Travis
Outdoor rink now closed
Pickleball is in the GPB Hall in Russell!
Tuesdays from 1-3pm and Thursdays from 9-11am and again from 7-9pm! Pickleball is still ongoing at the Binscarth school on Monday evenings from 7-9pm! Pickleball is FREE and we have all equipment needed. Clean, indoor shoes required.
Badminton is in Russell at the GPB Hall on Sunday evenings from 7-9pm. It is FREE and we have all equipment needed. Clean, indoor shoes required.
Indoor walking is in the GPB Hall on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30am-12 noon. Clean, indoor shoes required. FREE.
Adults & Tots is a FREE program for adults and their littles up to age 7. Dates are as follows: Wednesdays April 8, 15, 22 from 1-3pm and Thursdays April 9, 16, from 9:30-11:30am This is a FREE open gym time.
FREE Public Skating every Tuesday AND Thursday from 9:30-10:30am at the Russell Memorial Multiplex in the month of April.
Upcoming event! Paint the Ice Event! This is a free event on April 30th, from 7-8pm! Come join us at the Russell Memorial Multiplex to say goodbye to the ice for another season by painting on the ice! Details to follow!
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!
The next Healthy Baby date is Thursday, April 23 from 11 am-1 pm.
The outdoor rink is CLOSED for the season. Thank you to everyone who made this possible!
Candidates share their thoughts - By-election
Editor’s Note:
With the by-election now declared for Wednesday April 29th with voting at the George P. Buleziuk Centre in Russell and the Municipal Office in Binscarth running between 8 am and 8 pm and early voting held in the Brad Room at the Civic Centre on Russell’s Main Street on Monday April 20th between 8 am and 8 pm, we have sent identical questions to each of the four candidates which will all appear in this edition of the Russell Banner. To see the full write up, pick up a copy of this week's Russell Banner at our office, or one of our fine newspaper dealers.
Candidate Leanne Bily
Tell us a little about yourself – how long you’ve lived here, what you do or did for a living, community involvement, etc.
I have been a proud resident of this community for over 30 years, born and raised in the area. This is where I have built my life with my husband Sean, and where we raised our two children.
Professionally, I am a business leader and hold a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation representing expertise, ethics, and strategic HR leadership. My days are spent with an amazing team at the Russell Inn for the past 32 years, where I started from a very young age growing through many different roles into my current focus on operations and leadership.
Beyond my professional life, I have always believed in giving back to the place that has given me so much. Over the years, I’ve been actively involved as a volunteer in our schools, local sports, and a wide range of community events and initiatives.
Candidate Chris Radford
Tell us a little about yourself – how long you’ve lived here, what you do or did for a living, community involvement, etc.
I was raised in the Rossburn area and moved to Russell for work when I was 20. Other than 12 years in Bredenbury SK, my family and I have been here ever since.
I have been involved with many parts of the community over the years. I have been part of the “Take a Year Off Lottery” since it started. I was on the Chamber of Commerce board until just recently, and am involved with the Living Legacy Community Foundation, to mention a few.
Candidate Dale Sawchuk
Tell us a little about yourself – how long you’ve lived here, what you do or did for a living, community involvement, etc.
I have been a resident of Binscarth since 1979 and have spent a lot of my life actively involved in the community.
I am a local business owner, having operated my own barbershop in Binscarth for the last 50 years plus working at a part-time shop in Birtle. While running this business I worked full-time at Mosaic mine for 35 years.
Community involvement has always been important to me. I have served as President of the Binscarth Hall for the last 20 years; from chairing meetings, making plans, helping with minor repairs, and the day-to-day running of the facility I am a hands-on member and put in full effort in whatever needs to be done. I was a member of the Binscarth Park and Pool Committee before becoming President. I’m proud to know that I headed the committee when the pool went through its’ well needed renovation, which all members of community know was no small feat. I also contributed to the Binscarth Golf Course Committee and can be seen on the golf course cutting grass over the summer. I lend a hand in from small needs to larger projects. I believe that members of the community need to participate, in order to make their community what they want it to be.
Candidate Nick Foisy
Tell us a little about yourself – how long you’ve lived here, what you do or did for a living, community involvement.
