About us / A notre sujet
The Beat / Le Beat
CJRO Radio 107.7 | 96.3 | 107.9 FM
The Beat - CJRO Radio is a low power bilingual community non-profit FM radio station that promotes local and regional events, provides important information and news to residents and the public in south-east rural Ottawa, Russell Municipality, Casselman Municipality, La Nation Municipality and the Clarence-Rockland area. CJRO is licensed by the CRTC to play a variety of music (rock, country, french country, celtic and more). It’s available on 107.7 FM in Carlsbad Springs and Embrun, in the village of Vars, Casselman and Sarsfield on 107.9 FM. In Casselman on 96.3 FM (coming in the Spring of 2026). The station streams online on cjroradio.com. CJRO Radio is available on IHeart Radio, Tune In and Radio Player Canada applications via Iphone and Android phones.
CJRO has a bilingual license from the CRTC and ensures through its mandate the promotion of linguistic duality within the communities served (Carlsbad Springs, Vars, Sarsfield and Navan in rural eastern Ottawa and in Embrun and Russell in the Municipality of Russell and the Municipality of Casselman) .
The radio station broadcasts on the frequency of 107.7, 96.3, 107.9 on the FM band with 5 low-power transmitters, allowing it to broadcast over a larger territory. In order to serve all the people in its community, CJRO FM offers its listeners a diversified programming. One of the main goals of the station is to keep the community well informed with local and regional news that is not necessarily broadcast by other regional and commercial radio stations. The entire radio station team works hard to make its programming one that reflects the cultural, economic, political, educational and social portrait of its region. As a non-profit organization, CJRO Radio's annual revenue is made up of various grants, revenues from radio advertisements and community partners.
CJRO FM is known as The Beat - CJRO Radio and was registered as a non-profit organization in May 2021. The first airing was in May 2019 in Carlsbad Springs and Vars and 2021 in Embrun and Sarsfield and in Casselman in 2023.
CJRO Radio is owned and operated by CJRO Radio inc., a non profit incorporation manage by a volunteer board members. CJRO Radio broadcast from a studio inside the Carlsbad Springs Community Centre at 6020 Piperville Road in Carlsbad Springs from an antenna broadcasting on 107.7 FM located at Harkness park, another antenna broadcasting on 107.7 FM located at the Russell Township Municipal building and another antenna in the heart of the village of Vars on 107.9 FM, an antenna on a silo in the village of Sarsfield and an antenna on top of the water tower in the village of Casselman on 96.3 FM. Our programming is all done by volunteers and we offer volunteer opportunities for those interested in producing their own shows, host a podcast or just to help out manage the station on the executive board. CJRO Radio's motto is Local First.
Why CJRO Radio?
With the disappearance and absence of local media in our area and with many small newspapers closing their doors in recent years we felt that having a voice for our community and a source of local news was important, the reason we created CJRO Radio. Large commercial and community radio stations in Ottawa rarely promote local events or talk about rural Ottawa and the communities on the east of Ottawa. CJRO Radio fills this void and caters to our community. CJRO started in 2017 as "Carlsbad Info Radio" as a tourist information station and applied to change its mandate to a community radio format in 2018.
Interested in being a volunteer or become a community partner? Contact us at cjrofm@rogers.com
You will find photos of our small studio in Carlsbad Springs and our new studio in Embrun below. A future studio will also be installed in the village of Casselman.
CJRO Radio holds a license from the CRTC to undertake a "Community Radio" endeavour. Our license is different than those held by most other radio stations in our broadcast area. It calls for CJRO Radio to play a wider variety of music, including several genres not played on "Commercial Radio". To reflect the interests of our community, we are also required to produce "talk radio", comprising 15 hrs per week of our daily programming mix.
One of CJRO Radio’s mandates is to play music the listeners cannot hear on commercial radio stations. We strive to introduce listeners to music with which they may not otherwise be familiar, with an emphasis on new artists and local musicians in both English and French. We play a mix of Country, Blues, Funk, Classic Rock, Folk, Alternative, Dance, etc.. Our programming is show/date focused, meaning that at certain times of the day, we play different kinds of music. Please consult our Schedule for more information.
