Roly Russell, a Grand Forks resident and dedicated community leader, has been serving as the MLA for Boundary-Similkameen since 2020. During his time in office, he’s been a strong advocate for rural communities, working to lower costs for families, enhance agricultural and food security, and ensure that rural BC has a voice in key government decisions. As the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development, Roly has played a critical role in connecting rural residents with vital resources and helping local economies grow.
Roly’s leadership has been particularly evident during times of crisis. He helped spearhead recovery efforts for his hometown following the severe flooding in 2018, and again when atmospheric rivers caused widespread damage in 2021. By collaborating across multiple levels of government, he secured essential support for impacted communities, helped rebuild BC’s disaster and emergency management system through last year’s legislation, and developed new approaches to community-led disaster recovery.
His background in ecology and sustainable agriculture has informed his approach in government. Roly holds a PhD in ecology, and his research focused on biodiversity science and decision-making under uncertainty. Prior to provincial politics, he was involved in various local organizations, such as the Kootenay-Boundary Regional District, the Union of BC Municipalities, and his local credit union. Roly has also co-founded an agricultural society, served on the board of the Certified Organic Association of BC, and operated his own organic farm.
Throughout his term, Roly has remained committed to building a sustainable, inclusive future for the Boundary-Similkameen region. He’s worked across ministries to deliver tangible results for people in the area, from improved rural infrastructure to new economic development opportunities and a new draft ecosystem health framework. Born and raised in rural BC, he spent time living in various countries around the world, before he and his partner Christine decided they would move back to rural life in BC (from Manhattan!) in order to raise their family, now with two children, Gabriel and Juno. Roly is proud to call the Boundary region home and strives to ensure it remains a vibrant place to live, work, and play for generations to come. #ProudToBeHere