I have been proud to call this community home for over 20 years. My connection to the area goes back even further to my time playing Junior A hockey with the Waywayseecappo Wolverines, which first brought me here and helped build lasting relationships within the region.
My wife and I made the decision to stay, raise our family, and invest in this community because of the quality of life it offers. We are raising our three children here, and like many families, we take full advantage of what our municipality provides—from local
recreation to the great pool in Binscarth, where our kids have learned to swim each summer.
Professionally, I have built a career in financial services and currently hold a leadership role within a global finance organization. My work involves managing complex financial portfolios, strategic planning, and risk management—experience that directly translates into strong financial oversight and decision-making at the municipal level.
In terms of community involvement, I have proudly served on the local fire department for over 15 years. This role has reinforced my commitment to public service, teamwork, and being there when our community needs support the most. I have also previously served one term on municipal council, where I had the opportunity to contribute to several important initiatives.
IGA Easter Cake Decorating Well Attended
There was very colorful icing, mini eggs, gummy worms and jelly beans and a whole bunch of happy kids, parents and grandparents as the Russell IGA hosted a free Easter cake decorating event over the last weekend in March heading toward the Easter long weekend.
April 7, 2026
April 7, 2026
MJHL final four set for puck drop
By Derek Holtom
Well that was quick, wasn’t it?
Three of the four first-round series were completed in as short a time as possible as the Virden Oil Capitals, Waywayseecappo Wolverines and the Niverville Nighthawks all swept their first-round series.
As a result the second round matchups are set, both featuring East Division teams being the top seed versus West Division opponents. Here’s a preview of the second round series.
Waywayseecappo Wolverines vs. Niverville Nighthawks
This second-round matchup features two teams who won their first-ever best-of-seven quarter-final series. It also means that the MJHL will have a new first-time league finalist this year.
The odds-on favourite is the MJHL’s top seeded Niverville Nighthawks. They only lost six games in regulation in the regular season and none in the first round of the playoffs. They out-scored the Winkler Flyers 17-5 and were led by forward Marlen Edwards (seven assists), forward Adam Vigfusson (four goals, two assists, six points), and defenseman Aaron Krestanowich (one goal, five assists, six points).
The Wolverines enter the second round having swept the Dauphin Kings in a series that saw two games go to overtime. Wayway scored 14 goals in four games, led by Sebastien Hicks (four goals, one assist, five points), Dylan Duzan (three goals, one assist, four points), and both Kurt Rookes and Cole Hunter who each had two goals and three points. Ben Roulette also chipped in five assists. And Jace Wareham was rock-solid posting a 1.63 GAA and a .951 save percentage.
Wayway completed a historic feat by beating the Dauphin Kings but the Niverville Nighthawks are a whole different story. The top seed had a decided advantage, but one need only look back a year to see that major upsets can, and do happen in the playoffs.
Virden Oil Capitals versus Steinbach Pistons
The Oil Capitals easily disposed of the Neepawa Titans in the first round, out-scoring them 23-6 in their four-game series. Rookie Dysen Drake (seven points) and Marshall Light (six points) each had four goals to lead the Oil Capitals in goal scoring in the first round, while Bryce Bryant had eight points (three goals, five assists) to lead the team in this category.
The Steinbach Pistons are the only team who didn’t sweep their first-round opponent. The Pistons advanced Saturday night with a 2-0 shutout over the Portage Terriers, winning the series in five games – they lost the opener on home ice and then rattled off four straight wins to advance. They were led by first-round playoff scoring leader, defenseman Liam Doyle, who had 10 points (four goals, six assists), forward Jackson Kostiuk (six goals, two assists, eight points), forward Sam Noad (two goals, five assists, seven points), and forward Brett Kaiser (seven assists). Goaltender Chris Quizi is the only goaltender entering the second round who didn’t have a goals against average under 2.00 as he sports a 2.01 and a .938 save percentage.
The Pistons had the toughest matchup in the first round and should be dialed in for the Oil Capitals.
Asessippi named finalist in Manitoba Tourism award for third time
Asessippi Ski Area & Resort has once again been recognized as a leader in Manitoba’s tourism industry, earning a nomination for Business of the Year – Large at the upcoming provincial tourism awards.
