45°25N 75°43W, pop (2000e) 351 300. Capital of Canada, in E Ontario, Canada, on the Ottawa R at its junction with the Rideau Canal and R; founded as Bytown, 1826; present name, 1854; capital of United Provinces, 1858; national capital, 1867; two-thirds English-speaking, one-third French; airport; railway; two universities (1848, 1942); pulp and paper, aluminium, steel, bronze, clothing, food processing, watches and clocks, glass; Peace Tower in parliament buildings, 88 m/289 ft high; Eternal Flame on Parliament Hill, lit 1967; National War Memorial, War Museum, National Library, National Art Gallery of Canada, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Museum of Science and Technology, National Archives; professional teams, Ottawa Senators (ice hockey), Ottawa Rough Riders (football); Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill, Tulip Festival (May).
| City of Ottawa/Ville d'Ottawa | |||||
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| Motto: Advance Ottawa/Ottawa en avant | |||||
| Coordinates: 45°25′15″N, 75°41′24″W | |||||
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| Country | Canada | ||||
| Province | Ontario | ||||
| County | |||||
| Established | 1850 as Bytown | ||||
| City Mayor | Bob Chiarelli | ||||
| Governing body | Ottawa City Council | ||||
| MPs / MPPs | |||||
| Members of Parliament (MPs) | Mauril Bélanger (LPC), Paul Dewar (NDP), John Baird (CPC), Royal Galipeau (CPC), David McGuinty (LPC),Pierre Lemieux (CPC),Gordon O'Connor (CPC), Pierre Poilievre (CPC) | ||||
| Senators | Mac Harb (LPC), Colin Kenny (LPC), Wilbert Keon (CPC), Marjory LeBreton (CPC), Jim Munson (LPC), Michael Pitfield (Ind.) | ||||
| Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) | Lisa MacLeod (PC), Jean-Marc Lalonde (OLP), Dalton McGuinty (OLP), Phil McNeely (OLP), Madeleine Meilleur (OLP), Richard Patten (OLP), Norm Sterling (PC), Jim Watson (OLP) | ||||
| Area | |||||
| - City | 2,778.64 km² (1,072.9 sq mi) | ||||
| Elevation | 80 m (262 ft) | ||||
| Population | |||||
| - City (2005) | 859,704 (estimated) | ||||
| - Density | 278.6/km² (721.6/sq mi) | ||||
| - Metro | 1,146,790 | ||||
| 4th Largest city in Canada | |||||
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) | ||||
| Postal code span | K0A, K1A-K4C | ||||
| Website: http://www.ottawa.ca | |||||
Ottawa is the capital of Canada and the country's fourth largest city, as well as the second largest city in the province of Ontario after the provincial capital of Toronto. Ottawa lies on the banks of the Ottawa River, a major waterway that forms the border between Ontario and Quebec.
In 2005 the population of Ottawa was estimated at 859,704, while the population of the larger Census Metropolitan Area was estimated at 1,148,785.
As with other national capitals, the word "Ottawa" is also used to refer by metonymy to the country's federal government, especially as opposed to provincial or municipal authorities.
History
The Ottawa region was long home to First Nations peoples who were part of the Algonquin.
In the years following the War of 1812, in addition to settling some military regiment families, the government began sponsored immigration schemes which brought over Irish Catholics and Protestants to settle the Ottawa area, which began a steady stream of Irish immigration there in the next few decades.
Ottawa became the centre for lumber milling and square-cut timber industry in Canada and, in fact, for North America as a whole.
On December 31, 1857, Queen Victoria was asked to choose a common capital for the then province of Canada (modern Quebec and Ontario) and chose Ottawa. While Ottawa is now a major metropolis and Canada's fourth largest city, at the time it was a sometimes unruly logging town in the hinterland, far away from the colony's main cities, Quebec City and Montreal in Canada East, and Kingston and Toronto in Canada West.
