Ottawa Overview

From the Canadian Tulip Festival to Winterlude to the Museum of Civilization, a city once considered the quintessential government town has recast itself, along with neighboring, French-speaking Hull, Quebec, as a vibrant, multicultural community.

Districts

As capital cities go, Ottawa is arguably the most visitor-friendly capital in the world. Small enough that everything worth seeing is within a brisk walk or an inexpensive cab ride, the city is also large enough to have something to offer nearly every taste whether it be cultural, culinary, athletic, or historic.

As Ottawa has grown, so has its cultural diversity. There are many theater companies, including the Great Canadian Theatre Company and Ottawa Little Theatre, which operate in the city. Ottawa is also home to the National Gallery of Canada and the National Arts Centre, not to mention the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canada Science and Technology Museum, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization, which is located across the Ottawa River in Hull.

Downtown
While Ottawa's downtown core is home to many of the city's major attractions, including Parliament Hill and the National Gallery of Canada, it is a vibrant community unto itself with a large residential element and several shopping centers, including the pedestrian Sparks Street Mall and the Rideau Shopping Centre.

One can also find many fine restaurants in the downtown core. The core itself runs from Wellington Street in the north to the Queensway in the south, and the Rideau Canal in the east to Bronson Avenue in the west. For a taste of Ottawa’s nightlife, be sure to visit some of the nightclubs and restaurants along Elgin Street.

The Glebe
South of the Queensway running along both sides of Bank Street, is the Glebe. As a trendy arts and specialty shop district, the Glebe attracts many suburban transplants looking for a little downtown living.

Sandy Hill and the Byward Market
Across from the downtown core on the eastern bank of the Rideau Canal is the University of Ottawa, which borders the stately Sandy Hill district where a majority of the city's embassies are located. Across Rideau Street to the north of Sandy Hill is the Byward Market where every sense can be satisfied.

The "Market" is a tourist Mecca attracting both vacationers and locals to its many special shops and restaurants during the day, while in the evenings the streets are filled with late night revelers touring the area's many bars and nightclubs including On Tap the Heart and Crown and the Rainbow Bistro blues club.

Somerset Heights
Situated to the west of the downtown area is Somerset Heights, which was previously known as Chinatown before the age of political correctness and an influx of Vietnamese immigrants in the late 1970s. If it’s Asian food you're interested in, then the Heights is the place to come. Along Somerset Street one can find some of the finest Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants in the city including the Mekong Restaurant, the Yangtze, and the Cam Kong.

About a 10-minute walk west down Rue Somerset from the Heights is Preston Street, the cultural center of Ottawa's Italian community. Every year during the last weekend in June the street overflows with people returning to their roots to celebrate Italian Week.

Running north and south along the eastern edge of the downtown core is the Rideau Canal where one can either walk, jog, inline skate, or just sit on a bench and people-watch.

Vanier
Further east from Sandy Hill is Vanier. This small neighborhood is the last bastion of the francophone community in Ottawa and they maintain their heritage with immense pride.

Rockcliffe Park
To the north of Vanier is Rockcliffe Park where one can find some of the most expensive real estate in Canada including the multi-million dollar home of Corel founder Michael Cowpland. Rockcliffe is also the home of 24 Sussex Drive and Rideau Hall, the homes of the Prime Minister and the Governor General respectively.

Hull
Across the river from Parliament Hill is Ottawa's twin city of Hull. Located in the French-speaking province of Quebec, Hull has grown up struggling to find an identity under the shadow of the nation's capital. Besides having many fine French restaurants, Hull is also the gateway to Gatineau Park, a wonderfully bucolic getaway run by the National Capital Commission. The Park itself has many fine bike paths, picturesque lakes, and points of interest including the Mackenzie King Estate and Meech Lake.

Western Suburbs
Further to the west of the downtown core are the suburban neighborhoods of Bells Corners, Barrhaven, and Kanata. While Barrhaven and Bells Corners are mostly bedroom communities with a smattering of restaurants and hotels, Kanata is the high tech center of Ottawa and home to many high tech giants such as Nortel, Mitel, Alcatel, Mosaid, and Entrust.

Historical Background

Ottawa gets its identity from two major sources—its geographic location at the confluence of the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers, and the fact that it is the seat of power for the entire nation. For centuries the area that overlooks the two rivers was the meeting grounds for the First Nations tribe the Algonquin Indians, who were indigenous to this part of central Canada.

The first European to set eyes on the area was Samuel de Champlain in 1613. In fact, a statue commemorating his discovery sits atop Nepean Point overlooking the Ottawa River. For the next 200 years the area remained a meeting place where natives met with French fur traders, who took valuable beaver pelts further downstream to Montreal and Quebec City. In 1800, a United Empire Loyalist named Philemon Wright left Massachusetts after the Revolutionary War and settled across the Ottawa River from the heights, in what is now Hull. Originally named Wrightsville, the small community grew into a burgeoning lumber town that helped to fuel Britain's desire for sturdy wood with which to build its navy.

