Municipal Facilities Manager

38 talented area artists took part in the Arts cARTel show, welcoming artists ages 11+ who submitted original artwork for adjudication and exhibition.
Pictured here is some of the amazing local artwork displayed at the Geo. P. Buleziuk Centre in Russell, held June 14 and 15.

By Skye Anderson
The Brandon Sun

A Russell man who repeatedly made threats against police was sentenced to almost a year and half of time served, with the judge citing the damaging effects of the internet.
But the judge denied the Crown’s request to ban Michael Man, 46, from the community during his three years of probation.
“Man found himself radicalized in his beliefs, making violent threats against those he blames for challenges in his life,” Judge Donovan Dvorak said while delivering Man’s sentence in Rossburn provincial court on Wednesday.
“This type of communication maybe seems to have been normalized by the media, but it is unacceptable criminal conduct. In a world where peace officers and other citizens are murdered by radicalized people, words that convey an intention to commit … harms are not legitimate expressions of dissatisfaction.”
Dvorak previously convicted Man of uttering threats after a trial, and Man later pleaded guilty to three additional counts.
All four counts included behaviour “similar in nature,” with threats to cause death to peace officers, their families and government employees by way of the internet and emails, the judge said.
Russell RCMP received several complaints about Man sending threatening messages, including toward police, on Jan. 30, 2025.
One of the messages from Man said, “Typical worthless pig f—s in costumes came here to harass me for taking pictures … Next time that happens, I’ll wait for supper hour and kick in their door and get the whole family.”
On Sept. 8, 2025, a police officer received a chain of emails between Man and a Brandon Correctional Centre employee, in which Man made comments about his treatment while incarcerated in 2023.
One of the messages said, “I’m going to have no choice but to hunt the provincial and federal employees responsible for my stay.”
Saskatchewan RCMP contacted Russell RCMP on Nov. 6, 2025, and said they had been notified of threats that had been sent to Pattison Media.
In the email, Man said, “F— the police. Only good cops are dead cops. Nobody seems to want to release the details of the three pig f—s that violently assaulted me at gunpoint in the dark as vigilante justice.”
He continued by writing, “I know the RCMP member personally, and he’s going to find himself thrown through the woodchipper out on his front lawn.”
At a sentencing hearing in May, Crown attorney Ron Toews recommended a sentence of two years, followed by three years of probation, with a condition prohibiting Man from being in Russell.
The Rural Municipality of Russel Binscarth also previously submitted a letter to the court asking it to ban Man from the RM, which includes the Town of Russell.
Defence lawyer Ryan Amy argued for a sentence of time served, which was the equivalent of about 16 months at the time. Amy was opposed to a condition banning Man from Russell. He said it is his home and he “does not have anywhere else to go.”
Dvorak said a probation condition banning someone from their home community is “rarely lawful” and noted that in his 32 years in the criminal justice system, as both a prosecutor and judge, he couldn’t remember a time when he had asked for that order or granted it.
“Although some of the victims live in Russell, the offending was such that it could have occurred regardless of whether Mr. Man was in fact in the community,” he said.
Banishing him from his home community would have a negative impact on Man’s rehabilitation, Dvorak added, and would simply move the risk to a different community.
In his decision, Dvorak said one could make the argument that the internet has been a “net negative for society” and has radicalized people “passively through algorithms that direct people to increasingly polarized media” and, in some cases, actively by groups and people who profit from it.
Young people are particularly vulnerable, but older people are not immune, he said.
“It seems we can no longer agree on foundational facts. Many people believe that the Earth is flat. They believe that climate change doesn’t exist. They believe the moon landing was fake,” he said.
“Conspiratorial thinking that would have others question their sanity 20 years ago (is) now considered a debate by some. Ad hominem attacks and violent rhetoric against those with whom one disagrees have become normalized online and increasingly in life in general.”
He said this is where Man falls.
While rehabilitation remained a factor, Dvorak said Man’s offences required a “significant custodial sentence” that sends a message of deterrence and denunciation. A sentence in the range of 18 months would be appropriate, he said.
Dvorak included several other conditions in his probation order, including that Man is to have no contact or communication with any member of the Russell RCMP, Roblin RCMP or Rossburn RCMP unless required in the course of their duties.
Additionally, he is prohibited from being within 100 metres of the home, workplace, school or place of worship of any member of those RCMP detachments, except that the RCMP may bring Man to the Russell RCMP detachment if required as part of their duties.
The order will prohibit him from owning a device with access to the internet, with the exception of having one cellphone for emergencies and online banking. It will also prohibit him from accessing any social media.
While Man had the equivalent of 536 days of time served to his credit, which is four days shy of 18 months, Dvorak said he didn’t see value in Man serving the extra handful of days and sentenced him to time served.
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Municipal Facilities Manager

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COMING AUGUST 14! Roadshow Pickleball Manitoba will be running a youth pickleball camp for ages 12-17 years in Russell on Friday, August 14, from 10am-3pm at the George P. Buleziuk Hall (106 Shell River Ave. S). The cost is $20 plus tax, register at: Pickleballmanitoba.ca
The Russell Townwide Garage Sale is scheduled for Saturday, June 20th from 9am-3:30pm. 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.
Pickleball and Badminton will be moving to the rink for the month of July! Dates are:
Pickleball Tuesdays: 1-3pm July 7, 14, 21, 28 Thursdays: 9-11am and 7-9pm July 9, 16, 23, 30 Badminton Wednesdays: 7-9pm July 8, 15, 22, 29 Please enter through the main rink doors at the Russell Memorial Multiplex (206 Darcy St). This is FREE, we provide all equipment needed, clean indoor shoes required. NO pickleball or badminton the week of July 1.
Summer Camps are back! The camps are 1 week and meet daily from 9am until 3:30pm! 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!
There are 2 horseshoe pits located next to the Russell Swimming Pool. They are up and ready to go! There are 2 old sets of shoes on site as well as a rake. If you would like the new horseshoes, they can be signed out for FREE at the pool during pool hours or at the recreation office (204)773-2422.
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).