, and harassment-free relationship between Members of Council and the officers and employees of the Township.
As of January 2026, the Mayor’s remuneration is $72,638.03, and a councillor’s remuneration is $37,203.34. Council members’ annual salaries are automatically adjusted with the same cost of living adjustment (COLA) approved to the municipal employees’ salary structure.
Elected Members of Council also receive per diems, a comprehensive benefits package (optional enrolment to single or family coverage) and a mandatory participation in OMERS pension plan.
The majority of official business of Council is on weeknights. Your time commitment may change based on the time of the year, number of boards/Committees you may be appointed to. How invested you are in your role in responding to residents and/or attending community events may influence your day and weekend schedules.
The role of Mayor will require more daytime availability to attend official County Council business and committees, meeting with staff, business community and residents
Council Meetings usually take place twice a month, on the first and third Monday evenings. These meetings average duration is about three hours long. Participation in these meetings is mandatory, and Members of Council are strongly encouraged to arrive on time. Special Council Meetings may be called throughout the year to address matters that either need urgent attention or require extended amount of time for presentation or deliberation.
The Wednesday before a Council meeting, the Clerk’s Department will send via email an electronic meeting agenda that lists all meeting minutes, reports, resolutions, by-laws, and other items for discussion. Council meeting agendas are typically 50 to 500 pages and must be read before the Council Meetings.
The public may attend any Council or committee meetings and a question period on the subjects on the agenda is held during Council Meetings.
It is important to note that Council meetings are held in both official languages. This means during the meeting, any Member of Council, staff, or the public may choose to speak in English or French.
Council meetings are business meetings. We encourage potential candidates to attend a few Council meetings before deciding about whether to run for the municipal election to get familiar with the role and process.
In addition to attending Council meetings, Members of Council must also serve as chair to Standing Committees. These committees provide information or advice to Council on specific important topics. Their members include one or more Members of Council, Township staff liaison, and residents from the community appointed by Council. Here are some of the Township’s Committees:
An elected official is provided an opportunity to attend conferences and events during their term, both inside and outside the community as per their discretionary budget.
At the beginning of each year, the Clerk’s Department provides a list of conferences that may be of interest to Council members. Invitations to events are also provided throughout the year.
Any year in which an election does not take place in the Township of Russell, the following process and meetings apply:
In a year in which an election occurs in the Township of Russell, a different process applies. For the 2027 Budget, the following process and meetings will apply:
Each municipal councillor may be required or invited to attend various training sessions including Standard of Care – Water System, Disaster and Emergency Measures Training, Media Training, Elected Officials Training, and more.
Unlike a major city, our region is governed by two levels of government. The upper tier (regional) level is the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, and the lower tier (local) is us, the Township of Russell. The United Counties of Prescott and Russell oversee eight townships, municipalities, and cities including:
Although we have similar names, we are responsible for different services. The United Counties of Prescott and Russell have the responsibility of supporting regional interests, including:
Visit the United Counties of Prescott and Russell website to learn more.
The Township of Russell includes the village of Embrun, the village of Russell, part of the village of Limoges, and part of the village of Marionville.
As the Township only includes part of the village of Limoges and part of the village of Marionville, we must coordinate with other cities and municipalities for repairs, improvements, and new projects located in these areas. In Marionville, the Township shares municipal boundaries with the City of Ottawa and the Township of North Dundas. In the village of Limoges, the Township shares municipal boundaries with the Nation Municipality.
Russell Township’s first settlers included many United Empire Loyalists and migrants from Ireland and the British Isles who arrived in the late 1820s. They settled in the less swampy regions along the branches of the Castor River, in Luxemburg (defunct) and Duncanville (which later became Russell). In the mid-1840s, French Canadians settled in the lowlands at the east end of the Township, mainly in the Village of Embrun. Also included in the Township are the hamlets of Limoges and Marionville. In 1903, Marionville was named after 12 individuals whose surnames were Marion; while, in 1926, the Village of South Indian was renamed Limoges in honour of Father Limoges.
The Township’s history is one of pragmatism and community spirit. In 1915 a large fire levelled 25 buildings in Russell, and in 1932 several buildings were also destroyed in Embrun’s great fire. The resilience of our ancestors ensured that our communities would continue to grow and thrive. As the Ottawa areas continued to grow in the latter part of the 20th century, and as people sought escape from its urban sprawl, the Township experienced an explosion of new residents and businesses. That persistent growth has continued to the present day, where over 20,000 people are proud to call Russell Township home and continue to write its history.