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CJRO Radio est une station de radio communautaire billingue licencée par le CRTC qui promouvoit des événements locaux et régionaux, fournit des informations et des nouvelles importantes aux résidents et au public dans le sud-est rural de la région d’Ottawa et la Municipalité de Russell. CJRO diffuse aussi une variété de musique (country francophone et anglophone, rock, pop, dance et celtic). CJRO est disponible au 107.7 FM dans le secteur de Carlsbad Springs et Embrun et diffuse aussi dans les villages de Vars, Casselman (96.3 FM) et Sarsfield au 107.9 FM. CJRO Radio est accessible via Internet à cjroradio.com et aussi via les applications web IHeart Radio, Radio Player Canada et Tune In.
CJRO possède une licence bilingue du CRTC et assure par son mandat la promotion de la dualité linguistique au sein des communautés desservis (Carlsbad Springs, Vars, Sarsfield et Navan dans l’est rural d’Ottawa et à Embrun et Russell dans la Municipalité de Russell.
La station de radio diffuse sur la fréquence du 107,7 et 107,9 sur la bande FM avec 5 petits émetteurs à faible puissance, lui permettant de diffuser sur un plus grand territoire. Afin de servir tous les gens de sa communauté, CJRO FM offre à ses auditeurs, une programmation diversifiée. L’un des buts principaux de la station est de bien informer la communauté avec des nouvelles locales et régionales qui ne sont pas nécessairement diffusées par d’autres médias régionaux et commerciaux. L’équipe entière de la station de radio travaille ardemment afin de faire de sa programmation, une qui reflète bien le portrait culturel, économique, politique, éducationnel et social de sa région.
En tant qu’organisme à but non lucratif, les revenus annuels de CJRO Radio sont constitués de divers subventions, la ventre de publicités radio et de partenaires communautaires. CJRO FM aussi connut sous le nom Le Beat - CJRO Radio et a été enregistrée en tant qu’organisme à but non lucratif en mai 2021. La première diffusion en ondes a eu lieu en mai 2019 à Carlsbad Springs et Vars et en 2021 à Embrun et Sarsfield.
CJRO est la propriété de CJRO Radio Inc. une entreprise à but non lucratif qui est gèré par un comité de bénévoles.
Notre slogan, Priorité Locale reflète notre mandat d'être une station de radio locale avant tout.
Notre programmation est entièrement réalisée par des bénévoles et nous offrons des opportunités de bénévolat à ceux qui souhaitent produire leurs propres émissions, animer leur balado ou simplement pour aider avec la gestion ou l'aspect technique de la station.
Pourquoi CJRO Radio?
Avec la disparition ou l'absence de médias locaux dans notre secteur et de nombreux petits journaux fermant leurs portes ces dernières années, nous trouvons qu'il était important d'avoir une voix pour la communauté et une source de nouvelles locales, une raison pour laquelle nous avons créé CJRO Radio, votre radio à vous.
Le 9 novembre 2020 CJRO a obtenu l'autorisation d'installer un transmetteur à Embrun, Ontario. CJRO Radio est disponible depuis juin 2021 à la fréquence 107,7 FM dans la Municipalité de Russell à Embrun. En octobre 2021 le CRTC a approuvé un quatrième transmetteur pour le village de Sarsfield au 107,9 FM. Casselman en 2026 au 96.3 FM (remplacera notre petit transmetteur de 2 watts) avec une puissance de 50 watts.
Si vous voulez devenir bénévoles ou pour devenir un partenaire envoyer-nous un courriel à cjrofm@rogers.com
Des photos de nos petits studio sont au bas.
CJRO Radio détient une licence du CRTC avec un mandat de « radio communautaire ». Notre licence est différente de celles détenues par la plupart des autres stations de radio de notre zone de diffusion. On demande à CJRO Radio de diffuser une plus grande variété de musique, y compris plusieurs genres non diffusés sur les radios commerciales. Afin de refléter les intérêts de notre communauté, nous sommes également tenus de produire des émissions parlés, comprenant 15 heures par semaine de notre programmation hebdomadaire. Notre émission Priorité Locale correspond à ce mandat et nous diffusons également plusieurs heures par jour de divers balados.
