News

Have Your Say in the Future of Russell Township Fire Services!

The Township of Russell has teamed up with The Loomex Group to conduct an important organizational review and station assessment for Russell Township Fire Services. This assessment will help us develop strategies to ensure our fire department continues to meet the community's needs now and in the future.

We want to hear from you!

The Loomex Group has created a survey to gather your feedback on the emergency services you receive. Your input is invaluable in shaping the future of our fire services.

National Public Works Week

National Public Works Week is May 19 to 25, 2024 and the Township of Russell is inviting residents to learn more about the essential services the Township’s infrastructure services provides. We often take the public works that surround us for granted, and this week we invite you to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X as we share photos of our crew in action, to appreciate and thank them for the essential services they provide.

Did you know that National Public Works Week started in 1960? Every...

What Not to Flush Down the Toilet

Your toilet isn't a trash can! Remember, only human waste and toilet paper belong in there. Flushing the wrong items can lead to messy problems at home and at our wastewater treatment facility.

Never flush these items:

• Personal care wipes/baby wipes
• Diapers
• Cotton swabs
• Hair
• Dental floss
• Tampons
• Sanitary products
• Condoms
• Old medicines
• Food grease/fat

Why aren't 'flushables' allowed?

Even if they're labeled as 'flushable,' products like wipes and makeup remover cloths wreak havoc on our sewer system. They...

In-person Swimming Lesson Registration

Our in-person swimming lesson registration will be held on June 5th from 5:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. at Town Hall. New this year, book an appointment to skip the line!

The following link for appointment will be active on May 22, 2024, at 9:00a.m.

Registration Link

Drop-ins will still be accepted. For any questions regarding swim lessons, contact recreation.loisirs@russell.ca.

Council Meeting Highlights – May 13, 2024

Here are some highlights from the May 13, 2024, Council meeting. For more information on these and on the other topics discussed at this or other meetings, meeting schedule, agenda and minutes are available on our website.

The video of the full meeting can be viewed here.

Citizen Recognition – Leadership and Courage Award (Item 8a) A joint ceremony with CHEO was held to award Rory Renwick a Citizen’s Recognition award for her actions during the April 22, 2024, bus accident. For more information, read...

Rory Renwick Receives Community Award

At the Regular Council Meeting held on May 13th, 2024, Council, in collaboration with CHEO, had the distinct privilege of recognizing Rory Renwick with a Citizen Recognition Award for her remarkable leadership and courage during a recent incident.

Rory Renwick, a student aboard the bus involved in the unfortunate collision with a transport truck on April 22, 2024, demonstrated extraordinary courage by assisting the 11 other children onboard, ensuring their safe evacuation from the scene.

“Rory is...

Teen Advisory Committee Hosts Teen Forum

The inaugural Teen Forum, hosted by the Teen Advisory Committee, took place Friday, May 10, 2024, in Embrun, marking a significant milestone in fostering youth engagement within our community. With 70 enthusiastic participants from Russell High School and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School, the event proved to be an inspiring platform for dialogue and collaboration. Before the summer, students from École secondaire catholique d’Embrun will have the opportunity to contribute their voices to...

Supporting Earth Day and Sustainability

As part of the Township Climate Action Plan, the Township of Russell and the Environmental and Sustainability Advisory Committee invited schools to develop ideas for activities in support of this year’s Earth Day.

We wish to thank and congratulate all students and schools who have helped make our community cleaner. Of interest, the Environmental Science class of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School executed a whole week of activities focused on Earth Day and sustainability. With this year's...

Positions Available on Council Advisory Committees and Board

The Township of Russell is seeking to fill positions on the following committees and local board:

1. Teens Advisory Committee (4 Positions)
2. Seniors Advisory Committee (1 position)
3. Line Fence Viewers (2 Positions)
4. Property Standards Committee (2 Positions)
5. Township of Russell Public Library Board (2 Positions)

Requirements:

1. Must be 18 years of age or over;
2. Must be a Canadian Citizen;
3. Must be a resident of the Township of Russell;
4. Bilingualism is an asset (English/French);
5. Is not employed by the Library Board...