In fact, the Queen's advisors had her pick Ottawa for three important reasons: first, it was the only settlement of any significant size located right on the border of Canada East and Canada West (Quebec/Ontario border today), making it a compromise between the two colonies and their French and English populations; Ottawa's position in the back country made it more defensible, while still allowing easy transportation via the Ottawa River to Canada East, and the Rideau Canal to Canada West.
In 2001, the old city of Ottawa (estimated 2005 population 350,000) was amalgamated with the suburbs of Nepean (135,000), Kanata (56,000), Gloucester (120,000), Rockcliffe Park (2,100), Vanier (17,000) and Cumberland (55,000), and the rural townships of West Carleton (18,000), Osgoode (13,000), Rideau (18,000) and Goulbourn (24,000), along with the systems and infrastructure of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, to become one municipality.
See also: List of Ottawa mayors
Geography and climate
Ottawa is situated on the south bank of the Ottawa River, and contains the mouths of the Rideau River and Rideau Canal.
The City of Ottawa includes many urban areas.
Across the Ottawa River, which forms the border between Ontario and Quebec, lies the city of Gatineau. Although formally and administratively separate cities in two separate provinces, Ottawa and Gatineau (along with a number of nearby municipalities) collectively constitute the National Capital Region, with a combined population exceeding one million residents, and the area is considered a single metropolitan area.
Ottawa itself is a single-tiered city, meaning it is in itself a census division and has no county or regional municipality government above it.
Geographical features
List of bridges in Ottawa List of Ottawa buildings List of Ottawa churches List of Ottawa schools List of Ottawa-Gatineau's 10 tallest skyscrapers List of embassies and high commissions in Ottawa List of Ottawa neighbourhoods List of Ottawa parks List of Ottawa roads National Capital RegionClimate
Ottawa has a range of temperatures from a record high of 37.8 °Celsius (100 °F) in the summers of 1986 and 2001, to a record low of -36.1 °C (-33 °F) being recorded in the winter of 1943, the second coldest temperature recorded in a capital city (after Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia). By annual average temperature, Ottawa is the seventh coldest capital in the world, however by mean January temperature, Ottawa ranks third behind Ulaan-baatar in Mongolia and Astana, Kazakstan.
Transportation
Ottawa is served by VIA Rail passenger service, a number of airlines that fly into Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, and inter-city bus companies such as Greyhound through the Ottawa Bus Central Station.
The capital city of Canada is also served by a network of freeways, the main one being provincial Highway 417 (called The Queensway), Ottawa-Carleton Regional Road 174 (Formerly Provincial Highway 17), and the newly constructed Highway 416 (Veterans' Memorial Highway), connecting Ottawa to the rest of the 400-Series Highway network in Ontario. For a complete listing of the parkways and roads in Ottawa, see the List of Ottawa roads.
Ottawa's main mass transit service is OC Transpo (provided by the City of Ottawa).
There is a large network of paved multi-use pathways that wind their way through much of the city, including along the Ottawa River, Rideau River, and Rideau Canal.
Ottawa sits at the confluence of three major rivers: the Ottawa River, the Gatineau River and the Rideau River. The Ottawa and Gatineau rivers were historically important in the logging and lumber industries, and the Rideau as part of the Rideau Canal system connecting the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River with the Ottawa River.
See also: List of airports in the Ottawa areaPrimary industries
Ottawa's primary employers are the Canadian federal government and the hi-tech industry.
See also: List of Major Technology Companies in Ottawa, CanadaSports
Ottawa is home to one major league sports team, the Ottawa Senators ice hockey team (established 1992) of the National Hockey League.
Ottawa was also home to a minor league baseball team, the AAA farm team of the Baltimore Orioles, the Ottawa Lynx of the International League prior to the 2006 sale of the team.
Ottawa also has a major junior ice hockey team, the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League. Ottawa's two major universities, Carleton University and the University of Ottawa both have athletic associations; Ottawa's top soccer team is the Ottawa Fury who play in the women's W-League and the men's USL Premier Development League. Ottawa also has a professional women's hockey team, the Ottawa Raiders.
