Ottawa Information

Ontario’s second-largest city is located in the southeastern Ottawa Valley, and is closely bordered by Gatineau, Quebec, which is also considered part of the official National Capital Region (NCR). The importance of this link between Ontario and Quebec has long been discussed in Canada’s history books, as Ottawa’s prime location along the Ottawa River was ideal for reaching Montreal quickly, as well as a key 19th-century British naval base in Kingston. Otttawa’s coordinates also made it the perfect spot for the construction of the infamous Rideau Canal, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Initially built with military motivation because of fear of a U.S. attack on the St. Lawrence River, the canal was completed in 1832 as a safe and secure bypass.

It’s also interesting to note that Ottawa was actually first known as Bytown, named after Lieutenant-Colonel John By, who was instrumental in the completion of the Rideau Canal. The city was renamed Ottawa in 1855, however, after it became incorporated. A nod to the First Nations peoples of the area, the Odawa, the newly titled city of Ottawa was only two years old before it was officially designated as Canada’s capital city in 1857. Thus, Canada’s political centre was born.

The gothic architecture of Ottawa’s Parliament Hill has been a sight to behold since it was first developed from a military base into a government core in 1859. Not completed until 1927, the compound that now makes up Parliament Hill is an integral part of Ottawa’s skyline, and is also a recognizable symbol that represents Canada. The parliament buildings are a top hot-spot for tourists, and through interesting and informative tours, visitors can learn about the Canadian government and the history of the Hill, take in the amazing architecture, and even experience the time-honoured tradition of the Changing of the Guard. In the summertime, Mosaika is also something to stick around for, as this free nightly sound-and-light show on Parliament Hill tells the story of Canada in an amazing array of dazzling visual and aural treats.

Ottawa’s pride in its country doesn’t stop at Parliament Hill. The Canadian War Museum (CWM) is a necessary stop for any history buff who wants to peruse the halls of Canada’s foremost collection of the country’s military past. Some 13,000 pieces make up the impressive exhibits, and the art, artifacts, photographs, and interactive presentations combine to paint a poignant picture of Canada’s military efforts throughout history. For instance, the LeBreton Gallery features an impressive Voodoo jet, along with 19th-century artillery, tanks, and other vehicles. Also, if you happen to be in Ottawa on Remembrance Day, the Memorial Hall is one of the most moving places you can be, as this space was made specifically for the lone piece that stands within its walls: the headstone of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War. Each year on November 11, at 11 a.m., the headstone is directly illuminated by the sun, providing a solemn reminder of what was lost but also gained.

Museums and galleries are large part of Ottawa’s cultural landscape, and they’re all great reasons for getting out of the cold, if you choose to visit Ottawa in the wintertime. The National Gallery of Canada is the largest visual arts museum in Canada; the Canadian Museum of Civilization houses the world’s largest indoor collection of totem poles, as well as the Canadian Children’s Museum and the Canadian Postal Museum; the Billings Estate Museum is the site of the oldest frame building in Ottawa; Watson’s Mill is the one of the best-preserved examples of 19th-century mill architecture and is the only operating industrial heritage site in Ottawa; and the Muséoparc Vanier is the only francophone museum in Ottawa. How do you choose? This choice is made even more difficult when you realize the Canadian Science and Technology Museum, Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Ottawa Art Gallery, and City Hall Art Gallery are also each worth a stop on any arts and culture tour of Ottawa.

Compound these options with what’s available through the thriving live-performance scene in Ottawa, and you are really left with a true conflict of interests. The National Arts Centre, Centrepoint Theatre, Scotiabank Place, and Lansdowne Stadium are all worth checking out for anything from the orchestra, to operas, to rock concerts, to live theatre.