L'un des mandats de CJRO Radio est de diffuser de la musique que les auditeurs ne peuvent pas entendre sur les stations de radio commerciales. Nous nous efforçons d'initier les auditeurs à la musique avec laquelle ils ne seraient peut-être pas familiers autrement, en mettant l'accent sur les nouveaux artistes et musiciens locaux en anglais et en français. Nous jouons un mélange de Country, Blues, Funk, Soul, Rock Classique, Folk, Alternatif, etc.
Notre programmation est composée d’émissions thématiques, ce qui signifie qu'à divers moments de la journée, nous diffusons différents types de musique. Veuillez consulter notre horaire pour plus d'informations.
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CJRO-FM is a low-power, bilingual community radio station based in Carlsbad Springs, Ontario, Canada, broadcasting primarily on 107.7 FM and serving rural communities east of Ottawa, including Vars, Sarsfield, Embrun, Russell, and Casselman.[1] Operated as a non-profit by CJRO Radio Inc., it emphasizes local content creation by volunteers, with programming that includes news bulletins, talk shows, interviews, and a diverse range of music genres such as rock, country, French country, Celtic, blues, funk, soul, folk, alternative, dance, and pop, prioritizing emerging and local artists in both English and French.[1] The station's motto, "Local First - Priorité Locale," reflects its commitment to linguistic duality and community engagement, delivering information on regional events, politics, education, and social issues not typically covered by commercial broadcasters.[1]Launched in 2017 as an exempt tourist information station known as "Carlsbad Info Radio," CJRO-FM transitioned to a full community radio format following CRTC approval on May 7, 2019, with its first broadcasts occurring that same month from studios in the Carlsbad Springs Community Centre at 6020 Piperville Road.[2] Initially owned by the Carlsbad Springs Community Association, it registered as a non-profit corporation in May 2021 under CJRO Radio Inc., managed by a volunteer board of directors.[1] The CRTC license mandates at least 15 hours per week of talk programming and a broad music variety to promote cultural and social reflection of the region, with approximately 60% English and 40% French content; the station airs 126 hours weekly, including 103 hours of local programming.[1][2] Technical specifications include a main transmitter at 107.7 MHz with 14.8 watts effective radiated power (ERP) and an effective height above average terrain (EHAAT) of 23 meters, plus low-power rebroadcasters at 107.9 MHz in Vars (1.3 watts), Sarsfield (operational since 2021), and Casselman (2 watts, operational since 2023), and a transmitter at 107.7 MHz in Embrun (operational since 2021); an upgrade for the Casselman transmitter to 96.3 MHz with 50 watts ERP is planned for spring 2026.[2][3][1]CJRO-FM's programming schedule features daily local news updates in both languages, community-focused shows like the "ZM Show" and "Retro Replay," and podcasts such as "Sens Nation," alongside coverage of events like municipal council reviews, recreational activities, and Indigenous territory acknowledgments on the traditional lands of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people.[1] Funded through grants, advertisements, and community partnerships, the station streams online via its website, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and other platforms, encouraging volunteer participation in production, hosting, and management to foster social responsibility and awareness in its coverage area.[1]
Station Overview
General Information
CJRO-FM is a low-power, bilingual (English and French) community radio station serving rural south-east Ottawa and Russell Municipality.[1] It operates as a non-profit entity focused on promoting local and regional events while disseminating important information and news to residents in these areas.[1]The station broadcasts primarily on 107.7 MHz FM with a low-power (LP) class designation, covering communities including Carlsbad Springs, Vars, Sarsfield, Embrun/Russell, and Casselman.[1] Its main studio is located at the Carlsbad Springs Community Centre, 6020 Piperville Road, Carlsbad Springs, Ontario.[1] Licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as a community radio station, CJRO-FM emphasizes content created by and for its local audience.[1]The official website for CJRO-FM is https://www.cjroradio.com/, where listeners can access online streaming and additional station details.[1]
Ownership and Operations
