Russell, Manitoba

Russell, Manitoba is a town in Manitoba, Canada, west of Silver Creek Municipality.The town of Russell is located at Highway 16 and Highway 83, approximately 15 km from the Saskatchewan border and 340 km northwest of Winnipeg.The community is home to approximately 1,400 people, with a trading area population of over 14,000.

Russell is the home of Manitoba's Beef and Barley Festival, which is held annually in October to celebrate the region's strong agricultural tradition. Festival events include the King & Queen Pageant, a volleyball tournament, a car rally, and a craft fair. Grain farming and cattle ranching are extensive in the surrounding areas.

Industrial Development

Recent changes to agriculture, such as the elimination of the Western Grain Transportation Subsidy, have put the region in a unique position. With one of the highest freight rates in western Canada, the Russell area is well-positioned to experience an explosion in value-added processing.

Russell is also home to Bunge Canada, an advanced canola processing plant, located at Harrowby, 15 km west of Russell.

Nearby potash mining in Saskatchewan makes a significant contribution to the local economy by the employment of Russell's residents and local purchases of supplies and services. Manitoba's first potash mine is proposed for a site just southwest of Russell.

Even with a strong growing economy, the town of Russell and the surrounding rural municipalities are aggressively promoting local economic development initiatives through the Asessippi Parkland Economic Development Corp.

Education

Russell is a major service centre for the agricultural communities in the region and provides excellent educational facilities, ranging from day care and nursery to postsecondary facilities. Assiniboine Community College has a regional campus located in Russell. The community also has access to First Year Distant Education transmission, allowing individuals to take first-year education by interactive television.

Recreation

Recreational facilities available to Russell residents and visitors include a serviced campground, tennis courts, ball fields, curling and hockey arenas, community halls, a swimming pool, snowboarding and downhill skiing, and a nine-hole golf course.

Russell holds four outstanding hockey schools during the month of July: Theoren Fleury Hockey School, Edge Female Hockey School, Edge Goalie Hockey School, and Manitoba Moose Hockey School. Russell is located only 27 km from Asessippi Provincial Park, the site of Asessippi Ski Area & Winter Park—a world-class ski facility and year-round family park—as well as the Lake of the Prairies, a 64 km-long lake that is rated the third-best pickerel fishing lake in North America.

History

Notable Community Members

Theoren Fleury — NHL (Calgary Flames, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks)

ources

* [http://www.Russellmb.com Official] Town of Russell website.
* [http://www.google.com/maphp?hl=en&tab=wl&q=russell,%20manitoba Google maps] .