In 1826 construction began on Ottawa's second most identifiable landmark besides Parliament Hill. Lieutenant Colonel John By was commissioned to build a canal that ran from the Ottawa River in the north to Kingston in the south—a distance of 200 kilometers. Construction on the Rideau Canal was completed by 1832. During the building of the canal, development began to take place on the Ottawa side of the Ottawa River, in and around what is now known as Lowertown, which is the site of Byward Market. By the time the canal was completed, the new settlement was called Bytown after the canal's chief builder.

The new waterway made the shipment of lumber to markets south of the border much easier. As a result, several American lumber barons came to the area bringing with them a wave of immigration from Poland, Scotland, and Ireland, all looking for work in the forests around the fledgling city.

By the late 1850s Ottawa had finally come into its own, although it still possessed a reputation as a remote and rather uncivilized place. In 1860 something completely unexpected and remarkable happened. While looking at a map of the colonies of Upper and Lower Canada, Queen Victoria decided to pick Ottawa as the new capital over both York, which is now Toronto and Montreal. The decision was very controversial, but appeased Lower Canada (mainly French) and Upper Canada (mainly English). Also, because of its proximity to the American border, the choice would change Ottawa's destiny forever.

Immediately after Queen Victoria had selected Ottawa as the colony's new capital, construction began on the neo-gothic Parliament buildings. In 1867 the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec (Lower Canada), and Ontario (Upper Canada) decided to form a confederation and the Dominion of Canada was born, with Ottawa designated as the fledgling nation's capital.

Completed that same year, the Parliament buildings were dubbed the "Westminster in the Wilderness." A bizarre study in contrasts, the stately center block of Parliament Hill, with its Peace Tower, towered over the haphazardly planned bustle of industrial Ottawa.

Rideau Hall was also completed the same year and became the palatial residence of the Queen's representative in Canada. All of Canada's Governors General have lived there since its construction.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Canadian government concluded that if Ottawa were to be a worthy capital some planning was in order. A wholesale restructuring of the city ensued with the creation of several scenic boulevards, an extensive park system beginning with Major's Hill Park.

In 1936, Prime Minister Mackenzie King commissioned French civil architect Jacques Gréber to provide a blueprint for a broad park and green space system that would encircle the city. Today Greber's creation is called the Greenbelt, which contains several natural trails as well as a number of working farms.

For most of the 20th century, Ottawa grew up as a government town—and an extremely conservative one at that. Small influxes of immigrants after both World Wars helped spice things up as a large number of people from Italy, Lebanon, and China decided to call Ottawa home. Each immigrant community established neighbourhoods with names like Little Italy, where the annual Italian Week is celebrated in June, and Chinatown, both of which still exist today.

It was not until the 1970s and the birth of the high-tech sector that Ottawa began to slowly transform from a government town into something much greater. Ironically, the transformation was lead by a small cabal of former government computer scientists who started companies such as Digital, Mitel, and Northern Telecom. Soon Ottawa was being called by another name—"Silicon Valley North"—and highly skilled workers from all over the world began to flock to the area. Today, Ottawa is one of the leading computer telecommunications centers of the world, with most of the industry located in the city’s western suburb of Kanata.

Entertainment

Once a sleepy government town, urban renewal and a drive to become a greater tourist destination have changed Ottawa considerably in the past decade. The city now has a vibrancy that makes it a world-class destination. No matter what your interests, Canada's national capital is bound to offer something that appeals to everyone.

Visual Arts
Ottawa's internationally renowned galleries and museums play host to Canada's finest collections, as well as some of the world's most impressive traveling exhibits. Second only to Parliament Hill as a daytime tourist attraction, the National Gallery of Canada offers free admission to its permanent collection, which includes the best of traditional and modern Canadian art and a respected selection of Renaissance and Impressionist pieces including works by Gustav Klimt, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet, and Degas. A few of the past traveling exhibits that have made an appearance at the gallery include works by Van Gogh, Monet, and a retrospective of the works of Gustav Klimt.

The importance of art in the capital can be seen everywhere from museums like the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography and the Ottawa Art Gallery to over a dozen local galleries including the Carmel Art Gallery.

History
Notably, for a city barely two centuries old, Ottawa is obsessed with its own architectural and political history. From the Canadian War Museum to the Bytown Museum, which chronicles the building of the Rideau Canal and the early history of the city itself, the Ottawa story has been preserved, studied, and presented. For history with a personal touch, take part in one of numerous walking tours, or grab a guidebook and go for a stroll on your own.

Children
Ottawa offers a host of attractions and activities for children, including the Canadian Children's Museum, located within the stunning Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull. The Canadian Museum of Nature, located at the south end of Metcalfe Street, is also a sure hit with the young ones.

Performing Arts
When it comes to the performing arts, the National Arts Centre operates as the city's epicenter, featuring world-class opera and dance performances, English and French theater productions, and several symphony concerts.

Quality theater productions are presented on an ongoing basis by a number of smaller local theater companies such as Ottawa Little Theatre and the Great Canadian Theatre Company. Or opt for lighter fare with the capital’s own brand of humour at the Yuk Yuk's comedy club.