CJRO-FM is owned and operated by CJRO Radio Inc., a non-profit corporation incorporated in May 2021 and controlled by a volunteer board of directors representing the communities it serves, including Carlsbad Springs, Vars, Embrun, and Sarsfield.[4][1] The board's bylaws mandate geographic diversity, requiring at least two members from each of these areas to ensure community involvement in decisions related to funding, programming, and operations.[4]The station functions as a community-driven operation, heavily reliant on local volunteers for both programming and administrative tasks, with all content production handled by volunteer teams.[1] This model supports CJRO Radio Inc.'s mission to promote local events and provide essential information to rural eastern Ottawa communities, filling gaps left by commercial media.[1]CJRO-FM holds a CRTC licence as a community radio station, issued to CJRO Radio Inc. following the 2022 asset transfer, with terms expiring on 31 August 2025 and adhering to standard conditions for such stations.[4] As per CRTC policies, it provides bilingual English- and French-language service to meet the linguistic needs of its audience.[4]In May 2022, the CRTC approved the transfer of CJRO-FM's assets from the Carlsbad Springs Community Association (CSCA) to CJRO Radio Inc. via Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2022-136, granting the corporation full control without monetary consideration and addressing prior non-compliance by CSCA in proceeding without approval.[4] This acquisition aligned the station's governance with its expanded reach beyond CSCA's original mandate, enabling dedicated non-profit management.[4]
History
Origins and Licensing
The origins of CJRO-FM trace back to 2017, when the Carlsbad Springs Community Association (CSCA), a not-for-profit organization, launched it as an exempt tourist information station named "Carlsbad Info Radio" operating at 107.7 MHz to provide local visitor guidance in the rural community of Carlsbad Springs, Ontario.[1][5]In 2018, CSCA applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to convert the tourist station into a full low-power community radio service, proposing to serve the bilingual rural areas of Carlsbad Springs and nearby Vars with expanded English- and French-language programming focused on local content.[2]On May 7, 2019, the CRTC approved the application in Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-133, issuing a broadcasting licence for a low-power English- and French-language community FM radio station at 107.7 MHz in Carlsbad Springs, including an initial rebroadcaster at 107.9 MHz in Vars.[2] The licence, valid until August 31, 2025, mandated a bilingual format with approximately 60% English and 40% French programming to reflect the community's demographics, alongside a music variety with 95% popular music (primarily pop, rock, dance, country, and acoustic/easy listening) and 5% special interest genres such as world music and Celtic.[2] It also required a strong community focus, with commitments to 19 hours of weekly spoken word content—featuring local news, community information, and magazine-style programs on events, projects, and groups—produced primarily by volunteers in partnership with local educational institutions and media outlets.[2] CSCA agreed to cease tourist station operations upon the new service's launch and adhere to standard conditions for community radio stations, including participation in the National Public Alerting System.[2]
Launch and Expansions
CJRO-FM officially launched its main operations on January 11, 2020, following the issuance of its broadcasting licence in 2019.[3] The station began broadcasting from its primary site in Carlsbad Springs, Ontario, serving the local community with bilingual English- and French-language programming.[6]To extend its reach into nearby areas, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved an application on November 9, 2020, for a new low-power transmitter in Embrun, Ontario, operating at 107.7 MHz with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 40 watts.[6] This transmitter became operational in June 2021, allowing CJRO-FM to cover the Municipality of Russell more effectively.[1] Subsequently, on May 3, 2021, the licensee applied for another low-power transmitter in Sarsfield, Ontario, which received CRTC approval on October 4, 2021, at 107.9 MHz with an ERP of 2 watts.[7] This transmitter became operational later in 2021, further expanding the station's signal to additional rural communities east of Ottawa.[7][1]In May 2022, the CRTC approved the transfer of CJRO-FM's assets from the original licensee, Carlsbad Springs Community Association, to the newly incorporated non-profit CJRO Radio Inc., effective upon licence surrender and reissuance.[4] This change allowed for a dedicated entity focused solely on operating the station and its growing network of transmitters, without any monetary consideration involved in the transaction.[4]Continuing its expansion, CJRO Radio Inc. applied on June 13, 2022, for a low-power transmitter in Casselman, Ontario, which the CRTC approved on December 20, 2022, at 107.9 MHz with an ERP of 2 watts.[3] This transmitter, the station's fourth rebroadcaster, became operational in 2023, enhancing coverage in the Prescott-Russell region.[3][1] Later, on August 20, 2025, the licensee applied to amend the Casselman transmitter's technical parameters, receiving CRTC approval on December 16, 2025, to change the frequency to 96.3 MHz and increase the ERP to 50 watts.[8] This modification, planned for implementation in Spring 2026, aims to improve signal quality and population reach in the area while resolving potential interference issues.[8][1]
