The Manitoba government is contributing $100,000 through its From the Ground Up – Safe Healthy Communities for ALL program to help rebuild the roof at the Foxwarren District Recreation Centre (FDRC), Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard announced last week.
“These critical repairs will help ensure the FDRC remains the heart of the community, providing residents and visitors of all ages with a safe facility for recreational and social events,” said Simard. “From the Ground Up supports our government’s commitment to build safe, healthy communities where individuals, youth and families can thrive. Our investment in rebuilding the roof will benefit the region and help keep kids on the path to a bright future.”
The FDRC is a not-for-profit facility that includes an ice rink and community centre, used by various groups for minor hockey, figure skating, 4-H, agricultural society events, community meetings and celebrations, auction sales and family functions like weddings. Built in 1949 by local volunteers, it is one of the region’s largest facilities and serves the communities of Foxwarren, Binscarth, Birtle, Rossburn, St. Lazare, as well as the Gambler and Waywayseecappo First Nations.
“This provincial grant is a boost to our efforts to complete exterior and interior repairs to meet fire code regulations before opening in summer 2026,” said Mark Wotton, board member, FDRC. “Extensive support from local organizations, as well as personal and business donations, has allowed FDRC to get closer to our goal of raising an additional $200,000, and we have raised $118,000 to date. The board is extremely grateful for everyone’s generosity.”
The From the Ground Up program supports community renewal efforts, community capital projects and youth initiatives. Non-profit organizations, Northern Affairs community councils and municipalities can apply for funding. The program received a $1-million increase in Budget 2025. In 2025-26, the Manitoba government committed more than $12.29 million to support 208 community development projects across Manitoba.

It’s difficult to remember how many years the Family Dance has been part of our Christmas season here in Russell.
Many families have memories of their kids running around the dance floor more than thirty years ago. Then, for reasons not remembered, the Family Dance petered out until it was revived by a new group about twenty years ago.
While there is yet to be a total of the donation to be made to Russell and Area Food Connections determined, with 250 people coming through the doors being the same as last year, it’s expected that the donation will be somewhere near the same amount donated last year.

Get the whole story in this week's issue of Russell Banner.

Olympic Champion and renowned TV host of The Amazing Race Canada, Jon Montgomery is a proud second-generation 4-H’er. His involvement in the 4-H movement began in his hometown of Russell, MB, where he was a youth member of the Russell 4-H Beef Club for four years.
A proud alum, Jon has continued to live and breathe 4-H values throughout his career as an elite athlete, philanthropist, and national TV host. Jon embodies leadership skills, pride in his rural roots, drive to achieve world-class goals, and a ‘can-do’ attitude that parallels 4-H Canada’s ‘Learn To Do By Doing’ motto. These 4-H values have taken him far, including the top of the podium in the sport of skeleton at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. In 2013 he made his television debut on The Amazing Race Canada and remains the beloved host today.
A household name in Canada and around the world, Jon frequently uses his platforms as a motivational speaker on topics close to his heart, including leadership, teamwork, and healthy living. A strong advocate for agriculture, Jon has been a fixture at important ag-related events around the country, including Manitoba AgDays and the GrowCanada Conference.
In 2023, 4-H Canada was proud to have Jon host the virtual 2023 4-H Canada Leadership Awards, where he led the celebration of 4-H youth, leaders, and supporters around the country. In a subsequent interview with The Pledge, 4-H Canada’s alumni magazine, Jon stated, “Life is about teamwork and collaboration, and 4-H teaches that. When you’re working with other kids towards a common goal, you’re caring about the people around you – that’s what we need more of in this world.”
Jon is a true example of 4-H Canada’s mission to support youth as caring, contributing leaders within their club, community, and the world, and we are honoured to present him with the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award.

