Pembroke

Billy Russell

Let’s welcome our neighbour, Billy Russell.

Hi, Billy! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi, my name is Billy. How best to describe myself? I am a father to two wonderful daughters who are now young adults and figuring out life. I was born and raised in Ottawa and found my way to Pembroke after completing my university degrees from Carleton University. I am a social worker who has worked in the Ottawa Valley for 25+ years, mostly in Child Welfare but also with the Renfrew County District School Board and now the Canadian Armed Forces. I tend to keep myself pretty busy and have also found joy teaching and training at Carleton University, the OACAS, and whatever group or lesson requests find me.

I do my best to find a balance between work ventures and family adventures. My girls were involved in competitive hockey and dance for 10 years each, and those activities took us all over Ontario and into the US as well. I enjoy the downtime of getting lost on YouTube and Spotify, and reading all sorts of things — fiction, non-fiction, or poetry. And I love experimenting in the kitchen, which is to say that recipes are optional.

Social work has provided me with the opportunity to meet so many people from this very community, and for that I am grateful. I have learned a lot from colleagues, collaterals, and families over the past 2.5 decades and try to keep bettering my practice with each new experience and the lessons I have learned. Generally, I just love having conversations such as these “howdy neighbours” because people are fascinating.

Learning is such a huge part of who I am. Life is ever-evolving and continues to bring us new challenges and opportunities to grow. I aspire to live up to my “why” of being helpful to those around me however and whenever I can. My WHY is to help people stay curious and become lifelong learners, so they can look at any problem or crisis they face with open eyes and ears, and the internal strength of knowing that they can deal with whatever comes their way.

If you could start a whole new career path, what would you be?

My summer job during my high school years was at a golf course as an ‘agronomist’ or turf care employee. It is something that I would definitely go back to. There was something fun about cutting lines into grass, making bunker sand look neat and groomed, and all the high jinx you can get into playing around with various tools and machinery. It is an outdoor job, which is a definite plus for the spring/summer/fall months and watching things change seasonally. Allergy season can be a bit tough to navigate, but it can be managed. Plus, we had access to free golf after work hours, which meant that I actually got to golf more often — something that I currently miss.

What three adjectives do you think your family and friends would use to describe you?

It would be easy to be self-deprecating with this question and point out my potential flaws and bad habits. Let’s be hopeful and focus on some positives. I hope that they would say compassionate, hard-working, and wise, in no particular order. There could be others, I am sure. I just try to bring good energy into the spaces that I am in.

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I want to go anywhere and everywhere that has food. I have not done a lot of travelling, across Canada or globally. I am always watching food vlogs and have seen so many neat places to travel — night markets across Asia, street-side cafes across Europe or the Middle East, and festivals in South America. I would want to explore new places by trying the local cuisines and appreciating the uniqueness of each place.

What strange food combination do you most enjoy?

Ranch on everything! Just kidding, not actually a ranch lover. I don’t know if this is strange or not, but I prefer to eat cereal plain without milk. And I tend to eat more cereal sprinkled on top of a bagel with peanut butter. Doesn’t matter what kind, whatever I have in the cupboard. It is a textural thing.

Anything can go together really. It’s not always about flavour but the textural need for soft and crunchy. Or salty and sweet. I remember eating peanut butter and pickle sandwiches as a kid. That is probably weirder.

What fictional TV or movie character would you most enjoy hanging out with for a day?

Ted Lasso. I have yet to fully watch the show, but always watch clips when they come up. And I have been told that he either sounds like me or I sound like him — with sage advice or a witty retort delivered at just the right time. Plus, he has a great sense of humour (or at least Jason Sudeikis does). It would be a hoot, I am sure.

What was the worst style choice you ever made?

All of them?! Where to begin? I usually go against the grain, and if I can use style to make a statement, I will. I go for bold colours, designs of all kinds, and I’m a lover of plaids. Those might be thought of as bad, but I will say my worst is likely the bowl cut that I let a friend give me when he said, “I can cut your hair.” Flip the top, shave the underside, and go with an extreme part. Now that is a distant memory as I only have the lower half and no more top to flip. Maybe balding is my punishment for my choice.

If you could ask your pet two questions, what would you ask them?

I ask my dog questions all the time, so I assume I will be able to understand their answers to these two questions. I have an older pug who has a big personality for his tiny little frame. I would love to know what he is saying when he goes on an incessant barking rampage, and I can’t redirect him. I would also ask him to explain his obsession with our garden. He cannot wait for raspberries, tomatoes, or anything else that is low enough for him to grab. I get that it’s food, but he just binges and makes himself sick — so is it worth it?

What would your trademark karaoke song be?

So much music to only choose one. I always have music playing, and from all genres and eras. I have never done karaoke. I just sing poorly out loud all the time when I hear a song I am familiar with or can get away with mumbling “almost” lyrics to. If I encounter anyone who mentions karaoke, I always ask them for “their go-to song,” even though I don’t have a true answer to this question myself, and am avoiding picking one now!

Thanks for sharing with us, neighbour Billy.

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Next week, we will welcome Allison McLaughlin.