Programming and Content
Format and Music Genres
CJRO-FM operates as a low-power, bilingual community radio station, emphasizing non-commercial broadcasting that promotes local and regional music while adhering to Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) guidelines for community radio.[9] The station's format integrates a mix of spoken word and music programming, with approximately 103 hours per week dedicated to local content and 23 hours to syndicated musical and spoken word segments, all pre-recorded to reflect community-oriented priorities.[9] This structure prioritizes accessibility and engagement for rural audiences in areas like Carlsbad Springs and Vars, Ontario.[1]The station's music programming draws primarily from CRTC content category 2 (Popular Music), comprising 95% of its musical selections, including 80% from subcategory 21 (Pop, Rock, and Dance) and 15% from subcategories 22 (Country) and 23 (Acoustic and Easy Listening).[9] An additional 5% features category 3 (Special Interest Music), focusing on genres such as Celtic and World Music to highlight diverse cultural influences.[9] French-language selections, including country and pop varieties, are integrated to support the station's bilingual mandate, ensuring representation of both English and French audiences.[1] As required by CRTC regulations for community stations, at least 35% of category 2 music must be Canadian content, fostering promotion of domestic artists across these genres.[10] For category 3 music, a minimum of 12% Canadian content applies, further emphasizing local and regional talent.[10]This format aligns with broader CRTC policies for community radio, which encourage a balance of music and spoken word to serve not-for-profit groups, local events, and bilingual communities without commercial interruptions.[9] By focusing on rock, country, French pop/country, Celtic, and related varieties, CJRO-FM contributes to cultural preservation and discovery in its service area.[1]
Local Programming and Community Focus
CJRO-FM emphasizes community-driven content through its "Local First" mandate, prioritizing spoken-word programming that addresses the needs of rural southeast Ottawa and the Township of Russell, including Carlsbad Springs, Vars, Sarsfield, Embrun, and Casselman.[1] The station broadcasts bilingual local news in English and French, with English updates airing at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., and 5 p.m., and French segments at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m., covering weather, municipal announcements, and regional developments tailored to these areas.[11] Community calendars feature regular event promotions, such as recreational sessions like pickleball trials in Embrun, ensuring residents stay informed about local happenings.[11]As a non-profit community station licensed by the CRTC, CJRO-FM devotes significant airtime to public affairs and informational programming, including 19 hours weekly of local spoken-word content and over 5 hours of news and community information, focusing on cultural, economic, political, educational, and social topics relevant to its bilingual audience.[2] Key shows like Local First/Priorité Locale, a daily bilingual public affairs program and podcast, highlight regional events, municipal services, and agricultural updates in the rural context, while Making Money Matter provides practical financial guidance from local experts.[12] The station also airs Community Podcast Hour / L'heure Balado, showcasing locally produced podcasts on cultural activities, and covers sports events with a local priority, such as community athletic programs.[12]All programming is volunteer-produced, with opportunities for community members to host shows, contribute as journalists, record events, or manage operations, fostering deep listener involvement and reflecting the station's commitment to linguistic duality and non-profit goals of amplifying underrepresented rural voices.[2][1] This approach fills gaps in commercial media coverage, promoting partnerships with local non-profits, businesses, and educational institutions to deliver diverse content on topics like township governance and cultural heritage unique to the Ottawa-Russell region.[2]
Technical Facilities
Main Transmitter
