City information

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.

  Restaraunts / Bars

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 which can be enjoyed throughout the city.

Italian For Italian fare one should go no further than Mamma Teresa Ristorante on Somerset Street in the downtown core. Though slightly on the expensive side, a trip to Mamma Teresa’s is worth every penny. For years Ottawa’s political movers and shakers have met and dined on the restaurant’s succulent veal entrees in any one of a number of semi-private alcoves.

Other Italian eateries that can be depended on for excellent food and fine service in the downtown core include the small, but quaint Fresco Bistro Italiano on Elgin Street and Fratelli on Bank Street in the Glebe. Meanwhile, in the Byward Market there is the slightly upscale Cafe Spiga Trattoria on Dalhousie Street, the always consistent Mangia across the street from Spiga, and the Cafe Baci located just down the street.

Of course, if it’s Italian food you’re after, you can always take a short cab ride to Little Italy, located along Preston Street, and sample from the menus at either Allegro Ristorante or Leonardo’s.

But perhaps the most romantic Italian eatery is the Canal Ritz, located along the side of the Rideau Canal where you can either dine indoors or al fresco on the restaurant’s expansive patio.

Further a field there is Capone’s in the west end of the city and The March House located in Kanata.

French Stradling the Ottawa River and the Ontario/Quebec border, as Ottawa does, the city is also home to many fine French restaurants. Chief among these is the Cafe Henry Burger, which is actually located on Laval Street in Hull across from the Canadian Museum of Civilization. The menu at the Henry Burger is impeccable and the service is second to none. But be forewarned, it is also one of the more expensive restaurants in the city.

Back in Ottawa, Le Cafe, located on the main level of the National Arts Centre, adjacent to the Rideau Canal, is another not to be missed dining experiencem, although a night out for two can cost between CAD 80-100.

Elsewhere in Ottawa, Le Metro located on Somerset Street in the downtown core and Le Jardin in the Byward Market are also sure to please.

Indian For some reason Ottawa has a wealth of fine, reasonably priced Indian restaurants mostly located in the Glebe, just south of the downtown core along Bank Street, and in the Byward Market.

Most notably among these is the smallish, but always excellent Light of India on Bank Street. Also located on Bank Street is the New Delhi, while the Haveli Indian Restaurant and Cafe Shafali can both be found in the Byward Market.

Chinese and Vietnamese While there are many fine Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants in Ottawa, the best among them are located along Somerset Street in Somerset Heights, about a five-minute cab ride from many downtown hotels.

Whether you choose the Yangtze, the Mekong Restaurant or the Shanghai Restaurant you cannot go wrong. But for a real treat, that is both a culinary delight and light on the pocketbook, check out the unassuming Ben Ben Restaurant located across the street from the Yangtze. Ben Ben has been a popular mainstay of the local Asian community for over 15 years. For lovers of Vietnamese food there is the popular and affordable Cam Kong, also located in Somerset Heights.

Mexican Lovers of Mexican food also have quite a few eateries to choose from to please the palate including, Las Palmas and the Blue Cactus, both located in the Byward Market. Traditionalists will love the authentic Mexican fare served up at Feleena’s in the Glebe, while for the best of the bunch for the money is Pancho Villa located on Elgin Street.

Seafood Seafood afficiandos can have their appetites satisfied at any one of three recommended restaurants, each in a different part of downtown. In the Glebe, seafood lovers have made Flippers a mainstay, while The Fish Market Restaurant in the Byward Market is known for its fresh product and succulent lobsters. More centrally located is Nick & Jerry’s Simply Seafood on Albert Street.

Alternative fare For the more adventurous gastronomic travellers Ottawa has much to offer in the likes of the Savana Cafe which serves up rather eclectic Carribean fare on Somerset Street in the downtown core and the popular Big Daddy’s Crab Shack and Oyster Bar which offers up wonderfully diverse Cajun fare including grilled alligator. Then there is Sante at Rideau Street and Sussex Drive in the Byward Market which changes it’s experimental menu on an almost weekly basis.

Nate’s Delicatessen on Rideau Street is another restaurant not to be missed during any visit to Ottawa. Owned by restauranteur Dave Smith, Nate’s is the premiere deli in the city. And if you have the time, why not check out Moe’s World Famous Newport Restaurant which doubles as the headquarters of the Elvis Presley Sighting Society and is filled with tons of Elvis memorabilia.

Fred Sherwin

   Recommended tours

By boat, by car or by bus, Ottawa awaits discovery. However, the best way to explore the capital city is by foot.

Any walking tour of Ottawa should start at Parliament Hill. You shouldn’t have trouble finding the most recognizable sight in Canada! The impressive Gothic revival buildings house the Senate and House of Commons. Tours of the government buildings and grounds are available year-round; at the very least, climb up the Peace Tower for a stunning panoramic view of the city.