For specifics about our population, median age, employment rate and more, consult our Community Demographics tool. We’ve also developed a new tool using eImpact dashboard. Please note the information posted is from Statistics Canada, Census Profiles, 2021.
The organizational chart is a chart that shows how municipal staff positions are structured to efficiently deliver municipal services. The chart shows a flow of responsibility, from the Chief Administrative Officer to the different Department Heads, and then down to the appropriate department staff. Our common objective is to have members of the Council and staff work together towards serving the best interests and needs of those who live in the municipality.
The Township’s Strategic Plan is a document illustrating Council’s priorities and directions that will guide the decision-making, project planning and budgeting. By setting clear, focused, and realistic goals and priorities, Council and staff can work efficiently during Council’s four-year term. These goals are classified into five categories called “pillars,” which each have a list of actions to be accomplished during Council’s term.
The Township makes a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan which has the objective of improving residents’ accessibility to municipal buildings and Infrastructures while meeting provincial legislation requirements. The Accessibility Advisory Committee reviews progress on the Accessibility Plan once a year.
The Asset Management Plan helps guide investment decisions for the Township’s infrastructure assets. The plan includes an inventory of our assets, levels of service, and a strategy for when the asset needs to be repaired or replaced.
The Business Plan is an action plan created by Township staff and approved by Council which tracks and measures the progress of major projects or initiatives determined in the annual budget and/or in the Strategic Plan. A new Business Plan is created every year. Once Council has approved the action plans, Township staff:
The goal of the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan is to support and promote sustainable communities. The plan identifies risks to community safety and well-being and sets actions to help reduce these risks. This plan is developed and monitored at the United Counties of Prescott and Russell level of government.
The Cycling Plan helps the Township of Russell provide great cycling routes to residents and visitors while providing seamless connections to the rest of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell and the City of Ottawa.
The Economic and Community Development Strategic Plan provides a five-year roadmap to guide the Township’s economic growth and community initiatives, ensuring Russell Township continues to develop as a vibrant, healthy, and welcoming community.
The Economic Development Strategic Plan focuses on attracting and retaining investment, supporting local businesses and agriculture, and strengthening communication between the Township and investors.
The Community Development Strategic Plan aims to enhance residents’ quality of life through stronger community engagement, improved volunteer support, affordable housing initiatives, physician recruitment, and tourism development.
Together, these plans mark another important milestone for the Township of Russell — demonstrating a proactive and forward-thinking approach to growth, collaboration, and innovation, and reaffirming our position as a regional leader in community and economic development.
The Russell Township Master Fire Plan establishes a five‑year roadmap to ensure that Russell Township Fire Services remain effective, safe, compliant, and sustainable as the community continues to grow. It assesses community risks, service levels, infrastructure, staffing, and governance, and presents prioritized recommendations to guide policy, budgeting, and organizational decision‑making in alignment with the Township’s Strategic Plan. Collectively, the Plan’s 70 recommendations confirm the need for proactive modernization to respond to emerging risks, evolving regulatory requirements, and ongoing community growth.
The following public documents are available by request to our Finance Department:
The Township of Russell has an Official Plan as required by the Ontario Planning Act. The Township of Russell’s Official Plan outlines the goals, priorities, and permitted land uses within areas of our municipality. The Official Plan works in conjunction with other applicable legislation, such as the Planning Act, Provincial Policy Statement, and the United Counties of Prescott Russell Official Plan. The role of the Official Plan is to guide physical change within these areas until the year 2036.
The Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan assist the Township of Russell in guiding future decisions about parks, recreational facilities, programs and cultural services across the Township.
The Township of Russell’s transportation network connects our community. It includes our roads, bridges, sidewalks, and more. The Transportation Master Plan is a long-range plan to improve or add to our network of roads, bridges, and sidewalks that connect the Township. Recommendations from the Transportation Master Plan include:
The 2024 Water and Wastewater Master Plan is the Township’s plan to ensure drinking water and wastewater services meet our community’s needs now and into the future. It builds on the Township’s 2016 Water and Wastewater Master Plan, and other plans and policies made since then.
