On May 26th, 2026 the 677 Royal Canadian Air Cadets hosted their Annual Ceremonial Review. They had an amazing crowd of approximately 70 spectators supporting the event. Major Terrence Henry generously joined the squadron as the reviewing officer for the evening. During the event, the cadets were presented with the year-end awards capping off a great training year.
The awards presented were: Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Excellence Awards for cadets who completed their respective level and obtained a 90% or better attendance. The Excellence in Fitness Award which is sponsored by the Russell Lion's Club and was presented by Kevan McCarthy. The Distinguished Marksmanship Award which is sponsored by the Russell Game and Fish and was presented by Ken Schmitz. The Lord Strathcona Medal presented by Major Henry and the Legion Medal of Excellence presented by Earl Smith of the Russell Legion.
The cadets had a successful training year and volunteered numeous hours with various community organizations.
The Russell 677 Air Cadets would like to thank all of the individuals and community organizations that supported us this year and made this year a success. The squadron has grown from 3 Cadets to 15 Cadets in the last 3 years and a large part of that is in thanks to the community, sponsorship committee and the local squadron staff. We look forward to our upcoming training year and an even more impressive Annual Ceremonial Review next year.
Air Cadet fall registration will be on September 8th, 2026 at the George P. Buleziuk Centre in Russell at 7:00 p.m. for youth ages 12-19.

COMING AUGUST 14! Roadshow Pickleball Manitoba will be running a youth pickleball camp for ages 12-17 years in Russell! Details coming soon! Mark your calendars!
The Russell Town wide Garage Sale is scheduled for Saturday, June 20th from 9 am-3:30 pm. If you would like your address added to the map, please contact the recreation office: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. From out of town? We will be offering in space inside the rink for $20.
Summer Camps are back! The camps are 1 week and meet daily from 9am until 3:30 pm! Come join us for outdoor activities including arts, crafts, hiking, science, swimming, games, etc. The cost is $50 for the week! Dates and ages are as follows:
Russell July 13-17 ages 9-12, Russell July 20-24 ages 7-11, Russell July 27-31 ages 6-10 and Binscarth August 4-7 ages 7-11. Please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register!
There is a new story on the Storybook Trail! “Cool Canadian Dinosaurs” Fun Facts from Teeth to Tracks! by Canadian Girl. The trail starts just off Alexandria Ave by the Russell grain elevator on the Trans Canada Trail. Follow the trail, stopping at each story pedestal and learn about 14 different types of dinosaurs that once lived in Canada!
Healthy Baby is Tuesday, June 23rd from 11am-1pm upstairs in the Bunge Room located in the Russell Memorial Multiplex, Main St entrance. This is a free program for expecting parents and those with babies under the age of one. Come join us!
Pickleball is at the GPB Hall in Russell (106 Shell River Ave S)! Tuesdays from 1-3 pm and Thursdays from 9-11 am and again from 7-9 pm! Pickleball is FREE and we have all equipment needed. Clean, indoor shoes required. Never played before? We’ve got you covered! We will teach you!
Badminton is in Russell at the GPB Hall on WEDNESDAY evenings from 7-9pm. It is FREE and we have all equipment needed. Clean, indoor shoes required.
Zumba is Thursday nights from 6:30-7:30pm upstairs in the Bunge Room at the Russell Memorial Multiplex, Main St entrance, $5 drop-in!
Coming soon! The disc golf course will be set up again this summer as well as the PlayBoxes in Russell and Binscarth. Stay tuned for more information!
Follow us on Facebook: Recreation Department Municipality of Russell Binscarth Not on Facebook? Check out our community bulletin board located on the front of the Russell Memorial Multiplex (Main St).

By Terrie Welwood
Russell Banner

It’s probably safe to say that Shannon and Newell Johnston are among the busiest people in the area.
Especially in the spring and summer when they prepare both of their Prairie Gardener locations in Russell and Roblin.
This year, the pair have something to cheer about aside from the ongoing success of their two locations as this year, they celebrate their 20th anniversary in business.
Shannon Johnston says every year, they look forward to the opening of their two locations
“We are happy to be able to continue to provide plants to the local area, and it really does feel like we are a part of the community in both Roblin and Russell,” Shannon said.
“We open our gates in town each year and are always so grateful to be shown again how great our customers are - they come in to say hi and are so excited to see everything we have grown.”
After several years of assisting with the business, Shannon and Newell Johnston purchased it with the help of financing from the local credit union, and began the process of disassembling and rebuilding the production farm on a newly cleared property near the edge of Riding Mountain National Park east of Inglis.
“It was quite the task to take down and reset-up the buildings and infrastructure, but we managed to make it happen and we were able to produce a nice crop the following spring despite still finishing heating and ventilation work, building benches as we went, and somehow keeping just slightly ahead of the space needs as we grew that first crop at our new location.”

