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Layh accepts cadet position in Cold Lake
Levi Layh, of 677 Russell, Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in Russell, earned a staff cadet position in the Operations Department at Cold Lake Cadet Training Centre.
As part of their role, Layh first participated in on-the-job training to learn the safety requirements for the equipment and is now tasked with checking equipment because safety is a top priority of the Cadet Program.
As a cadet who wants to pursue a future career in teaching, Layh is already looking to develop instructional tools that will positively impact future staff cadets employed in the Operations Department. “My goal as a staff cadet is to develop systems for my position to make next year’s staff cadet’s job easier,” said Layh.
Read the whole story on page 7 of this week's Russell Banner.
Inglis firefighters recognized for their volunteer efforts
The Inglis Fire Department’s fire chief Glen Gorda travelled to Brandon to pick up a Global Medic fire skid.
This self-contained unit has a 1000 L water tank, high-pressure pump and hose.
In addition, IFD was given 20 fire retardant coveralls. As one of the departments who volunteered to respond to the 2025 Manitoba Wildfires, the Inglis Fire Department was eligible to participate in this program provided by Global Medic, a Canadian-based charity, whose mandate includes equipping local departments for swifter and more effective wildlife frontline operations.
They and the RM of Riding Mountain West greatly appreciate being chosen as a recipient of these items that will help protect their fire fighters and increase their fire fighting capacity.
Russell Golf Course celebrates 100 years
Last weekend, the Russell Golf Course celebrated their 100th anniversary.
After a day of golf amoung friends, the club members met again on the Sunday morning for a pancake breakfast followed by a speech by RM of Russell Binscarth councillor Brent Havelange and the cutting the official anniversary cake.
Councillor Havelange’s speeches are always a treat. This one, shown below, takes us through the history of the Russell Golf course. Thank you councillor Havelange for allowing us to pass this information onto our readers.
“My name is Brent Havelange I am a counselor, in the Municipality of Russell-Binscarth, also in attendance is my fellow councilor Barry Wishart and ex-councillor Ray Elliot, so on behalf of the municipality, I would like to congratulate the Russell Golf Course on its hundred-year anniversary.
That was all Joan Miller had asked me to say in our first meeting. But after a follow up meeting, she gave me five more chores and expanded this brief speech into the history of The Russell Golf Course.
So, if I see any rolling of the eyes ITS NOT MY FAULT...nor worries it will not last 20 minutes, no one here wants to hear my mumblings for that long.
This quarter section was originally owned by Mr. R. M. Anderson and was purchased for the price of $6000. Mr. Ken Reavie had indicated in a letter that the committee that was struck to negotiate for the purchase was not transparent about what they wanted the land for, fearful that Mr Anderson might raise his asking price if he had known the true purpose it was to be used for. Any councilors who have been involved in similar negotiations for the purchase of farmland in the municipality know what Ken is getting at.
Want to know more? Pick up this week's Russell Banner and get this story on the front page and page 2.
Some great old fashioned fun at Soap Box Derby
For the last eight years, the Pelly Trail Classic Soap Box Derby has been a favourite summer fun for the entire family. (Top centre) Modelled after old time community fairs, the derby gives kids of all ages (and their families) a chance to show off not only their mechanical creation skills with home-made derby carts but their driving skills down the steepest hill on Pelly Avenue. Participants can either rent a cart or buy it by the kit and build their own through Youth for Christ. Thanks to the efforts of dozens of volunteers helping with everything from the running the carts back up to the top of the hill, to face painting and the manning of the Pelly Classic food booth which served up home made burgers and cotton candy, or the climbing wall (top right) that comes from Madge Lake Bible Camp every year, the Soap Box Derby has been a favorite family fun day. Proceeds from the event go to Youth for Christ located on Russell’s Main Street. Turn to page 5 for more pictures of the event.
August 11, 2026
August 11, 2026
Hospital staff New Year's time capsule opened from year 2000
Anyone who was around as the century turned in 2000 may remember all the speculation. Was the relatively new Internet going to change as everything digital turned over from 1900 to 2000? Would whatever digital data in place already just disappear? There were questions after questions.
Now, of course we know there was nothing to worry about on that front at all. As people prepared for the year 2000 to arrive, along with the preparation for epic end of the century parties, many friends and colleagues got together to place mementos of their years together in time capsules like this one.
A little while ago, Kim Shwaluk, who is an admin assistant at the Russell Hospital was downstairs in the basement of the hospital cleaning out the records room when she came across this time capsule put together by the nurses and staff working at the hospital on the last day of the century. Inside were pictures of all three shifts along with some New Years Eve 2000 party favors and a questionnaire asking the staff their predictions for twenty five years later. The questions included things like “where do you think you’ll be in the year 2025?” “What do you think your annual wage will be in 2025? “What major medical discovery /cure do you think will be made for the year 2025 among other questions. We have a few of those answers here.
Also in the capsule was a pamphlet put out by the Regional Health Authorities of Manitoba answering questions like: “will my holidays be cancelled if they’re in the early months of 2000?” along with questions about if the compatibility of medical equipment fit the pre millennial equipment on hand.
As an example of the uncertainty at the time, the RHA told their staff scheduled for a New Years Eve shift to dress in layers and bring sleeping bags in case of a midnight power outage.
Want to know what predications were made for the year 2025 back in the year 2000? Purchase a subscription to our printed or online copy of the Russell Banner, or purchase a copy at one of our fine dealers and turn to page 5.
Kole Magnowski wins world title in over 35 men's jump
Kole Magnowski won a World Championship title while representing Canada at the 2026 IWWF World Over 35 Waterski Championships.
Held at Predator Bay in Calgary, Alberta, the championships brought together more than 250 athletes from approximately 20 countries to compete in slalom, trick, jump, and overall. Team Canada finished the event second in the Overall Team standings with 16 individual medals. Competing in the Over 35 Men's Jump event, Magnowski delivered a standout performance to earn the gold medal and claim the World Championship title. His victory marked one of three World Championship titles won by Canadian athletes
during the competition.
Planes, pancakes, cars and lots of fun
The Russell Flying Club held its annual Fly-In Breakfast on Sunday, July 28th. 350 pancakes were served up, planes were on display, a car show took place and fun things for the kids were among the events of the day.
This year approximately 350 breakfasts were served, about a dozen classic vehicles attended the car show, and Leading Edge Aviation from Yorkton gave plane rides to interested people. A Fleet Finch and a DeHavilland Tiger Moth from the BCATP museum in Brandon flew in to join the event as well.
For more photos, pick up this week's Russell Banner and turn to page 6.