Lower Sackville councillor taking leave for cancer treatments

HALIFAX, N.S. — Paul Russell, the councillor for Lower Sackville is taking a leave from his council duties until Feb. 14.

He announced to council in November that he was diagnosed with cancer in his head and neck area.

At Tuesday’s Halifax Regional Council meeting, Coun. Lisa Blackburn (Middle/Upper Sackville – Beaver Bank – Lucasville) made a motion to grant Russell a leave from all meetings to allow for treatments and recovery.

“I got a lovely text from councillor Russell indicating that he just completed his last round of radiation treatment,” she said. “As I said to him this morning, now let the healing begin.”

The vote in favour of the motion was unanimous.