Read the whole front page story in this week's edition of the Russell Banner.

The Parkland Mavericks are 2-0 to start the season.
Ronin Mouck and Owen Tyschinski had two tries each to lead the Mavericks to a 56-29 win over the Winnipeg Assassins Second Division team, Saturday in Winnipeg.
Will Miner, Dylan Craik, Alex Boshoff and player-coach Codi Harrigan also had tries for Dauphin and Mouck had all eight converts.
Harrigan credited the Assassins for never giving up when the Mavericks pulled away.
“They never quit and they kept at us right to the final whistle,” he said.
Both teams suffered through the heat, with the temperature reaching 32C.
“We were tested physically and mentally (Saturday),” Harrigan said, adding it was nice to see the scoring spread out.
“We only had three substitutes available, so a lot of players had to put in big minutes. I’m really proud of our players for managing the heat, staying disciplined with hydration and working hard for the whole 80 minutes,” he said.
When fatigue set in, Harrigan said, the Mavericks continued to communicate and stuck to the game plan instead of trying to do everything individually.
“We had contributions from everyone on the roster and that showed on the scoresheet,” he said.
The Mavericks will host the Assassins First Division unit, Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Because they were a bit shorthanded on Saturday, some players played in unfamiliar positions.
“But again, everybody contributed great. It’s those players that aren’t on the scoresheet that really shine throughout the whole game, as well. There were a lot of players doing the dirty work and they put the team first and that’s a big reason we were successful. So we hope that continues on into the weekend,” Harrigan said.

For the fourth straight season, the Dauphin Clippers girls and boys rugby teams are Westman High School Rugby champions.
The girls earned their berth in the league final with a convincing 93-0 win over the Crocus Plains Plainsmen, May 26.
Desiree Lariviere and Edie Fleck had three tries each, while Kiersten Vanderkerckhove and Paityn Bourgouin had two each and Ryann Richard-Soltis, Mindy Chartrand, Felicity Sahulka, Alina Genik and Sophia Smigelski had one each.
Vanderkerckhove added eight converts and Halie Garlinski had one.
In the final on Saturday, Richard-Soltis had two tries to lead the Clippers to a 45-0 win over the visiting Souris Sabres.
Vanderkerckhove, Bourgouin, Lariviere, Mila Heschuk and Garlinski also had tries for Dauphin and Vanderkerckhove had five converts.
Clippers coach Shawn Sarkonak said winning a league title is always special.
“Because it’s always another group of new players that get a chance to do it for that first one. So it’s special in that way. But as they always say, that first one is the most special, because it’s for that very first time,” he said.
Sarkonak was impressed with the team’s resilience throughout the final.
“I think there was a bunch of players that came in with some nerves and, honestly, even at halftime, you could see some of the vets were saying ‘we’re playing like we’re nervous. Let’s just take a couple of breaths, let’s play like we have all year and get back to playing Clipper rugby’,” he said.
The Clippers will now travel to Brandon for provincials next weekend.
Dauphin will play Springfield in the semifinals on Friday, with Souris and Steinbach playing in the other semifinal. The final will go on Saturday.
Steinbach had beaten Springfield, 60-0.
Facing teams they have never played before and not knowing what to expect, the Clippers are chomping at the bit, Sarkonak said.
“And I think it’s going to give them just that other gear. So we’ll see what happens,” he added.
“The confidence level is there because I trust the players to do it out there on the field.”
After spotting Souris an early lead, the Clippers varsity boys responded in a big way, shutting down the Sabres in a 66-5 rout on Wednesday.
Alex Thompson had three tries, while Morgan Fleck and Blake Thacker had two tries each and Ben Miner, Julien Lopez and Jordan Evans had singles. Evans also kicked eight converts.
In Saturday’s final, the all-Dauphin contest was won by the varsity squad in a 68-5 victory.
Lopez and Josh Yakielashek had two tries each and Colton Miner, Ben Miner, Blake Symchych, Andriy Genik, Thompson and Parker Freiheit had singles.
Evans had seven converts, while Ben Miner and Symchych had one each.
Clippers coach Gerald Lopez felt the final was a good celebration of rugby in Dauphin in general.
“Both teams, even though the green team was a far superior team, the white team never gave up. So I look forward to the future. I’m so proud of all of them,” he said.
This year’s varsity team has a lot more experience than the previous championships teams.
“Meaning a lot of them played rugby aside from high school rugby. So they’re able to use that knowledge and really, they had such a phenomenal year. No team could really come close to them. At least in our league,” Lopez said.
Despite the loss, JV coach Mike Penner was pleased with his team’s play.
“I’m pretty sure I could go most other schools in the province and not find 13 guys willing to step on the field against the Dauphin seniors and we found 13 just in our school alone. So I think that’s pretty impressive,” he said.
“Other schools, if some of their guys were hurt or their all-stars weren’t going to play, then they’d just folded their tents and didn’t go into the arena.”
The JVs, Penner added, overachieved in their first season in the Westman High School League, winning twice and finishing second.
“No one had them competing, let alone winning two of their regular season games. And then going against the Dauphin senior team twice in one year, I know a lot of other teams were expecting us to just concede this game and not show up. But that’s not how these boys roll,” he said.
“These guys are going to be taking some of the reigns next year on the senior team and we’re looking forward to that.”
The JV Clippers will play the St. Paul’s Crusaders in one provincial semifinal, while the senior boys play St. John’s Ravenscourt.
With St. Paul’s having won 10 straight provincial titles and 11 of the last 12, whoever they play will have a tough task ahead.
Penner hopes the JV players will have their eyes opened to see just how good the Crusaders are.
“But once again, I don’t think there’s a lot of teams that would be willing to step on the field against them, but we will. We’ll be there again stepping into the fire. And anyone who doesn’t give us a shot in the third-place game, doesn’t understand this team,” he said.
Lopez said the varsity team will train for provincials like it’s a brand new season.
“We still have a lot of stuff to work on and, hopefully, we’ll get a chance to see our old rivals St. Paul’s,” he said, adding the success of the Clippers program is a testament to the work put in by everyone since the program began.

