Tom Van Dusen
Villager Contributor
RUSSELL – A bit of a stir was created on Facebook lately after local builder Corvinelli Homes put up an item from MacLean’s Magazine describing Russell as one of the 10 best places to live in Canada.
“I told you Russell was the best place to live,” posted supreme community booster Connie Johnston, a lifelong resident whose personal history includes attending a one-room school in North Russell. “This is proof. Canada is the best country in the world in which to live and now Russell is the best place in Canada. My parents sure knew where to settle.”
Wendy Walsh jumped in with: “My grandparents on both sides knew where to make their new life too.” More than 50 others chimed in with thumbs up and right-ons.
A Russell resident of 30 years, Della Allen echoed the sentiments, citing the small town feeling that hasn’t been disrupted by development, and the comfort level for young families.
Russell Township’s neighbour to the east, La Nation Municipality, also made the Money Sense list of top places to live. Based on criteria ranging from population growth and public transit, to high average income and low unemployment, Ottawa came out number one across the land in a ranking of 400 communities.
As to criteria of housing availability under $500,000, Russell and La Nation came in at averages of $403,638 and $386,219 respectively. They also excelled under weather, crime level, taxes, and, revolving on the Ottawa axis, commutability.
The MacLean’s article contends that, what with runaway housing prices, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find an affordable place to live. Russell and La Nation are among places that fill the bill.
Other than John Corvinelli posting the survey, there’s been no other effort to date to promote Russell lifestyle through reference to the MacLean’s assessment.