Kathleen Petty is staying in Ottawa and returning to the airwaves as host of Ontario Today later this fall. (CBC)

Kathleen Petty, former host of CBC's Ottawa Morning and The House, will be staying in Ottawa instead of coming to her home province of Alberta to host the Calgary Eyeopener.

The veteran journalist will be returning to the airwaves in the fall as host of Ontario Today, the province's noon-hour call-in show.

Petty was set to come to Calgary in early 2011, but delayed her departure last summer to receive breast cancer treatment in Ottawa.

Since then, she’s undergone treatment in Ottawa and her health has improved.

However, Petty has decided to stay at CBC Ottawa where she can be close to her friends and coworkers who have supported her throughout these last few months.

"Despite the crazy and difficult year I’ve had, I’m acutely aware of how incredibly lucky I am," Petty said. "The CBC, the people of the CBC… are incomparable. I feel like I’m coming home even though I never left."

Petty will take up hosting of Ontario Today some time in the late fall for the remainder of host Rita Celli's maternity leave.

Hallie Cotnam, who has been hosting the show in Celli's absence, will stay on as host until Petty's arrival and then return to her work as a writer and broadcaster for Ottawa Morning.

The specific timing of Petty's return will be announced in the fall.

Work is also underway to fill the host position for the Calgary Eyeopener on a permanent basis.