Dauphin fire chief Cam Abrey was pleased to report a positive staffing situation for the Dauphin Fire Department as part of his report on the department’s operations for the first quarter of 2026 to Dauphin city council at its regular meeting, May 25.
“For the first time since 2019, we’re currently at a full number of roster membership on the department,” Abrey said, adding there are currently 42 department members.
“In looking at our members, we have five with firefighting level one, 14 that have completed their level two, six in the process of completing their firefighting level before July 1 of this year. Then, the recent recruiting efforts have bolstered our membership where we’ll hopefully have 17 individuals start their formalized training for firefighting level one this September. Those individuals are on the department right now and taking part in training, just not for level one.”
The full roster takes some pressure off of veteran department members, who, at times have difficulty trying to balance their personal lives, careers, and commitment to the fire department, Abrey added, pointing to a trend which has seen a steady increase in calls between 2005 and 2025.
In terms of operations over the first three month of 2026, Abrey said the department had 60 emergency responses, a 23 per cent increase over the same time period in 2025.
False alarms continue to be ranked as the highest in call volume, at 37 per cent, followed by motor vehicle accidents at 25 per cent, kitchen fires at 10 per cent, EMS lift assists at 10 per cent, and structure fires at eight per cent.
“One thing to note . . . we had three structure fires, one quite large. All of those as a result of cooking fires and all properties were insured by the owners, but they had renters in them and in two of the three they had no tenants insurance,” Abrey said.
“It is something we encourage through the fire department, that all tenants get tenants insurance. We also encourage property owners to ensure that their tenants have contents insurance, so that they’re looked after, as well.”
Other call categories include vehicle fires, which accounted for three per cent of calls, outdoor fires at two per cent, carbon monoxide alarms at two per cent, and a catchall “other” category, which accounted for three per cent of department responses.
Training continues to be a major focus for the department, Abrey said, adding three members recently completed their firefighting level on practical exams ahead of written exams they will write later this month. In addition, four local firefighters will travel to Brandon in the coming days for written and practical exams for hazardous material awareness and operation certification.
In early April several members travelled to Roblin for ice rescue training on Goose Lake.
“That’s the first time in a number of years that we’ve been able to host the ice rescue training in this area,” Abrey said, adding Goose Lake is also the perfect location for surface water rescue training, which is set to take place later this summer.
April also saw a farm accident rescue seminar hosted locally on behalf of the mutual aid district, which included several local firefighters, as well as two from Pine River, one from Roblin and four from Swan River.
A school bus rescue seminar was also set for this past weekend, Abrey added.
“This assists students with the knowledge and practical skills required with mass casualty motor vehicle incidents,” Abrey said.
“We typically host this program once every two years and again we have several members that are enrolled in the training and we’ll be working alongside others from Robin and Swan River fire departments.”
A new district training plan is in the works to being in September and carry through to June 2027.
“We typically get together with the 11 fire departments in the district, decide what courses are needed and then make our submission to the Emergency Services College,” Abrey said, adding the college puts out calls to instructors in an effort to solidify dates.
“Once we have dates finalized, then our students can begin their variety of specialized training opportunities.”
Finally, Abrey provided council with an update on the fire station assessment, which took place recently
The final report from Sputnik Architecture indicated, “the fire station is structurally serviceable, but exhibits aging infrastructure, localized moisture damage, and functional inefficiencies. With targeted roof and envelope rehabilitation, improved mechanical integration, and space reorganization, the facility can continue to operate safely until full replacement or major retrofit.”
The report also included Class C estimates for a proposed addition which ranged from $5,689,640 to $6,541,121.
Fully realizing there is not enough funding available for the entire project, Abrey has met with Project and Development manager Justin Tokarchuk to prepare estimates for priority roof revitalization, electrical upgrades and HVAC improvements.
“We are hoping to have estimates on some of that work ready for the 2027 budget, and we’ll, obviously, be exploring some potential provincial and federal grant programs to assist with those project costs.”