However, if after all this, you would still rather be outside, there is plenty of green space to experience in Ottawa, no matter the season. Arguably the most famous outdoor attraction in Ottawa, the Rideau Canal is where tourists can take a leisurely walk alongside the water, observing the many original structures and mechanisms that are still in use today. And, in February and March, the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest naturally frozen skating rink (eight kilometres end to end), is open daily to the public, weather permitting. Also the centrepiece of Ottawa’s famous Winterlude Festival, the Rideau Canal’s ice stands as inspiration for three weekends of winter activities, from playgrounds of snow, to ice and snow sculptures, to brilliant shows under the winter sky. Winterlude is just the beginning, however, as it’s only one of 45 major festivals Ottawa hosts every year.

The Canadian Tulip Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, Christmas Lights Across Canada, the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival, HOPE Volleyball SummerFest, the Ottawa Dragonboat Race Festival, the Ottawa Jazz Festival, and the Ottawa International Animation Festival are just a few of the amazing, world-class festival experiences that touch down annually in the capital city.

Gatineau Park, a 361-square-kilometre conservation park, is also a great way to get out in the open. Here, you can experience an outdoor sanctuary that’s just 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa. Forests, wildlife, and lakes all provide the perfect backdrop for hiking, cycling, jogging, or skiing along the hundreds of kilometres of trails that wind through the park. In its entirety, Ottawa boasts 850 parks, making this city a leader in the preservation of natural space.

Ottawa’s Countryside, an officially named initiative that promotes rural Ottawa, is yet another way visitors can have an organic, enriching experience in and around the city. Ottawa boasts more farmland than any other city in Canada, and Ottawa’s Countryside communities offer agricultural fairs, museums, ever-popular farmers’ markets, and friendly people who always seem to be in a good mood, guiding you toward the best places to eat, shop, and sleep.

However, if you prefer to stay within the hustle and bustle of Ottawa, you can choose to check in to the HI-Ottawa Jail, a hostel that was, as its name suggests, a former prison. It was also the site of the last public hanging in Canada— Patrick James Whelan was hung in February 1869 for assassinating Thomas Day McGee, one of the Fathers of Confederation. Guests can see the jail’s death row and its gallows, and then brave the ghost of Whelan as night falls and it becomes time to settle into a little shut-eye while lying in a former prison cell.

If you make it through the night, close by is the Byward Market in downtown Ottawa, where by day you can find Canada’s oldest farmers’ market, and by night you can head out to experience some of the city’s best bars, clubs, pubs, and live music. Bank and Elgin Streets are also great places to have a cocktail and do some dancing.

Between all the dancing, drinking, and eating, and museums, history lessons, and farmers’ markets, you might begin to wonder where all the shopping is. Never fear—it also exists in abundance. From the large shopping centres like the Rideau Centre and Bayshore Shopping Centre, to the trendy retail pockets of the city, there is something for everyone. Manotick Village and Sparks Street are filled with one-of-a-kind boutiques and old-fashioned charm, Downtown Rideau caters to the fashionable and artsy crowd, Somerset Chinatown has unique Asian foods and goods, and Quartier Vanier is a historic French quarter that’s known for being home to North America’s only urban sugar bush. Here, in Richelieu Park, you can sample real maple syrup from an authentic sugar shack, and, if you’re in Ottawa in April, participate in the popular Maple SugarFest.

Besides the Canadian staple that is maple syrup, there is one more thing visitors to Ottawa have to taste before they leave, and that’s a BeaverTail. Deep-fried dough pastries that are hand-stretched to look like a beaver’s tail, these delicious treats got their start in Ottawa and are arguably the city’s most famous snack. BeaverTails are topped with a variety of sugary condiments, and you only need to take one bite before you’ll be dreaming of BeaverTails during your worst late-night cravings.

The truly great thing about Ottawa, however, is that it’s a city for families. While couples can have a fantastic time, too, kids are never far from the minds of the organizers behind many of Ottawa’s attractions, events, and festivals. Young or old, city resident or tourist, on a budget or flush with funds, Ottawa has plenty to offer for all walks of life, and is one of the most inviting cities you can visit in Canada.