News

Council Meeting Highlights – March 25, 2024

Here are some highlights from the February 25, 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.

Paving Contract – Report IS-PW-2024-04 (item 11 c) Council awarded the contract to Blair Asphalt for the approved roads (list of approved paving). Due to good prices 1.5 km of paving has been added to the list to maximize the...

Purple Day for Epilepsy

Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. On March 26th annually, people in countries around the world are invited to wear purple and host events in support of epilepsy awareness. Last year, people in more than 85 countries on all continents participated in Purple Day! Canada is the only country in the world who officially recognizes March 26th as Purple Day through the Purple Day Act implemented on June 28, 2012.

Show your...

School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day 2024

We are celebrating School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

Please join us in thanking Carolyn, Ruth, Valerie, Karen, Jean and Maryke, for the work they do – rain or shine – to keep our children safe on their way to and from school every day.

Crossing guards play an important role in keeping our communities safe, but the work they do is equally as rewarding to them. Get to know some of our crossing guards and say hi next time you see them!

As a driver, you can help keep...

Calling all photographers

We are looking for scenic photos of our area to replace the panels at the end of the bowling lanes. This will give our bowling alley a much-needed facelift while focusing on the beauty of our region and the work of local photographers!

For more information or to submit photos, visit our website at www.russell.ca/PhotoBowling.

2024 Interim Tax Bill – Paperless Notification Issue – Gmail accounts

We encountered an issue with the delivery of the 2024 interim tax bills via email. Unfortunately, our emails were blocked by the Google platform, resulting in most residents with Gmail accounts not receiving them.

Consequently, we will need to resubmit these invoices. If you have already received your interim invoice, please disregard this second submission. However, for those affected by this issue, rest assured that each account will be individually reviewed to ensure that all citizens have...

Council Meeting Highlights – March 11, 2024

Here are some highlights from the March 11, 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 Award (Item 8) Council had the pleasure of presenting a Community Builder Award to Connie Johnston last night for her active participation in our community. For more information see full article. Affordable and...

Notice of Study Commencement – Environmental Assessment Study

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

Public Notice – March 13, 2024

This notice is to inform stakeholders and interested parties that the Corporation of the Township of Russell is initiating a Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) to review and study the proposed expansion of the road network within the Vars Industrial Park. The road network expansion intends to provide access to subject lands, optimize new...

Notice of Study Commencement – Transportation Master Plan Update

Public Notice – March 13, 2024

The Township of Russell has initiated the update of the Transportation Master Plan. This will be an important document, guiding the strategic directions of the transportation network as the Township accommodates mobility for future growth while ensuring a sustainable, accessible, and highly liveable community.

The study will examine deficiencies and develop recommendations for the transportation network, including pedestrian, cycling and vehicular modes....

Connie Johnston Receives Community Builder Award

Council had the pleasure of presenting a Community Builder Award to Connie Johnston last night for her active participation in our community. Every few weeks, Connie leads a team to raise funds for local citizens, groups and causes serving the community’s greatest needs with Trivia Nights. These fundraisers are so popular and needed that she has them booked into 2025 due to the high demand. She has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars every year without remuneration of any form, purely...

Dog Tag Renewal

Are you a dog owner? It is time to renew dog tags for your furry friends.

Property owners

If you are a homeowner, no action is needed to renew your dog tag. You will continue using the dog tag you have and a renewal fee of $20 will be added to your property tax bill in August. The renewal fee will continue to be added to property tax bill each August until the Township is notified that you no longer own your dog. No late fee applies.

Tenants and non-property owners

If you are a renter or...

International Women’s Day

March 8 is International Women's Day. It’s a global day to recognize and celebrate women’s and girls’ social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. It’s also a time to raise awareness of the progress made towards achieving gender equality and the work remaining to be done.

Women’s History in Russell Township: Florence Shepherd

Russell Horticultural Society first welcomed a female president, Florence Shepherd, in 1927. She was president until 1929 and is the first recorded female...

