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Outgoing Warden Mr. Normand Riopel posing with Warden Yves Laviolette and the representatives of 24 regional community organizations

News Release

For Immediate Release

Yves Laviolette Elected as Warden of the
United Counties of Prescott and Russell for 2025

L’Orignal, December 18, 2024 – The United Counties of Prescott and Russell (the “UCPR”) are pleased to announce that Yves Laviolette, Mayor of the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet, will serve as Warden for the year 2025. Mr. Laviolette was elected by acclamation at the annual Inaugural Meeting held earlier tonight.

Mr. Laviolette is an experienced politician, having served as Reeve of the Alfred Township from 1986 to 1991, as UCPR Warden in 1988, as Councillor of the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet from 2019 to 2022, and as Mayor of this municipality since June 2022. This is therefore his second term as UCPR Warden.

Warden Laviolette shared his priorities for 2025 in his swearing-in speech:

  • Officially open the new Prescott and Russell Residence and move the residents;
  • Find solutions, in collaboration with the other mayors, to counter the budgetary pressures affecting the region’s municipalities;
  • Carry on road and municipal infrastructure maintenance; and
  • Continue planning the 17/174 widening project.

“My sincere thanks to Mr. Normand Riopel, Mayor of the Township of Champlain, for his two years as Warden in 2023 and 2024. He guided the UCPR Council with confidence and dedication,” said Warden Laviolette. “In the coming year, I will ensure that the ties between the region’s eight municipalities and with our regional partners remain strong. By working together, we will have a powerful voice, achieve concrete results, and reach our goals quickly.”

As tradition dictates, during the Inaugural Meeting, the outgoing Warden, Mr. Normand Riopel, had the opportunity to donate $28,000 to 24 regional community organizations. He divided the funds raised thanks to the UCPR’s 2024 community events among the eight municipalities. The organizations that received these funds are:

  • 137 Royal Canadian Dragoons Royal Canadian Army Cadets – $1,083;
  • 832 Twillick Clarence-Rockland, Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron – $1,083;
  • Arbor Gallery – $1,000;s
  • Casselman-Crysler-St-Albert Food Bank – $1,083;
  • Cercle des Fermières de Chute-à-Blondeau – $1,250;
  • Cercle des Fermières de Ste-Anne-de-Prescott – $1,250;
  • Chevaliers de Colomb St-Isidore – $1,625;
  • Club 60 of Casselman – $1,083;
  • Club de l'Amicale du Village de L'Orignal Inc. – $500;
  • Comptoir familial Le Partage de Bourget – $1,083;
  • Drillers (Tournoi Annuel de Balle de Plantagenet) – $1,083;
  • Freedom Dog Rescue – $1,083;
  • Hawkesbury Central Food Bank – $1,083;
  • L'Orignal Food Bank – $1,000;
  • L'Orignal Old Jail – $1,500;
  • Ligue de Balle Femme D'Alfred – $1,083;
  • Limoges Food Drive Committee – $1,625;
  • Maison Interlude House Inc. - $3,333;
  • Prescott-Russell Community Services – $1,083;
  • Royal Canadian Legion, Long Twiname Branch 372, Russell ON – $1,000;
  • Ski Vent Clic – $750;
  • The Friends of the Macdonell-Williamson House – $750;
  • Vankleek Hill and District Historical Society – $500; and
  • Wendover softball league, Wendover Optimist Club – $1,083.

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About the United Counties of Prescott and Russell

The Corporation of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (the “UCPR”) was founded in 1850. Located between the City of Ottawa to the west and the Quebec border to the east, the Prescott and Russell region covers a territory of 2,004 square kilometres. The UCPR are the soul of eight municipalities, each one with unique characteristics. Serving East Hawkesbury, Hawkesbury, Champlain, Alfred and Plantagenet, The Nation, Casselman, Russell, and Clarence-Rockland, the United Counties of Prescott and Russell act as an upper-tier municipal government entity supporting the regional interests while providing programs and services, in both official languages, to more than 98,000 residents.

The UCPR’s vision: Prescott and Russell will continue to be a community united by its traditions and cultures, working towards the prosperity of all its residents.

Olivier Berthiaume
Conseiller principal et directeur des communications
Chief of Staff and Director of Communications
613-675-4661
OBerthiaume@prescott-russell.on.ca
www.prescott-russell.on.ca