Notice of Public Information Centre May 30

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study
Road Network Expansion, 417 Industrial Park, Township of Russell

Public Information Centre Details:

• Date/Time: Thursday, May 30, 2024, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
• Location: Council Chambers, Township of Russell Office - 717 Notre-Dame St, Embrun, ON K0A 1W1

The Corporation of the Township of Russell (Township) has initiated a Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) to review and study the proposed expansion of the road network within the 417 Industrial...

What is StreetScan and What is it Doing?

To help improve the conditions of our streets we are partnering with StreetScan, a Montreal-based company. StreetScan has grown to service over 280 customers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

StreetScan employs vehicle-mounted sensing technology to assess road conditions in normal traffic flow. The system utilizes its technology to determine the health of each street and to identify road defects including potholes, bumps, and cracking. This data will help the Township identify and prioritize where...

Managing Japanese Beetles

This information is provided by the Russell Township Environmental and Sustainability Advisory Committee to help you make informed decisions on the management of Japanese Beetles around your property in urban areas of the Township.

What is a Japanese beetle?

Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is an invasive plant pest that was first introduced to eastern North America from Japan in 1916. The adults are active flyers, but natural spread is slow and they are not able to travel long distances on...

Rescheduled Special Council Meeting

Notice: Please note that the Special Council Meeting originally planned for Monday, May 6 has been rescheduled.

• When: Monday, June 10, 2024, at 4:00p.m.
• Where: City Hall – 717 Notre-Dame Street, Embrun, ON.
• Subject: Affordable Housing Workshop

The purpose of the meeting is to have a discussion with Council in preparation for the open house that will follow the following week, Tuesday June 18th, 2024, from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. The June 18th open house will include a short presentation, followed by a...

Hydrant Flushing

Starting May 6, 2024, Public Utilities operators will begin flushing hydrants across the Township to make sure the system is working optimally. 

During hydrant testing:

• You may see coloured water and loss in water pressure during the testing of a hydrant in your area. We recommend that you do not drink or wash laundry with coloured water. While it is not harmful to your health, it may stain your laundry.
• If you see coloured water, turn on a cold water tap for a few minutes. The colour in the water...

St-Joseph Daycare Expands the Preschool Program

St-Joseph Daycare is thrilled to announce the opening of our new preschool program, which has a capacity of 24 children. This expansion allows us to provide even more children in our community with a high-quality early childhood education experience.

For more information on the daycare and to add your child to the waitlist, consult our website.

We are looking for Graduate and Non-Graduate educators to join our team. If you are passionate about early childhood education and are looking for a...

Parks and Playgrounds Now Open

Enjoy the summer weather at one of our local parks! All 26 parks and play structures in the Township of Russell have been inspected and are ready for you to enjoy.

This excludes the baseball diamonds, 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!

Council Meeting Highlights – April 29, 2024

Here are some highlights from the April 29, 2024, Council meeting. For more information on these and on the other topics discussed at this or other meetings, meeting schedule, agenda and minutes are available on our website.

The video of the full meeting can be viewed here.

Road Construction and Drain Relocation – Report IS-PW-2024-09 (Item 11c) After completing the tender process, Council awarded Cornwall Gravel Limited a $1,653,441 contract for construction of 400 meters of road and installing a...

It's "No-Mow 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 will not enforce grass cutting from May 1 to 31 each year.

According to Alana Pindar, a pollinator expert from the University of Guelph, it is vital for many flowers that we...

Township of Russell Appoints a New Mayor

April 30, 2024 – Council voted to appoint Mike Tarnowski as Mayor during the April 29th, 2024, Regular Council meeting. Mike Tarnowski is hereby appointed Mayor of the Township of Russell effective May 27, 2024, and for the remainder of the 2022-2026 term ending on November 14, 2026.

The office of the Mayor of the Township of Russell was declared vacant on April 15, 2024, effective April 19, 2024, as per report CSAS-CL-2024-02. In a decisive move during the recent Council meeting, Mike Tarnowski...

Roundabout Construction Begins on Limoges Rd at Route 300

Work will begin May 6, 2024, on a new Roundabout at the intersection of Limoges Road (County Road 5) at Route 300. This project, from the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, is to help the traffic flow of our growing community.

Limoges Road will remain open throughout the duration of this project. Route 300 will be closed starting May 6th, from Limoges Road to St-Thomas Road, with no emergency access. It will be open for local traffic only from St-Thomas to 271m Northeast of St-Thomas.

This...