Collaborative Consultant in Community Safety and Communications
Cowichan Valley, BC
Mike Russell is an award-winning communicator with over 13-years of experience in crisis communications, strategy building, storytelling, and direct community empowerment. He brings significant experience in community mobilization and has garnered a reputation as a careful listener and persuasive storyteller.
Mike is currently the Director of Communications for the Cowichan Valley School District where he uses research, collaboration, and restorative storytelling processes to bring his community together. Additionally, Mike is a co-lead of the district’s Crisis Incident Response Team (CIRT), and liaison to the Regional Emergency Operations Centre (REOC). Mike previously spent 14-years as a police officer with the Edmonton Police Service and Victoria Police Department where he worked in community engagement, beat, patrol, public affairs, and as an acting-detective in the Criminal Investigation Section.
Mike is a husband and father of five, cyclist, aspiring banjo and guitar player, and amateur photographer.