Construction begins for Jonathan Pitre Park

August 10, 2021 Embrun, ON – The Township of Russell began the construction of a municipal park named after local “butterfly boy” Jonathan Pitre with a ground-breaking ceremony today.

The Township would like to thank the MP of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell: Deputy M. Francis Drouin, Mayor Pierre Leroux, the members of the Township of Russell Council, the Pitre family, the constructor’s representatives and all the media staff who attended this event.

The ceremony marks the start of a $285,000 investment towards a new accessible park as part of Phase 1 & 2 of the Recreation Complex Project. MP M. Drouin seized this occasion to announce that the Township of Russell was awarded by the federal government a grant of 198 391 to support this project.

Jonathan Pitre was a resident of the Township of Russell who fought a difficult and long battle with Epidermolysis bullosa, and unfortunately passed April 8, 2018. He is known as the ''Butterfly Child'' due to his disease, which made his skin as fragile as butterfly wings. His strength, courage, and determination during his fight inspired us all to thrive, no matter the different barriers we may face.

This project is part of the Township’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan to dedicate a project to Jonathan Pitre, and to build new infrastructure in the community.

The park will be located near the Township Sports Dome at 150 Sportsplex Street in Embrun. The park will have accessible play structures, swings, a boat structure, senior exercise equipments, and more. It is expected to be completed in the fall of 2021.

Colliers Project Leaders is supervising the project, assisted by N45 Architecture Inc. and Tofcon Construction Inc.

The Township of Russell looks forward to seeing the completion of Jonathan Pitre Park in the coming months.

A project of this magnitude would not be possible without the support of the community. An online fundraiser on GoFundMe is open until September 5, 2021, with a goal of raising $100,000 for the Jonathan Pitre Park. All contributions, large or small, are appreciated.

GoFundMe for Jonathan Pitre Park: https://www.gofundme.com/f/gofundmecomfparc-jonathan-pitre-park

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