Nightlife
Ottawa has a lively nightlife that is divided between two locations: Elgin Street and the Byward Market. For the younger generation there is always a bar on York Street where they can dance the night away. But by far the best way to experience the "Market" by night is to simply explore and let your ears be your guide.

Visitors will find bars, nightclubs, and restaurants throughout the city geared to the gay and lesbian community as well. The city's Capital Xtra magazine is the place to start a search for the LGBT scene.

Live Music
The live music possibilities in this cultural hotspot know no limits. The annual summer concert series on the lawn of the Governor General's residence at Rideau Hall features some of Canada's most talented musicians, while Barrymore's Music Hall, the largest of the city's many live music bars, offers weekly live music acts of the rock and roll variety. Fans of the blues normally head straight the Rainbow Bistro in the Byward Mmarket where live acts are featured every night.

Festivals and Events
Annual festivals draw crowds from around the city and the world. The most famous of the lot are the Canadian Tulip Festival, with its thousands of bulbs coloring the city in spring, and Winterlude, which transforms the Rideau Canal into the world's longest skating rink.

During the summer there is at least one major event every week, including the country's largest Canada Day celebration, the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, an ever-expanding Bluesfest, and the lesbian and gay Pride Week Festival. The celebratory season is rounded out with August's 112-year-old Central Canada Exhibition, which takes place smack dab in the middle of the city at Lansdowne Park.

Other festivals celebrating the region's ethnic and musical diversity include Italian Week, festivities along Preston Street in late July, and the magnificent Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival in September.

Film
The film-going experience is particularly prized in Ottawa and fans of old-fashioned theaters and independent films will feel very at home here. In addition to the mainstream theaters sprinkled throughout Ottawa's many neighbourhoods, the Bytowne Theatre features international films, while the Glebe's old-fashioned Mayfair Theatre plays classics as well as independent flics. For those interested in the bigger picture, an IMAX theater is located in the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull.

Dining and Drinking

As the capital city of Canada, Ottawa has been a magnet for immigrants looking for a better way of life and the hope of a brighter future. Besides enriching the city’s cultural heritage, the waves of Italian, East Indian, Lebanese, Vietnamese, and other new arrivals have brought with them a culinary smorgasbord that is reflected in the many fine restaurants that can be enjoyed throughout the city.

Where To Stay

As Canada's capital, Ottawa prides itself on being accommodating to all peoples. Whether you are visiting on business or for pleasure, you will be sure to find accommodations that meet your comfort and price preference. It is also comforting to know that Ottawa is a very centralized city with many attractions within easy walking distance of most downtown hotels.

Downtown
Top hotels in downtown Ottawa are the Chateau Laurier and the Westin Hotel. While decades apart in age, they are simply located across Rideau Street from one another. Both hotels are within easy walking distance of attractions along Sussex Drive, Parliament Hill, the Sparks Street Mall and the Byward Market. If it's history and ambience your after, than the century old, neo-gothic Chateau Laurier is the place to go. But the Westin has the added advantage of being connected via elevated walkways to the Rideau Shopping Centre and the Ottawa Congress Centre. High season room rates for both hotels are expensive, but not staggeringly so. Elsewhere downtown, somewhat less expensive accommodations can be found. All are moderately priced and within easy walking ditance of many downtown attractions.

Suburbs
While most of the more expensive and well-known hotels are located downtown, there are a plethora of more affordable lodgings at either end of the Queensway, the city's main east-west artery.

Kanata
Home to Silicon Valley North, Kanata is somewhat lacking in the accommodation department, although several new hotels have begun to fill the void.

The West End
Fifteen minutes from downtown Ottawa is Bells Corners, which has several affordable hotels that are both comfortable and convenient for travellers visiting the area by car.

The East End
Affordability is also the name of the game in the eastern part of the nation's capital, where one can find several budget choices grouped together near the St. Laurent Boulevard exit from the Queensway, about 10 minutes from downtown.

Hull
Located across the Ottawa River in Hull, Quebec are several excellent hotels, all within a short taxi ride of downtown Ottawa.

Bed and Breakfasts
A bevy of B&B's have also sprouted up in Ottawa in recent years. Most present an excellent alternative to hotel accommodations. Once again, all are within easy walking distances of most of the major downtown attractions.

Ottawa by the Numbers

Elevation: 374 feet
Average Winter Temperature: 14 degrees F
Average Summer Temperature: 68 degrees F

Population: over 1.2 million
Ethnic Mix: British 40%; French 27%; Other European 20%; Asian/Arab/African 20%; Amerindian 1.5%
Province: Ontario
Electricity: 110 volts, 50 cycles, AC
Time Zone: GMT-5

Country Dialing Code: 1
Area Code: 613

Did You Know?

Queen Victoria designated Ottawa as Canada's capital in 1857. Once known as "Bytown" this lively city is now home to events such as the annual Tulip Festival.

Orientation/Geography

Ottawa is Canada's fourth largest city and lies between the Ottawa River, the Rideau River, and the Rideau Canal. Convenient to major U.S. and Canadian urban centers, Ottawa is located 129 miles from Montreal, 295 miles from Toronto, and 413 miles from New York City.


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