The Township keeps less than half of all total property tax payments collected. The remaining tax dollars go to the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (our regional government), and the local school board of the resident’s choice. The Township collects tax dollars on behalf of these organizations.
For example, in 2025, the Township collected over $41,664,855 in property tax payments, but the money was distributed as follows:
Below are the tax percentage increase that were approved over the last four years:
Impact on average household in 2026: A municipal tax increase of 3.94% for the average household of $353,000 in assessment will see an increase of $91.85. It’s important to note that OPP contract costs alone account for approximately $267,807 of this increase — about 1.3% of the total. Excluding the OPP increase, the net tax impact to residents would be 2.64%.
The Township of Russell has the second-lowest tax rate in the Prescott-Russell region. For more information, see the table below.
Municipal Tax Rate Rankings
| UCPR Municipalities | 2025 Municipal Tax Rate | Per each $100,000 Assessment | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank | 2022 Rank | 2021 Rank | 2020 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Hawkesbury | 0.00571591 | $571.59 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Russell | 0.00616131 | $616.13 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Casselman | 0.00729482 | $729.48 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Champlain | 0.00748877 | $748.88 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Alfred/Plantagenet | 0.00803904 | $803.90 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Clarence/Rockland | 0.00835717 | $835.72 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Nation | 0.00854177 | $854.18 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Hawkesbury | 0.01327024 | $1,327.02 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
The Township of Russell has the highest average assessment in the Prescott-Russell region. For more information, see the table below.
Regional Average Assessments in 2025
| UCPR Municipality | 2025 Average Assessment | Ranking Order | Municipal Taxes Levied on Average Assessment | Ranking of Taxes Levied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell | $359,276 | 1 | $4,275 | 2 |
| Clarence/Rockland | $313,527 | 2 | $4,381 | 1 |
| Casselman | $296,110 | 3 | $3,843 | 3 |
| Nation | $271,063 | 4 | $3,781 | 4 |
| Champlain | $240,039 | 5 | $3,175 | 6 |
| Alfred/Plantagenet | $217,685 | 6 | $2,975 | 7 |
| East Hawkesbury | $213,186 | 7 | $2,241 | 8 |
| Hawkesbury | $174,033 | 8 | $3,227 | 5 |
The Corporation’s significant investments in water and sewer services and other infrastructure over the past 15 years has come to fruition. This has allowed our Township to experience significant growth in recent years. The most recent Statistics Canada census data has highlighted that the Township of Russell was the fastest-growing population centre in the Ottawa area between 2016 and 2021 with a growth rate of 18.6%.
The Planning, Economic Development and Building Departments as well as the Infrastructure Department were greatly solicited to support the development and impacts of this growth. The total number of building permits issued in 2021 increased by 6.1% compared to 2020. The number of single-family dwellings has drastically increased by 210% in 2021 compared to 2020 even though most of the year has been under pandemic conditions.
Since 2021, the Department of Economic Development has demonstrated a strong performance in the sale of industrial land in the 417 Industrial Park. Between 2021 and 2022, more than 93 acres were sold, allowing the establishment of 13 businesses, the creation of 851 jobs and the generation of more than $812,000 in annual municipal tax revenues.
In line with this growth, between 2024 and 2026, the Municipality has concluded four additional strategic transactions totalling more than 50 acres for a value of $4.84 million. These projects are expected to generate between 380 and 500 additional jobs, as well as a real estate value of more than $60 million, corresponding to annual municipal tax revenues estimated at between $600,000 and $900,000.
In total, these initiatives represent more than 143 acres of industrial land sold, the creation of 1,230 to 1,350 jobs, and combined annual municipal tax revenues estimated at between $1.4 million and $1.7 million. These results are a testament to the municipality’s ability to attract structuring investments, support sustainable economic growth and maximize the strategic use of its industrial park, which currently has approximately 130 acres available for future development.
It is important to remember that the Township cannot prohibit a subdivision, developer or a specific business from investing or developing in the Township. Staff and Council can only guide the use of the land based on what is allowed in the Zoning By-law, Official Plan, and other policies adopted by the local, regional or provincial government.
717 Notre-Dame St, Embrun ON K0A 1W1
Call: 613-443-3066
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