The city also supports many casual sporting activities, such as skating on the Rideau Canal or curling in winter, cycling and jogging along the Ottawa River, Rideau Canal, and Rideau River in summer, playing Ultimate all year round (especially through the O.C.U.A.), skiing and hiking in the Greenbelt and the nearby Gatineau Park, and sailing on Lac Deschenes, part of the Ottawa River or golfing on many of the golf courses in the Ottawa area.
Sports teams
| Club | League | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa Senators | NHL ice hockey | Scotiabank Place |
1918-34, 1992 |
1 (President's Trophy) 10 (Stanley Cup) |
| Ottawa Lynx | IL AAA baseball | Lynx Stadium | 1993 | 1 |
| Ottawa Gee Gees | CIS various | University of Ottawa | 1848 | 2 (Canadian football) |
| Carleton Ravens | CIS various | Carleton University | 1942 | 4 (basketball) |
| Ottawa 67's | OHL ice hockey | Ottawa Civic Centre | 1967 |
3 (OHL) 2 (Memorial Cups) |
| Ottawa Raiders | NWHL ice hockey | Sandy Hill Arena | 1995 | 0 |
| Ottawa Fury |
W-League and USL PDL Football (soccer) |
Keith Harris Stadium | 1999 | 0 |
| Ottawa Harlequins | Rugby Canada Super League (Rugby League) | Twin Elm Rugby Park | 1997 | 0 |
Politics
In addition to being the capital of Canada, Ottawa is politically diverse with regard to local politics.
| City of Ottawa - Demographics (from 2001 Census) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Population | 774,072 (Ottawa-Gatineau metropolitan area 1,063,664) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age structure |
0-14 years: 18.9% 15-64 years: 69.6% 65+ years: 11.5% |
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| Median age: |
Total: 36.7 years Male: 35.7 years Female: 37.6 years |
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| Population growth rate: | 1.3% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth rate: | 12.4 births / 1,000 population | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Death rate: | 6 deaths / 1,000 population | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net migration rate: | 6.6 migrant(s) / 1,000 population | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fertility rate: | 1.79 children born / woman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HIV/AIDS |
People living with HIV/AIDS: 2,600 Adult prevalence rate:0.3% |
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| Name: |
Noun: Ottawan(s) Adjective: Ottawan or Ottawa |
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| Citizenship: |
Canadian: 93.5% Other: 6.5% |
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| Immigration Status: |
Non-immigrant: 77.1% Ontario-born: 56.6% Other Canadian: 20.5% Immigrant: 21.8% |
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Ethnic Origin (Total adds to greater than 100% due to multiple responses) |
Canadian 34.7% English 23.5% French 21.2% Irish 20.9% Scottish 18.2% German 7.3% Italian 4.4% Chinese 4.0% Polish 2.8% Dutch 2.6% Aboriginal: 1.1% Other: 30.9% |
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| Religions: |
Christian 74.7% Muslim 5.2% Jewish 1.5% Buddhist 1.2% Hindu 1.1% Sikh 0.3% Other 0/4% 15.7% No religious affiliation |
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| First Languages: |
English 63.6% French 15.1% Both English and French 0.9% Other 20.3% Note: almost every resident in Ottawa speaks English or French, but those who speak non-official languages speak the official languages as a second language.
Local mediaSee also: List of Ottawa media outletsEducationAlgonquin College Carleton University La Cité Collégiale Saint Paul University University of Ottawa See also: List of Ottawa schoolsItems of interestThe National Research Council of Canada's shortwave time signal station, CHU, is located in Ottawa. List of attractions in Ottawa List of Ottawa cinemasCommunity organizations and clubsOttawa Curling Club Ottawa Flying Club Ottawa Horticultural Society Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club RA Photo Club Rideau Canoe ClubEventsCapital Pride is an annual festival celebrating the GLBT community in both Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. Canada Dance Festival Carnival of Cultures CKCU Ottawa Folk Festival Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival Ottawa Fringe Festival Ottawa International Children's Festival Ottawa International Hockey Festival Winterlude is an annual winter carnival held each year in February. WestfestMotto"Advance" is the motto of the Ottawa and The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. |
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