The award recognizes a tourism business, facility, event, or attraction with 20 or more employees that provides exceptional visitor experiences and demonstrates high levels of customer satisfaction through outstanding services and offerings.
Asessippi Ski Area & Resort is honoured to be included among this year’s finalists, alongside Churchill Wild, Elkhorn Resort Spa and Conference Centre, Interlake Brewing Co., Winnipeg Waterways, Thermëa Spa Village Winnipeg, Assiniboia Downs, and Select Start Arcade Resto-Lounge.
This marks the third consecutive year Asessippi has been nominated for the award, having proudly received the honour in both of the past two years.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognized alongside such outstanding tourism operators across Manitoba,” said Richard, General Manager “This nomination reflects the dedication of our entire team here at Asessippi and the experience we try to provide every guest who visits the resort.”
Unfortunately, things are getting worse - Letter to the Editor
Hi, my name is Levi Cottingham and I am a Conservative (for those who didn’t already know).
Now that we got that out of the way…
Manitobans were promised meaningful change when the Manitoba New Democratic Party formed government. Unfortunately, things are getting worse. Ask a healthcare worker. Ask a parent. Ask a tradesperson.
The reality on the ground has not improved. In fact, many would argue it has gotten worse. Access to health care remains one of the biggest concerns. Emergency rooms face reduced hours or closures, doctor shortages persist, and too many families are forced to travel long distances just to receive basic care. These are not abstract policy issues—they are everyday realities that affect people’s safety and quality of life.
The numbers back this up.
As noted by the Fraser Institute: “On the campaign trail back in 2023, Premier Wab Kinew promised to fix Manitoba’s health-care system. Fast-forward to today and the province’s health-care spending has increased 9 per cent (per person, after adjusting for inflation) while wait times have increased 34 per cent. Manitobans also continue to struggle with a doctor shortage, and patients are dying after long waits in the emergency room.” For rural communities, where access is already limited, these trends are even more alarming.
Read the whole "Letter to the Editor" on page A4 of this week's Russell Banner.
No Gym Kids during school spring break
Pickleball is back on in the GPB Hall in Russell! Tuesdays from 1-3pm and Thursdays from 9-11am and again from 7-9pm! Pickleball is still ongoing at the Binscarth school on Monday evenings from 7-9pm! Pickleball is FREE and we have all equipment needed. Clean, indoor shoes required.
Badminton is back on in Russell at the GPB Hall on Sunday evenings from 7-9pm. It is FREE and we have all equipment needed. Clean, indoor shoes required. NO badminton on Easter Sunday, April 5th.
Indoor walking is back in the GPB Hall on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30am-12 noon. Clean, indoor shoes required. FREE - NO Indoor Walking on Good Friday, April 3rd
Adults & Tots is a FREE program for adults and their littles up to age 7. Dates are as follows: Wednesdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22 from 1-3pm and Thursdays, April 2, 9, 16, from 9:30-11:30am. This is a FREE open gym time.
FREE Public Skating every Tuesday AND Thursday from 9:30-10:30am at the Russell Memorial Multiplex
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!
NO GYM KIDS April 1st and 2nd (Major Pratt Spring Break)
The Recreation Office is CLOSED on Friday, April 3rd.
Davidson family heirloom returned
If you’re from this area, it’s highly likely you’ll be familiar with someone from the Davidson family.
Last week, a First World War memorial medal lost for decades was returned, reconnecting them with a deeply personal piece of their history and the sacrifice of two brothers who never came home.
The medal, known as the Silver Cross, was discovered in early spring 2024 by Brandon metal detecting enthusiast Mitch Cuthbert while searching what is now the Odikia playpark at the north end of town near the Personal Care Home.
“I was in Russell for work and I thought, rather than sitting in my hotel room at night I’d take out my metal detector and see what I could find,”
Due to how the signal appeared on his machine, Cuthbert thought he had most likely found a silver dollar but what initially appeared to be a coin quickly turned into something far more significant.
“I thought it might be a silver dollar at first,” Cuthbert said. “But once I cleaned it up, I realized it was a war medal. That’s when I knew it was something special.”
Read more of this heartwarming story on pages 1 & 8 of this week's Russell Banner.