Celebrating over 40 years of service: Meet Russell Murley from Irving Tissue Toronto
When Russell Murley started his career in 1985 as a 17‑year‑old Temporary Utility Person at the Weston Road tissue plant in Toronto, Ont., he had no idea the journey ahead would span four decades. Twenty-five years ago, Irving Tissue purchased the manufacturing site where he works.
Most recently in 2023, Russell moved into his Systems Specialist role at Irving Tissue, where he continues to bring his extensive experience and a lifelong passion for learning. This career milestone reflects both personal achievement and the start of an exciting new chapter.
Russell’s career began after a neighbour who worked at the tissue manufacturing facility encouraged him to apply. He quickly moved from operating a forklift to securing a permanent position as a packer in 1987.
“Finally, I was in,” he recalls. From there, he advanced through several operating roles — including C‑fold and V‑fold Operator, Winder Operator, and Unit Tender — before becoming a Process and Reliability Technician. “I’ve always been driven by curiosity and a desire to understand how things work,” he said.
That curiosity led to a major shift in 2004, when Russell transitioned from Operations to Maintenance through a five‑year, company‑sponsored electrical apprenticeship at Durham College. During that time, he and his wife welcomed a son and daughter, balancing career growth with a growing family.
In Russell’s current role, he leads a project to automate our bill of materials process for the Irving Tissue Toronto plant and plays an active role in shaping the company’s transformation toward world‑class asset management and reliability.
“I get to work with a terrific team, and the diversity of the work keeps my passion burning,” Russell shared.
Throughout his career, Russell has made a lasting impact on safety and employee empowerment, contributing to the original lockout and tagout project in the 1990s and supporting the Autonomous Maintenance program. His commitment to personal well‑being even led him to complete a triathlon after earning the Spirit Achievement Award in a corporate wellness initiative.
Reflecting on 40 years of growth and resilience, Russell looks back on his journey with pride. He speaks openly about overcoming cancer and the determination it took to return to work, expressing gratitude for Irving Tissue’s unwavering support. These experiences shaped his perspective, and today he encourages colleagues to stay curious and embrace the possibilities ahead.
“The future always holds more than you expect,” he said.