In a long-awaited and unequivocal decision, the Honourable Justice Richard Mosley has declared the Liberal cabinet’s invocation of the Emergencies Act as not just questionable but outright illegal.
Let’s be crystal clear: the government’s move to enact the Emergencies Act, an unprecedented action taken on Feb. 14, 2022, in response to the Freedom Convoy protests, has been found to be in flagrant violation of not only sections 3 and 17 of the Emergencies Act itself but also Part 1 of the Constitution Act of 1982 and sections of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Justice Mosley didn’t mince words in his 126-page Reasons for Judgment, stating that the government’s decision lacked reasonableness, justification, transparency, and intelligibility. He made it abundantly clear that the Emergencies Act was meant to safeguard fundamental rights, even in emergency situations where temporary measures might be necessary.
Contrast this with the findings of the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC), which raised serious doubts about the Act’s invocation. On Feb. 17, 2023, Justice Paul Rouleau “concluded that the very high threshold required for the invocation of the (Emergencies) Act was met.” He contended that “cabinet had reasonable grounds to believe there existed a national emergency arising from threats to the security of Canada,” resulting in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declaring the Act. Rouleau’s dubious conclusion was made all the more dubious by this comment: “I do not come to this conclusion easily as I do not consider the factual basis for it to be overwhelming.”
In his finding, Mosley pointed out that the Governor in Council was required by the Emergencies Act legislation to show that “the reasons for its decision” are “reasonable” and “demonstrate ‘justification, transparency and intelligibility.”
Extensive evidence was brought to the court’s attention. This included the testimony of RCMP Superintendent Denis Beaudoin. He conceded that RCMP officers gathered names of citizens whose bank accounts were to be seized and frozen and “did not apply a standard, such as reasonable grounds, before sharing information with the financial institutions.”
Justice Mosley’s ruling exposed significant flaws in the government’s actions, particularly its failure to follow due process when seizing and freezing citizens’ bank accounts. The revelation that RCMP officers didn’t apply any reasonable standard before sharing information with financial institutions is nothing short of alarming.
The government’s attempt to dismiss the matter as moot because the Emergencies Act was revoked on Feb. 23, 2022, was rightfully rejected by Justice Mosley. He ruled that “the Applicants have established that an adversarial context continues to exist and have built a record upon which meaningful judicial review of the decision to invoke the Act and issue the Proclamation … can occur”. The federal court ruled that the POEC inquiry was not a substitute for judicial review.
The applicants who sought judicial review of the Emergencies Act invocation, including former registered nurse Kristen Nagle, the Canadian Frontline Nurses, volunteer firefighter Jeremiah Jost, Canadian military veteran Edward Cornell, retired police officer Vincent Gircys, and former Canadian Armed Forces chaplain Harold Ristau, have been vindicated. Gircys and Cornell had their bank accounts frozen without any judicial authorization or review process, a move previously reserved under Canadian law for terrorists or enemy nations.
Cornell said his experience of having his bank accounts seized was traumatic.
“I broke no law, yet the government seized my accounts and froze my hard-earned money. I am not a criminal. I am not a terrorist. I am a retired Canadian military veteran who honourably served his country… I feel betrayed by my own government.”
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Canadian Constitution Foundation have been instrumental in challenging the legality and constitutionality of the government’s actions on behalf of Jost, Cornell, Gircys, and Ristau.
Justice Mosley’s ruling underscores the importance of judicial review in such matters and raises serious questions about the questionable justification provided by the Rouleau inquiry. The POEC was never intended to assess the legality and constitutionality of measures adopted by the Act, and it’s a relief that a judicial review has proceeded despite the government’s control of information and reluctance to disclose it.
Mosley concluded, “If the Court declines to hear these cases, a precedent may be established that so long as the government can revoke the declaration of an emergency before a judicial review application can be heard, the courts will have no role in reviewing the legality of such a decision.”

Ray McGinnis is a senior fellow with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. His forthcoming book is titled Unjustified: The Emergencies Act and the Inquiry that Got It Wrong.

