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Back to SearchProvince investing in emergency equipment and training to protect communities
NEWS - April 7, 2026
Russell — The government is taking action to protect Ontario by investing $49,848.22 in the Township of Russell to help prepare for and respond to emergencies. Funding is being delivered through the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant (CEPG), which strengthens emergency preparedness by helping communities improve their local resilience.
“Investing in local emergency preparedness is a priority for our government,” said Stéphane Sarrazin, MPP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. “This funding will help Russell Township strengthen its ability to respond to emergencies of all kinds, from severe weather to power outages, by providing emergency personnel and municipal staff with the training and tools they need to keep residents safe. I’m proud to see our communities becoming more resilient and better prepared for whatever challenges come their way.”
Russell Township will use this funding to address critical gaps in its preparedness and response capabilities for severe winter storms, which have intensified in recent years. Weather events such as ice storms, heavy snowfall, and prolonged power outages have exposed vulnerabilities in infrastructure, communication systems, and emergency shelter operations. This project will enhance community resilience by upgrading essential equipment including drones, cots and emergency communication tools, improving early warning systems, and providing targeted training for emergency personnel and municipal employees to better protect the community.
“Thank you to the Province of Ontario for this support. As weather-related emergencies become more common, being prepared is more important than ever,” shared Mike Tarnowski, Mayor for the Township of Russell. “We are collaborating with partners at every level to strengthen local readiness and help ensure residents know their township is ready when it matters most.”
“Our government is strengthening the readiness of local communities and organizations to better prepare for any type of emergency,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. "Whether it’s modernizing an emergency operations centre or investing in a generator to power a warming centre during a winter storm, these investments help to protect communities across Ontario.”
In the photo from left to right: Supervisor Jason Laplante, Mayor Mike Tarnowski, Director Millie Bourdeau, MPP Stéphane Sarrazin, Fire Chief Brian McBain, Deputy Chief Ian Courville and Firefighter Brent Hagen.
Quick Facts
- The CEPG supports small- to medium-sized municipalities, local services boards, First Nations communities, Tribal Councils and Indigenous service organizations.
- Recipients were selected through a rigorous and competitive review process.
- Since the program launched in 2023, the province has invested $15 million to provide 342 recipients with grants.
Additional Resources
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Media Contacts
Ricardo Fartura
Minister’s Office
Ricardo.Fartura@ontario.ca
Noémie Prevost
Office of MPP Stéphane Sarrazin
Noemie.prevost@pc.ola.org
Kim Legault
Township of Russell
KimLegault@russell.ca