The main transmitter for CJRO-FM is located at Harkness Park in Carlsbad Springs, Ontario, serving as the primary broadcast facility for the station.[13] It operates on the frequency of 107.7 MHz, designated as channel 299LP, and is classified as a low-power (LP) FM station.[2] The transmitter delivers an effective radiated power (ERP) of approximately 15 watts, enabling localized coverage in the immediate Carlsbad Springs area.[2]The antenna system is non-directional, with an effective height above average terrain (EHAAT) of 23 meters, which supports efficient signal propagation over the surrounding rural terrain without directional focusing.[2] This setup ensures compliance with low-power regulations while providing reliable reception within a limited radius, consistent with the station's community-focused mandate.[2]Studios for CJRO-FM are integrated at the Carlsbad Springs Community Centre, located at 6020 Piperville Road, facilitating on-site production of programming that originates from this central hub.[1] As the core signal source, the main transmitter feeds all associated rebroadcasters, distributing the station's content to additional communities without independent origination at those sites.[3]
Rebroadcast Transmitters
CJRO-FM operates several low-power rebroadcast transmitters to extend its signal into rural areas of eastern Ontario, allowing the station's bilingual community programming to reach underserved populations without generating local content at these sites. These transmitters are authorized by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as secondary facilities, operating on unprotected channels and subject to potential adjustments if they interfere with primary assignments.[2][6][7][3][8]The following table summarizes the key technical parameters and approval histories of these rebroadcasters:
Transmitters Location Frequency ERP Antenna Details Approval Decision(s)
CJRO-FM-1Vars, Ontario107.9 MHz (channel 300LP)1.3 wattsEHAAT: 10 mBroadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-133 (7 May 2019)[2]
CJRO-FM-2Embrun, Ontario (Russell Township Municipal Building)107.7 MHz (channel 299LP)40 wattsNon-directional; HAAT: 69 mBroadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-369 (9 November 2020)[6]
CJRO-FM-3Sarsfield, Ontario107.9 MHz (channel 300LP)2 wattsNon-directional; HAAT: 26 mBroadcasting Decision CRTC 2021-336 (4 October 2021)[7]
CJRO-FM-4Casselman, Ontario (original industrial site; approved relocation to municipal water tower)107.9 MHz (channel 300LP); approved change to 96.3 MHz (channel 242LP)2 watts; approved increase to 50 wattsEHAAT: 25.8 m; approved increase to 43 mBroadcasting Decision CRTC 2022-345 (20 December 2022); amended by Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2025-341 (16 December 2025)[3][8]
References
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The federal government’s Rural Development Action Plan consultation. This is a significant opportunity for community radio stations to directly influence federal rural policy — including emergency communications, journalism funding, and federal advertising reach.
The submission below was submitted for CJRO Radio.
CJRO-FM
CJRO Radio Online / “The Beat – CJRO Radio”
East Ottawa: Embrun / Russell, Carlsbad Springs, Sarsfield, Vars, Casselman, and surrounding area
1. How can existing federal initiatives be improved?
CJRO serves the rural and village communities east and southeast of Ottawa—places like Embrun and Russell, Carlsbad Springs, Sarsfield, Vars, and Casselman. The region sits close to a capital city, but it does not operate like an urban centre. It is a mix of farmland, expanding bedroom communities, and small service hubs where residents commute long distances, rely on rural roads, and often experience “in-between” infrastructure: not remote enough to qualify easily for certain supports, but rural enough to feel service gaps sharply.
CJRO’s mandate is rooted in local information “by the people and for the people of that community,” and it shows up in practical ways: regular local news bulletins, local interview programming, and bilingual access that reflects the region’s linguistic reality.
Federal rural initiatives can be improved by recognizing that peri-urban rural regions like East Ottawa still depend on trusted local channels, especially when daily life is shaped by road conditions, winter storms, localized flooding, and rapid municipal change. In these communities, people want information that is locally specific—what is happening at the township level, what is happening with nearby roads, what is changing in services, and what public safety updates actually mean in their immediate area.
Emergency preparedness programming, in particular, should treat community radio as enabling infrastructure. When storms knock out power or create hazardous road conditions, residents need a dependable, local voice that can keep broadcasting even if internet connectivity is disrupted or mobile networks are strained. Stations like CJRO should have clearer access to resilience funding for backup power and continuity planning, and just as importantly, they should be routinely included in emergency planning exercises with local and regional authorities so that roles are defined before a crisis, not during one.