Skate with SANTA is scheduled for Sunday, December 14 from 6:00-7:30pm at the Russell Memorial Multiplex! This a FREE event sponsored by the Municipality of Russell Binscarth Recreation Department. There will also be ornaments to decorate on the concourse! Come join us!
Registration for Session #2 of GYM KIDS is going on now! The new session will start January 7/8! This program emphasizes fun, over-all fitness and fundamental gymnastics skill through various teaching aids, fun props, rock wall, ninja equipment, and obstacle courses. It incorporates fitness activities such as stretching, gymnastics, strength, gross motor skills, sports skills, balance, and agility. Contact the recreation office for more info or to register! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We will be running a St. John’s Certified first aid course on January 8, from 8 am -5 pm! The cost is $125. Contact the recreation office to register! 204-773-2422 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Indoor Walking has started at the George P. Buleziuk Hall in Russell on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30 am-12 noon. Come in from the cold and walk where it is warm and free from the ice and snow! Please bring clean, indoor shoes to walk in. There are chairs provided to sit and change out of your boots.
Pickleball continues at the George P. Buleziuk Hall in Russell on Tuesdays from 1-3pm and on Thursdays from 9 am-11 am and again from 7-9 pm. This is FREE and we provide all equipment needed. Never played? No problem! We will teach you! Come join us!
Our outdoor rink is almost ready! Stay tuned!
We will starting up badminton again in the New Year!

As Manitobans pull their winter boots out of the closet and brace for another Prairie winter, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is reminding everyone that it is just as important to think about what your vehicle is using when in contact with snow and ice. Winter months show the highest number of collisions reported to MPI, and not enough traction is one of the contributing factors. The MPI Winter Tire Program provides low-interest financing up to $2,000 to help Manitobans purchase winter tires.
“MPI is committed to safety and affordability, and our Winter Tire Program addresses both of these issues,” said Maria Campos, Vice President & Chief Customer and Product Officer. “Winter tires reduce collisions by 6.3% and vehicles with winter tires may experience less damage severity in crashes. Winter tires are a simple step Manitobans can take to be safer on the road in winter months. Since the program started in 2014, we have given out 272,000 loans amounting to $362.9 million.”
Investing in a set of winter tires can be expensive, which MPI aims to make more affordable for Manitobans through the Winter Tire Program. Customers can get started by visiting any of the 655 participating tire retailers across the province to apply for the program. Financing terms are between one and four years. The retailer will confirm eligibility and begin the loan authorization process. Manitobans can check their eligibility and learn more about the program at: mpi.mb.ca/win ter-tire-program.
Winter tires should be installed when temperatures stay below +7°C. They are made with flexible rubber compounds for better grip in winter conditions, and they have better traction at -30°C or -40°C than all-season tires.
Many Manitobans believe that all-season tires are sufficient, but tests show a full set of winter tires stop much faster on ice. All-wheel drive (AWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles should also be equipped with winter tires, as the AWD and 4WD helps with acceleration, not braking or turning corners.

Pictured above, The Parkland Outlaws football team who helps out every year - whether it be with setting up, scaring, or
tearing down the Haunted House, received $1,000 for their continuing efforts for the cause.

Find out who the three other recipients were in this week's Russell Banner.

Fusion Credit Union is proud to announce a new multi-year partnership with the Brandon Wheat Kings uniting two organizations deeply committed to community, youth development, and local pride throughout Manitoba.
The partnership focuses on expanding grassroots programs, enhancing financial literacy opportunities, and supporting initiatives that create meaningful impact for families across the province.
“At Fusion, our mission has always been to invest in the people and communities we serve,” said Darwin Johns, CEO at Fusion. “Partnering with the Wheat Kings—an organization that embodies teamwork, resilience, and community spirit—allows us to reach even more Manitobans with programs that build confidence, connection, and financial well-being. Together, we are creating opportunities that go far beyond the rink.”
The collaboration will include support for youth hockey programs, community events, fundraisers, and educational initiatives that promote financial empowerment, accessible recreation, and inclusive participation in sport.

Get the whole score on page 7 of this week's Russell Banner.

Don and Dianna DeMontigny and their daughters Tanya Thompson and Shannon Leflar have been a part of this community - as well as Roblin - for decades. About five years ago, Dianna was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Recently, Tanya - who has won national awards as a volleyball coach - took her team to the court against Langenburg for the Serving for the Cause – Dementia Awareness Fundraiser! The energy, cheers, and community spirit were amazing — and together with team family, parents, fans and friends - along with the generosity of local businesses over $2,000 was raised for the Alzheimer Society of Canada!