{"id":108266,"date":"2025-12-03T10:26:04","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T15:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/editionap.ca\/?p=108266"},"modified":"2026-02-11T17:32:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T16:32:38","slug":"russell-dedicates-ball-diamonds-in-honour-of-gordon-saunders-and-don-graham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/refletnews.ca\/en\/societe\/russell-dedicates-ball-diamonds-in-honour-of-gordon-saunders-and-don-graham\/","title":{"rendered":"Russell dedicates ball diamonds in honour of Gordon Saunders and Don Graham"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Township of Russell has officially renamed its ball diamonds in tribute to two longtime community builders who helped shape and maintain the fields for many years.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

During a dedication ceremony held the previous week, Russell Mayor Mike Tarnowski announced the new names: Terrain Gordon Saunders Field and Terrain Don Graham Field.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mayor Tarnowski said the recognition reflects the deep gratitude felt across the community for both men, who devoted countless hours to ensuring the ball diamonds remained vibrant spaces for recreation, connection, and youth development.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGordon Saunders and Don Graham gave their time, their effort, and their heart to our community,\u201d the mayor said. \u201cThey helped build and care for these ball diamonds \u2014 places where families gather, children learn teamwork, and neighbours connect. Our community is stronger because of people like Gordon and Don.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"From
From left to right: Councilor Jamie Laurin, representative of the Graham family, Mayor Mike Tarnowski, Councilor Lisa Deacon, and Councilor Marc Lalonde.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The dedication ceremony was attended by Councillors Lisa Deacon, Marc Lalonde, and Jamie Laurin, along with members of the Russell Lions Club, the Russell Agricultural Society, and the Saunders and Graham families.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mayor Tarnowski also highlighted the key role of Councillor Jamie Laurin, who first proposed the commemorative naming at a 2023 meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee. The initiative received Council approval in 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

Local organizations such as the Lions Club and the Agricultural Society were also recognized for their ongoing contributions to recreational infrastructure and volunteer engagement within the township.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith today\u2019s dedication, their legacy will live on with every game played and everyone who steps onto these fields,\u201d Mayor Tarnowski added.<\/span><\/p>\n

The newly named ball diamonds now stand as lasting reminders of Saunders\u2019s and Graham\u2019s commitment to fostering community spirit and creating welcoming spaces for residents of all ages.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Township of Russell has officially renamed its ball diamonds in tribute to two longtime community builders who helped shape and maintain the fields for many years. During a dedication ceremony held the previous week, Russell Mayor Mike Tarnowski announced the new names: Terrain Gordon Saunders Field and Terrain Don Graham Field. Mayor Tarnowski said […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":108267,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-108266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-societe"],"acf":[],"featured_media_global":[],"yoast_head":"\nRussell dedicates ball diamonds in honour of Gordon Saunders and Don Graham - Le Reflet \/ The News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Township of Russell has officially renamed its ball diamonds in tribute to two longtime community builders who helped shape and maintain the fields for many years.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/refletnews.ca\/en\/societe\/russell-dedicates-ball-diamonds-in-honour-of-gordon-saunders-and-don-graham\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Russell dedicates ball diamonds in honour of Gordon Saunders and Don Graham - 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