Ottawa was named Canada's capital by Queen Victoria in 1857 (formerly Bytown) and ever since it has become a great city in which to live in all seasons. From Winterlude in the winter, the Tulip Festival in the spring, the Central Canada Exhibtion in the summer to a huge party every Canada Day. There is some form of fun activity going on year-round in Ottawa.
Situated on the Ottawa River, a common border shared by the Provinces of Ontario and Québec, Ottawa uniquely represents the nation, and represents very well both the English and French cultures.
The National Capital Region (NCR), comprised of the new City of Ottawa (formerly the Regional Muncipality of Ottawa-Carleton) on the Ontario side, and the Communauté urbaine de l'Outaouais (Aylmer, Gatineau and Hull) on its Québec side, has the fourth largest population in Canada with over 920,000, and one of Canada's fastest growth rates. Most of the jobs are provided by the high-tech and government sectors.
Ottawa is located approximately 200 km from Montreal and 400 km from Montreal.
Ottawa is centered on Parliament Hill, where neo-gothic stone buildings and the spire of the Peace Tower rise from the cliffs overlooking the Ottawa River. The Centre Block of Parliament is the heart of Canadian political life, housing the Senate, House of Commons and the impressive Library of Parliament. The central tower, the Peace Tower, houses a 53-bell carillon, a huge clock and the memorial chamber commemorating Canada's war dead. It also attractes thousands of tourists annually.
In the late 1950s, the Region was enlarged to encompass
over 4,666 sq. km. of land. Hull, Ottawa and surrounding communities then
went on to form one strong capital with 15 municipalities spanning two
provinces. In 1976, Nepean went from a township to a city.
There were changes in political and administrative structures for the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. Regional Government provided necessary services such as major roads, mass transit, social services, garbage and recycling services. Local municipal governments looked after areas such as licensing, city planning and local parks and roads. In recent years, there have been amalgamation of services such as the school boards and the police department.
The Region then decided to amalgamate its municipalities
and their services and form one city and on January 1, 2001, the new City
of
Ottawa was born with Bob Chiarelli as its' first mayor
ever. The spirit of partnership and common purpose bringing the 11 municipalities
together under an exciting new banner signals a bright and promising future.
Ottawa-Carleton previously consisted of the City of Ottawa, the Township
of Cumberland, the City of Gloucester, the Township of Osgoode, Township
of Rideau, City of Vanier, Village of Rockcliffe Park, Township of Goulbourn,
City of Kanata, the City of Nepean and the Township of West Carleton.
As the nation's capital, Ottawa is the seat of federal government which is one of the largest employers in the region accounting for approximately 20 per cent of the total workforce.
High technology is an important player in the employment picture, with over 650 such firms employing more than 36,000 employees.
Other major employers include the hospitality industry, with more than 27,000 jobs, and the health/life sciences field (including hospitals, government laboratories, universities and the private sector), with over 18,000 jobs. There are more than 75 life sciences companies in Ottawa employing over 1,500 people with sales in excess of $360 million per year.
Such a healthy work force accounts for one of the highest disposable incomes in the country. This, along with reasonable housing prices, clean air and low crime rates make it easy to understand the attraction of Metro Ottawa and the Outaouais.
There is also heavy emphasis on education in the region. From the University of Ottawa, the region's oldest and Canada's largest bilingual university, to Carleton University, the University of Québec (Hull), Université Saint-Paul and Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology, to the French-language La Cité Collégiale, there is plenty of choice.
Controlled development has preserved miles of parkland and kept the natural beauty of the environment. This, combined with its situation above the confluence of three rivers and a scenic canal, makes the Capital a truly idyllic setting.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) maintains and protects all federal lands in the region, among them the prestigious Greenbelt, Gatineau Park and the Rideau Canal. Included in the NCC's 48,200 hectare domain are historic sites and parks. Perhaps one the best loved is Gatineau Park. Located in Québec, it hosts several competitive cross-country ski events and includes such sights as Kingsmere, the former estate of Mackenzie King. The park, known for its inspiring beauty, especially in autumn, is apopular destination for hikers, bird watchers, and nature lovers.
During cycling season, more and more people are using bicycles to get to and from work, for shopping and regular trips. In fact, about 5 per cent of all travel is made by bicycle, i.e. 80,000 daily trips.
The Rideau Canal, which bisects the downtown and stretches 7.8 km from downtown Ottawa to Dow's Lake, celebrated, in 1995, 25 years as the world's longest open-air skating rink. This skater's paradise is "the" place to be during Winterlude.
Downhill and cross-country skiers are well accommodated, too. There are easily accessible hills and trails all around the region, especially on the Quebec side.
For those who enjoy culture and education, the city is host to many galleries and museums, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canadian Museum of Nature, National Museum of Science and Technology, National Aviation Museum, and the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography with ever-changing exhibits merit a spot on any "things to do" list.
Yes, once you've lived here, you'll be proud to call it this friendly, vibrant city your home.
