Chris Radford will return to the Municipality of Russell Binscarth council table after being voted in by a large
margin at last week’s municipal by election.
Chris Radford 299 votes
Leanne Bily 142 votes
Dale Sawchuk 124 votes
Nick Foisy 42 votes
This by election however brought out a dismal 30 percent voter turnout where only 608 people bothered to vote.

Join your neighbors and be part of the team your community can count on when disaster strikes.
Our Russell Binscarth Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a volunteer group of trained residents who help during community events, emergencies and crises. Members learn basic medical aid, fire safety, light search and rescue, and how to organize as a team alongside local responders. CERT volunteers provide immediate assistance, support recovery efforts, and help residents who need extra support—so professional responders can focus on the most urgent tasks.
If you want to make a real difference close to home, join our Community Emergency Response Team and help our community in times of disaster or crisis.
What CERT Volunteers Actually Do
CERT members turn training into action by:
• Training the public to prepare for impactful emergencies and household readiness.
• Providing immediate, basic life-saving aid at disaster scenes until professional help arrives.
• Supporting community recovery efforts after emergencies and disruptive events.
• Sharing clear, coordinated public information with residents when rumors and confusion spread.
• Identifying and assisting residents who need extra help during emergencies.
• Assisting with practical tasks such as distributing emergency supplies, food and beverages, sandbagging operations, debris management, disaster scene support, and offering Psychological First Aid.
• Offering first aid services and support to local community events.
Join us today!
We meet one Wednesday per month starting this May for team training!
Contact: Wes Anderson or Pat MacIsaac at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

“Our family has endured a lot, but it never defines who we are. We continue to move through life with unwavering faith, genuine smiles, and an abundance of love to share with others.” -
Elizabeth Fingas
In February of 2021 the area was shocked at the sudden passing of Karen Fingas, a mother of four young children and much loved LPN at the Russell Personal Care Home, just eight days after her diagnosis of stomach cancer.
Now, after hearing Terry Fox’s older brother Fred talk at Major Pratt, earlier this month, Craig and Karen Fingas’ eldest daughter Elizabeth, is organizing and hosting ‘A Run For You’ in her honor and in aid of the Cancer Care Unit in Russell.
“Our family has endured a lot, but it never defines who we are,” Elizabeth said.
“We continue to move through life with unwavering faith, genuine smiles, and an abundance of love to share with others.”
These traits and values, Elizabeth said, have been passed down through generations.
“It started with listening to stories from our great grandparents (Ann and Ray Davidson, and Alice and Paul Fingas) when we would visit for juice and dainties, sitting on their laps as they spoke.”
“Then to our grandparents (Gayle and Randy Fingas, Shirley Driedger and the late Mike Petryk) who provide us guidance when we feel lost, to our parents (Craig and the late Karen Fingas) who created the beautiful people we have and will become.”
Now, she says, it has come down to Craig and Karen’s children - Elizabeth, Jamie, Kennedy and Brodie Fingas.

Read the full story on pages 1 and 2 in this week's Russell Banner.