Local March Break Activities

Find local activities during March break within the Township of Russell!

To view a visual calendar with all activities download here.

Bowling Hall

8 Blais Street, Embrun. Fees apply, see www.russell.ca/bowling for more details.

• Monday March 11 from 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m.
• Friday March 15 from 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. (will be closed Friday evening)

Public Turf at Sports Dome

150 Sportsplex Road, Embrun

Public turf time ($5 per person or $10 per family)

• Monday March 11 from 4:00p.m. to 5:00p.m.
• Wednesday March 13...

Strategic Discussion on Public Engagement Policy

A strategic discussion between Council and administration is scheduled for the March 25, 2024 Council meeting. This discussion aims to provide Council with a valuable opportunity to express their opinions, exchange ideas, and influence the future directions of our municipality regarding public engagement policy.

We invite all residents who have ideas or suggestions regarding this policy to communicate with your Councillors before the meeting. It is the perfect time for you to make your voice...

Flags at Half-Mast for Brian Mulroney

The flags at all Municipal buildings in the Township of Russell will be lowered to half-mast as per the Half-Masting and Raising of Flags Policy, in honour of The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney P.C. C.C. G.O.Q., 18th Prime Minister of Canada, who passed away on February 29, 2024.

Mr. Mulroney served the citizens of Canada as Prime Minister from 1984-1993.

Flags will remain at half-mast until sunset on the day of the funeral (date to be determined).

Winter Parking Reminders – March

A pilot project continues for the 2023-2024 winter season.

In November and March, the on-street parking ban is reduced to alert-based only (since there is historically less snow during these months). Register for our parking ban notices. During these alerts, no person shall park a vehicle or permit a vehicle to remain on a street between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Any person who does so is liable to a fine and/or will have their vehicle towed at the owner’s expense.

During a winter...

Council Meeting Highlights – February 26, 2024

Here are some highlights from the February 26, 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.

Proposed Amendments to Procedural By-law - CSAS-CL-2024 (Item 11b)

During the Council meeting, the Council deferred a decision on Question Period on Meeting of the Day while the administration works on developing a Public...

Pink Shirt Day 2024

The Township of Russell is committed to a welcoming and inclusive community where diversity is celebrated and where everyone can develop to their full potential, participate freely in society, and live with respect, dignity, and freedom from discrimination.

February 28, 2024 is Pink Shirt Day. We encourage you to wear a pink shirt a symbol of solidarity against bullying and to communicate to others that they are not alone. Participating is as simple and easy as wearing pink in your hair, as a...

Russell Township Council Defers Decision on Question Period Amendment

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate distribution

February 27, 2024 – Russell Township Council convened on February 26, 2024, to deliberate various matters, among them, the proposed amendment to the procedural Bylaw 2021-127, specifically focusing on Item 10.3.11 regarding the removal of the Question Period on Meeting of the Day.

Following additional information received from the administration and recognizing the importance of implementing a Public Engagement Policy, the Council chose to defer the...

Get Notified of Events and News in your Community

Want to know what is happening in our area? Our community calendar is the best place to look. You can also receive a weekly summary of events every Friday.

NEW: You can now fine tune what you’d like to be notified about by selecting the categories that interest you.

• Events
• Council, Committee and Public Meetings
• Parks and Recreation: Opening and closures, registration
• Payments Deadlines: Dog tags, property taxes, water and sewer
• Waste Collection: know when collection dates are delayed or select any of...

Russell Township Addresses Concerns Over Procedural By-Law

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate distribution

February 22, 2024 – The Russell Township Council and administration are aware of materials being distributed in our community that do not fully represent the complexities or the intent behind the proposed amendments to Council's Procedural By-law #2021-127.

The Township wishes to address these concerns by clarifying that no final decision has been made regarding changes to the public's ability to ask questions during open meetings. It is our responsibility...