CJRO Radio News - January 20th, 2026

Hello! This is Manuela Dascal and you are listening to CJRO Radio local news.

On January 14, 2026, Ottawa City Council voted 20 to 5 to authorize senior staff to finalize the purchase of a 192-hectare private landfill site, known as the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre (CRRRC)  in the city's rural southeast. The city does not intend to use the site as a landfill immediately. It will be developed according to future council direction, with further studies on waste-management solutions like incineration or waste-to-energy technology. Debt will be used to fund the purchase, which may lead to short-term increases in garbage fees on property tax bills. 

The Carlsbad Springs Community Association and local residents are pushing back against the city’s bid to buy the landfill. They’ve raised concerns about the potential impacts on their community. Their feedback highlights worries about things like environmental effects, truck traffic, neighbourhood character, property values, and the site’s proximity to sensitive areas.

Councillor Skalski will be hosting a series of town halls across the ward. For residents of Carlsbad Springs and Vars she will be present at the Carlsbad Springs Community Centre on February 5th, from 6:30 p.m. These town halls are meant to be easy, kitchen‑table‑style conversations where residents can catch up and chat about what’s going on in our communities. It will be a chance for everyone in the community to stay connected and ask questions in a relaxed setting. Councillor Skalski will walk through what’s new at City Hall, what decisions are coming up, and what the 2026 plans and investments look like for our ward. 

The first power transformer has arrived on site at the new Hydro Ottawa lower-carbon Piperville Substation. This is a major step forward in the Piperville Municipal Transformer Station project. It  marks the beginning of a critical phase as Hydro Ottawa continues construction and commissioning. 

The Piperville Municipal Transformer Station project proposes to construct a new 27.6kV municipal transformer station (MTS) at the intersection of Piperville Road and Farmers Way (located on the west side of Highway 417); and to connect the new power station to Hydro One’s existing 230kV transmission line, also located on the west side of Highway 417.

The station will energize later this year, helping strengthen reliability and support growing demand in the community.

The Carlsbad Springs Optimist Club is ready for another fun and busy Carnival weekend. From January 23th to January 25th, everyone is invited to enjoy live music, curling competition, good food, family Bingo and bake auction. It is the best opportunity for everyone in the community to gather in a welcoming and fun environment. For a detailed schedule of the Carnival check out the Optimist Club Facebook page or the Carnaval booklet which was delivered to all Carlsbad Springs residents in December.  

You can also listen to an interview with Lucie Régimbald, treasurer of the Carlsbad Springs Optimist Club about this year’s Carnaval on CJRO Local First. 

Sarsfield Carnaval will take place on January 31st. The Sarsfield Community Association invites residents to enjoy a full day of fun activities, including a chili and dessert contest, a curling competition, a pancake breakfast and mini Olympics. For details about schedule and how to sign up for the curling competition, check out the Sarsfield Community Association webpage. 

Russell Township Fire Services Station 12 is proud to introduce its new Pumper/Rescue fire apparatus. Purchased at a cost of $808,796, this modern apparatus will enhance emergency response capabilities and support the continued safety of both residents and firefighters. The new unit replaces two aging apparatuses that have reached the end of their service life, helping to maintain a reliable and efficient fleet.

On January 6, 2026, firefighters from Station 11 and Station 12 gathered to welcome the new apparatus with a traditional “Push-In Ceremony.” This longstanding fire service tradition dates back to the 1800s, when horse-drawn fire engines were pushed back into the station after returning from a call.

Russell Township Fire Services would also like to recognize and thank Battleshield Industries Ltd., based in Vars, Ontario, for manufacturing this new Pumper/Rescue. Their craftsmanship and commitment to quality have helped ensure that our firefighters are equipped with a safe, reliable, and modern emergency response vehicle.

On January 13th, the Carlsbad Springs Optimist Club lost a prominent and its founding president. Gaston Desjardins passed away peacefully, Monday, January 13, with his family by his side, at the age of 78. Our condolences to his wife, Jacqueline Desjardins and to his family.

Gaston was the brother of two of the Optimist members, Denis and

Réjean «Joe» Desjardins, uncle to Josée Desjardins and great-uncle to

Emilie Schieman as well as a cousin to many of the Club’s members. Gaston’s celebration of life will take place on February 6th. Rest in peace dear Gaston.

That wraps up our local news. If you have any questions, stories or news to share, contact us at the following email address localnewscjro@gmail.com . I also invite you to visit our website at cjroradio.com  for the latest news.