People making their way between the north gate of Riding Mountain National Park and the City of Dauphin will now be travelling on the Lt.-Col. William G. Barker VC Highway.
The Manitoba government officially renamed the section of PTH 10 at a special gathering Friday at the Dauphin airport, which also bears the name of the locally-born World War One ace.
Local historian Al Gray, along with Hugh Arklie, a Winnipeg-based fan of Barker’s accomplishments, spearheaded the push to have the highway renamed as a further tribute to Dauphin’s most famous son. Along with the airport and the highway, the local air cadet squadron and a Kindergarten to Grade 5 school are named after Barker, as is a United Kingdom’s 7th Poseidon Marine Patrol aircraft stationed at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland.
“We started with the process of Whitmore and Main to the north gate of Riding Mountain. It is 10 miles. We could have gone a little further maybe, but I learned a long time ago not to be greedy,” Gray said.
“I’m so honoured that through the efforts of Hugh and I, through the courtesy of Ron and staff that we’re here today. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Representing the provincial government at the ceremony Agriculture Minister and Dauphin MLA Ron Kostyshyn highlighted the significance of the tribute for the community.
“This recognition helps honour his legacy and ensures future generations understand the important role he played in both Canadian history and our local heritage,” said Kostyshyn.
“These signs will serve as a lasting tribute to Lt.-Col. Barker’s remarkable legacy and connection to our region for years to come.”
The renaming initiative received strong public support, as well, from both the City and Rural Municipality of Dauphin.
“The people of Dauphin care deeply about the city’s history,” mayor David Bosiak said.
“It is truly appropriate that the major highway leading into the city from the south bears the name of one of our finest heroes.”
Barker is widely recognized as one of Canada’s most decorated war heroes. During the First World War, Barker was credited with 50 aerial victories and is the most decorated military member in Commonwealth history, receiving the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Order with bar and the Military Cross with two bars.
Born on a farm near Dauphin, he enlisted in the Canadian Mounted Rifles in late 1914, later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He later earned a reputation as a daring pilot on the Western and Italian fronts.

With the start of June comes the recognition of Pride month and all the activities surrounding the acknowledgement and creation of safe spaces for 2SLBTQIA+ individuals. This year, Tri-Community Pride has been working on a plan to bring more education and awareness to the area.
“We have been working on completing a Yearly Strategic Plan for the Tri-Community Pride,” said Tri-Community Pride Member Holly LaJambe. “We asked the public to join us, share opinions, and tell us what they need to see in the tri-community. We also partnered with Rainbow Resource Centre, Hope North Committee, and The Pas Community Renewal Corporation to bring a Pride Beading Event to our community, which presented 2SLGBTQSIA+ information and resources while learning to bead a rainbow pin.

The Minitonas 4-H Beef Club held their 72nd Annual Show and Sale last weekend Saturday (May 30), at the Swan River Valley Agricultural Society Grounds. The 4-H club had a total of 15 showmanship classes being judged by Keegan Blehm throughout the day.  Here, Oscar Yakielashek proudly shows off his steer to the crowd and judges. See more A10

Agricultural producers across the Swan River Valley were hard at it last week getting their crops seeded in hopes of bumper crops come the fall. Here, Jared Penner puts the finishing touches on a field of freshly planted canola.