Federal public communications and advertising can also be improved by making “rural reach” real, not aspirational. When federal campaigns are launched—whether related to benefits, safety programs, emergency preparedness, or economic supports—people in the East Ottawa villages often won’t encounter those messages through large centralized media buys. They will hear them when a local broadcaster places them into the rhythm of daily listening. CJRO already functions as that kind of bridge, and federal initiatives should account for that reality in procurement, targeting, and evaluation.
2. What federal, provincial, territorial or regional programs have been notably successful?
From CJRO’s perspective, the Local Journalism Initiative is a strong example of a program that works in a community like this because it supports a form of journalism that has largely disappeared from many rural and village contexts: consistent, routine coverage that keeps pace with local decision-making.
East Ottawa communities are changing. Housing growth and new development pressures are reshaping service needs. Municipal decisions about infrastructure, waste, policing, recreation facilities, and environmental planning land differently here than they do in an urban core, because rural residents often have fewer alternatives and longer travel times. Without local reporting, important developments are easily missed until they become problems—until a new proposal is already advanced, until a service change is already in effect, until residents feel they are reacting instead of participating.
CJRO’s local news approach is explicitly designed to strengthen community awareness and social responsibility, and it’s built around regular local news and local interviews. That model aligns closely with what LJI is intended to accomplish: journalism embedded in the community, delivered by trusted voices, and focused on the issues that shape everyday life.
The most direct way to strengthen LJI’s success in places like East Ottawa is to improve continuity. The benefits of local reporting compound over time: residents learn where to go for accurate information, local institutions learn how to communicate through a trusted channel, and journalists build community knowledge that improves accuracy and relevance. Longer, more predictable funding cycles protect those gains and prevent the “stop-start” effect that rural communities feel most acutely.
3. What kinds of policy changes or initiatives would make the greatest difference?
For East Ottawa’s rural and village communities, long-term sustainability is tied to preparedness and local trust. The policy change with the greatest payoff would be to formally integrate community broadcasters into emergency management and public communications systems—recognizing that stations like CJRO are already doing the work, but often without the infrastructure supports or formal role clarity that would make the work more reliable.
A practical nation-building initiative here would look like a Rural Emergency Communications and Resilience Program that ensures local stations can remain on-air through extended outages and disruptions. In a region where winter storms can rapidly change travel safety, where localized flooding can isolate certain routes, and where rural services can be stretched, continuity of broadcast matters. It is not a “nice to have.” It is part of public safety.
Success should be measured in real-world terms rather than abstract indicators. Did the station remain operational during disruption periods? Were local advisories communicated quickly and clearly? Did residents report hearing consistent, verified updates? Did emergency agencies and local governments have an established pathway to get information on air rapidly?
Alongside emergency integration, federal advertising policy should modernize to ensure that rural residents actually receive federal messages through the channels they use. CJRO operates multiple local frequencies serving distinct communities—Embrun at 107.7 FM and Vars/Sarsfield/Casselman at 107.9 FM, with Casselman moving to 96.3 FM (planned for Spring 2026). That kind of hyper-local distribution is exactly what federal communications strategies need if they are serious about rural access and equity.
A nation-building approach, in other words, would treat local communications capacity as core infrastructure that enables safety, service access, and civic participation—especially in rural areas that sit close to cities but still experience rural vulnerabilities.
4. Additional comments
CJRO’s “Local First / Priorité Locale” orientation captures a core truth about rural development: community sustainability depends on local institutions that residents trust, recognize, and use. CJRO is not just broadcasting into these villages; it is reflecting them back to themselves—through local news, interviews, and daily community presence.
As NCRA/ANREC has emphasized in our national submission, rural development efforts are strongest when they are designed for rural operating realities and delivered through local anchors. CJRO is one of those anchors for East Ottawa. The station is positioned to help test practical approaches to rural communications readiness, to share lessons with other rural broadcasters, and to support federal partners in ensuring that programs and messages actually reach the communities they are intended to serve.
