News and Public Notices

Bike Rental Program Returns

Our bike rental program returns as of May 15th 2023 at the Sports Dome!

Whether you’re looking for a fun activity or wishing to explore parts of the Township of Russell with friends and family, the bike rental program is a fun, flexible, cost-effective and eco-friendly way to navigate through town.Cyclists wishing to make a rental can choose from a fleet of 8 bicycles of different sizes for adults and kids. The brand-new bikes have seats that can be adjusted for height and can be rented on an...

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Parks and Playgrounds Now Open

Enjoy the summer weather at one of our local parks! All 24 parks and play structures in the Township of Russell have been inspected and are ready for you to enjoy.

This excludes the splash pad and boat launch, which are expected to open soon. An official notice will be published on our website and social media.

Not sure what parks might be nearby? Check out the Park Maps on our Maps webpage!

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Book of Condolences for Sergeant Eric Mueller

A book of condolences for Sergeant Eric Mueller is available for the public to sign at Town Hall (717 Notre-Dame Street, Embrun) between the hours 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

Those who wish to leave flowers, tributes, etc. can do so outside Town Hall besides the front entrance.

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Statement from the Mayor - OPP

Office of the MayorMay 11, 2023

It is with deep sadness that we address the incident that occurred in Bourget during the early morning hours of May 11, 2023. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, and colleagues of the officers involved in this tragic event. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the fallen officer and offer our support to the injured officers and their loved ones.

We are grateful for the quick response and professionalism demonstrated by the...

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Mayor’s Statement on Foyer St. Jacques Nursing Home

Office of the MayorMay 10, 2023

Dear Residents:

As the Mayor of Russell Township, I am deeply saddened by the news of the closure of Foyer St. Jacques Nursing Home in Embrun, a long-standing and beloved care home. Our thoughts are with the residents, families, and staff members who have been impacted by this decision.

While the closure of Foyer St. Jacques Nursing Home does not fall under the mandate of the Township of Russell, as a community, we recognize that this is a critical national issue...

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Special Branch Collection Ends Friday

Friday, May 12th 2023, will be the last day of the branch collection. This extra collection was added to support residents directly impacted by the recent ice storm which created damage to many trees in the community. It was not intended for residents to dispose of trees and yard clippings unrelated to the storm. Unfortunately, many residents did use this collection to do a yard cleanup resulting in an unmanageable cleanup effort which could not be completed within the timeframe and budget...

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Day of Action on Litter

On this Provincial Day of Action on Litter, we encourage residents to take action at home and in their community to help keep our environment clean and healthy for generations to come.There are actions we can all take to put litter in its proper place. You can do this by:

• Reducing waste
• Diverting waste
• Preventing waste and litter
• Cleaning up litter
• Properly disposing of waste

We generate nearly one tonne of waste per person every year in Ontario. It is estimated that almost 10,000 tonnes of plastic...

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Emergency Preparedness Week 2023

Emergency Preparedness Week (May 7-13, 2023) encourages Canadians to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies. This special week is a national effort lead by Public Safety Canada, provincial and territorial emergency management organizations, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector.

By taking a few simple steps, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere. It...

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Street Sweeping Begins Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Township street sweeping will start Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Please avoid parking on the street to help us complete the work. If you have a basketball net on the street, we ask that it be moved to your driveway to allow trucks to pass.

Thank you! Questions? Contact the Infrastructure Department.

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May is Asian Heritage Month

Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity for us to learn more about the many achievements and contributions of Canadians of Asian heritage who, throughout our history, have done so much to make Canada the country we know and love. This month is a reminder for all Canadians to come together to combat anti-Asian racism and discrimination in all its forms.

For more information visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/asian-heritage-month.html

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Apply for a Washable Diaper Grant

To encourage families to use washable diapers, the Township of Russell has ten grants of $200 each year to help parents. Washable diapers are an eco-friendly and economical choice for several reasons:

• One child will use 6000 disposable diapers from birth to potty training, which equals one ton of garbage;
• Disposable diapers take years to decompose;
• Thousands of trees per year are cut down in Canada to make disposable diapers;
• You can see savings of near $ 1,500 per child.

Eligibility:

• Must have a...

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May is National Jewish Heritage Month

National Jewish Heritage Month is a great opportunity to learn about the impact of Jewish heritage in communities across the country, and to appreciate the significant contributions made by Jewish Canadians in the fields of medicine, law, politics, arts, business and philanthropy.

Learn more at: https://www.jewishcanada.org/opinions/of-interest/may-is-national-jewish-heritage-month-in-canada

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No Mow May 2023

It is vital for many flowers, that we perceive as weeds, to be around when bees emerge from their nests in May.

Support our local bee population by participating in "No-Mow-May". All you need to do is let your lawn grow for the entire month of May.

The Township of Russell, with the support of the Environmental Advisory Committee, encourage you to participate!

As part of the initiative, our Public Safety and Enforcement Officers do not enforce grass cutting from May 1 to 31 each year.

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Half-Load Restrictions as of Lifted May 5 2023

Half-load restrictions will be lifted as of Friday, May 5, 2023.

Half-load restrictions are put into effect for the spring thawing season. This affects load vehicles that are heavier than 5,000 kilograms or five tonnes per axle.

Signs are installed on all municipal roads where these weight restrictions apply. Road and weather conditions are routinely reviewed to determine the end date of weight restrictions.

Emergency vehicles are exempt.

Temporary restrictions on heavy weight vehicles help avoid...

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Flags at Half-Mast for National Day of Mourning

Flags will be half-masted on all municipal buildings and locations in the Township of Russell from sunrise to sunset on Friday, April 28, 2023, to mark National Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace.

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Break In at Russell Pool

Between April 16 and 17, 2023 a break and enter occurred at the Russell Centennial Pool located at 288 Castor Street in Russell.

The person or persons responsible for this have caused between $5,000 and $6,000 worth of damage.

If you have any information about this incident, please contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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Special Branch Collection Date

Following the ice storm we experienced in our community in early April, Council has approved a special collection date to help pickup debris resulting from this storm. The Township of Russell has hired a third-party company to complete this extra collection at the cost of $10,000 a week. This will be funded by our waste management reserve budget.

Collection will begin Monday, May 1st 2023 and will continue until all roads have been covered. Please have everything ready by the curbside by 7:00a.m...

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School Support Designation

Do you know which school board you support? You can now view and update your school support designation through the online portal if you are a residential property owner or a tenant registered with the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).

Property owners in Ontario are required to support a school board, even if they do not have children or their children are not currently attending school. In the case of a residential property occupied by tenants, the tenants can direct the school...

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Storm Update - April 7, 2023

The Sports Dome remains open today until 3:00 p.m. for anyone needing a warm space, to recharge their electronic devices or use showers. After 3:00 p.m. both arenas will be available until 9:00 p.m. this evening. The Sports Dome will reopen Saturday April 8th, 2023 starting at 6:00 a.m.

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Storm Update - April 6, 2023

Following yesterday’s storm, certain areas throughout the municipality remain without power, with Hydro advising all power should be restored in the area no later than 4PM this afternoon. The Sports Dome is open for anyone needing to recharge their electronic devices or to use showers.

Our Fire and Infrastructure teams have responded to issues as quickly as possible. Our staff is still out clearing downed trees/branches off streets and sidewalks.

Should residents note any additional downed trees...

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