The Russell Township Council is proposing a new recreation centre design which includes an indoor pool, a community centre (hall) and three full size ice sheets. The project is planned to cost $108 million, which brings the township close to its self-imposed debt limit of 15 per cent of its total revenue.

For years, some residents in the municipality, and in neighbouring communities, have wanted an indoor pool. There are no publicly owned indoor pools in any of the municipalities east of Ottawa - building one has been an ongoing request and a plan current and past township councils have worked on. Now the site has been chosen and several recreation centre designs are being considered, but the plans go beyond a simple indoor pool.

Charles Armstrong, a retired Canadian Forces member and a former candidate for council and for mayor, says that three new ice sheets in the township will require the demolition and sale of the two existing arenas, both of which are located in the centres of the two main villages in the township, Embrun and Russell.

CJRO asked Coun. Jamie Laurin what was planned for the two arenas.

"Council has not received any recommendations on what to do with those other facilities as of yet," he stated in an email. "Once we get those, then we can have the discussions on options. I believe, or at least my opinion is, that both current facilities will be decommissioned as arenas in support of the new three pad complex. Other than that, everything else is speculative. Looking forward to having those discussions as we continue towards the shovels being out into the ground next year and having the facility open in the summer is 2026."

The township is hosting an information session at the township hall on Wednesday, June 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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