As Canada’s Capital gears up for Ottawa Race Weekend, some journeys are so much bigger than setting a personal-best or recording a record-setting time. In the case of Jessica Halsall, she is running to support CHEO after they cared for her newborn son in the NICU last February. She joins Andrew Pinsent on CFRA Weekends.

As Canada&rsquo;s Capital gears up for Ottawa Race Weekend, some journeys are so much bigger than setting a personal-best or recording a record-setting time. In the case of Jessica Halsall, she is running to support CHEO after they cared for her newborn son in the NICU last February. She joins Andrew Pinsent on CFRA Weekends.

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CFRA Weekends - Why an Ottawa mother is running for CHEO during Ottawa Race Weekend

2026 feels like a case of deja vu for the Ottawa Charge. Sneaking into the playoffs and reaching the Finals, they fought with pride and sadly came up 2 wins shy of their first title. And now, with a wave of PWHL Expansion upon us, questions remain as to who will be back for next year's journey. How soon could Ottawa make it back to the league's biggest showcase? Technical producer Stephen Ellsworth joins Andrew Pinsent on CFRA Weekends.

2026 feels like a case of deja vu for the Ottawa Charge. Sneaking into the playoffs and reaching the Finals, they fought with pride and sadly came up 2 wins shy of their first title. And now, with a wave of PWHL Expansion upon us, questions remain as to who will be back for next year's journey. How soon could Ottawa make it back to the league's biggest showcase? Technical producer Stephen Ellsworth joins Andrew Pinsent on CFRA Weekends.

CFRA Weekends - Ottawa Charge fight valiantly, fall short, and brace for another wave of PWHL Expansion

OC Transpo users have renewed concerns about whether Ottawa’s LRT system has enough staff to keep trains running reliably. During the Victoria Day Weekend, O-Train service on Lines 1 and 4 was shut down for several hours, with management citing a staffing shortage of controllers as the primary reason for the shutdown. Riders, as a result, had to take replacement buses. In the days that followed, the union representing transit workers says Lines 1 and 4 are ‘consistently understaffed’, fearing that the problem could only get worse if nothing is done. In today’s edition of CFRA Weekends, Andrew Pinsent checks in with Rikki MacMullin, a member of Better Transit Ottawa.

OC Transpo users have renewed concerns about whether Ottawa&rsquo;s LRT system has enough staff to keep trains running reliably. During the Victoria Day Weekend, O-Train service on Lines 1 and 4 was shut down for several hours, with management citing a staffing shortage of controllers as the primary reason for the shutdown. Riders, as a result, had to take replacement buses. In the days that followed, the union representing transit workers says Lines 1 and 4 are &lsquo;consistently understaffed&rsquo;, fearing that the problem could only get worse if nothing is done. In today&rsquo;s edition of CFRA Weekends, Andrew Pinsent checks in with Rikki MacMullin, a member of Better Transit Ottawa.

CFRA Weekends - LRT problems rear their ugly heads during the Victoria Day Weekend

The best of Newstalk 580 CFRA for Friday, May 22nd, 2026.

The best of Newstalk 580 CFRA for Friday, May 22nd, 2026.

CFRA Weekends - Why an Ottawa mother is running for CHEO during Ottawa Race Weekend

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