From Parliament Hill, walk west down Wellington Street. Immediately on your left is the Bank of Canada, where corridors of vaults store our nation’s gold reserves. The bank’s Currency Museum provides a fascinating view into the history of currency around the world.

On the right are three must-see attractions in quick succession: the Supreme Court of Canada, the National Library of Canada and the National Archives of Canada. The Supreme Court, as its name suggests, is the highest court in the land. The National Library has two copies of every written article ever produced in Canada, including sheet music and sound recordings. And if you can’t find what you are looking for there, the National Archives preserves unpublished documents like diaries, letters, photos, maps and computer discs.

Turn right and cross over the Portage Bridge to French-speaking Hull. Along the way, you’ll walk past Victoria Island where the original inhabitants of the area first set up camp in the summertime. As you cross into Hull, walk east along Laurier Street while taking time to admire the Ottawa River. Paths bordering each side of the river offer outdoor enthusiasts the chance to walk, jog, blade or cycle amid beautiful scenery.

That bizarre-looking building up ahead on your right is the Canadian Museum of Civilization, home to archaeology, ethnology, history and folk culture collections as well as the Canadian Children’s Museum and an IMAX theatre.

Before heading back to Ottawa, you might want to take a half-day Hull to Wakefield steam train excursion. The 1907 locomotive affords picturesque views of the glorious Gatineau Park.

You can now cross back to Ontario over the Alexandria Bridge. Once back in Ottawa you will find yourself on St. Patrick Street. Up a short hill to the left is the magnificent National Gallery of Canada. From Rembrandt to Canada’s famous Group of Seven and relatively unknown Canadian contemporary artists, this gallery has it all. It’s a peaceful place to take a break and admire world-class exhibits.

Across the street from the National Gallery is Notre Dame Basilica, Ottawa’s oldest Roman Catholic church. To the east of the gallery is the Canadian War Museum where you can check out the historical war. Beside the War Museum is the Royal Canadian Mint, where you can nip in to see loonies and twoonies being made.

Keep strolling down Sussex Drive. On the rig ht is the Lester B. Pearson building, home to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Next to the Lester B. Pearson Building is the old Ottawa City Hall, which was recently sold to the federal government after the 11 municipalities that formerly made up the National Capital region were merged into one.

As you proceed further down Sussex Drive you will eventually come to the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive. Diagonally across from 24 Sussex is Rideau Hall, the residence of the Governor-General. Feel free to picnic on the grounds or enjoy a guided tour of the residence.

Backtrack your way along Sussex Drive to the Peacekeeping Monument. Turning left along any street will take you to the Byward Market. The oldest area in Ottawa, this market is bustling year round. Relax for a bite at a cafe or shop till you drop, depending on your inclination.

Zip back to Sussex Drive and turn right back onto Wellington Street. Admire the historical Chateau Laurier on the corner. Beside this luxurious hotel is the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, which highlights the work of Canada’s best photographers.

Straight across from the Photography Museum is the National War Memorial honoring the sacrifices made by Canadians in war and home to the country’s annual Remembrance Day ceremonies. At the base of the memorial lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a nameless father, husband or son who died in the First World War.

Strolling down Elgin Street, the National Arts Centre is on your left. North America’s only bilingual, multi-disciplinary performing arts centre offers dance, music, variety shows and more.

Weary of walking yet? You can hop on a Rideau Canal boat cruise across from the NAC. In fact, it’s virtually impossible to walk by without someone trying to sell you a cruise ticket.

Across from the National Arts Centre, on the corner of Sparks Street, is D’Arcy McGee’s Irish Pub. For walks decidedly more creepy, join their haunted evening strolls.

Feeling overwhelmed? This walking tour should have just whetted your appetite for Ottawa sight seeing. At the corner of Metcalfe Street between Sparks and Wellington is the Capital Infocentre. Pop in for information about other tours of Canada’s Capital Region and start again.

    Where to stay

As Canada’s capital, Ottawa prides itself on being accommodating to people of all walks of life. 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 Tops on the list of 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 91-year-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 at the Quality Hotel at Rideau and King Edward streets, Novotel Hotel behind the Rideau Centre, the Ramada Hotel & Suites on Cooper Street near the Rideau Canal and the Delta Hotel on Queen Street between Bay and Kent Streets. All are moderately priced and within easy walking ditance of many downtown attractions. The Ramada Hotel & Suites also has the added bonus of being located next to the Rideau Canal along which you can bike, in-line skate or just go for a stroll.

Other chain hotels located downtown include the Ottawa Marriott at Kent and Queen Streets, the towering Crowne Plaza Hotel on Lyon Street between Queen and Albert and the Sheraton on Slater Avenue near O’Connor Street. All are moderate to expensively priced depending on the season.

Still cheaper but centrally located are the Econo Lodge Parkway Motel and the Downtown Days Inn both can be found on Rideau Street and are moderate to inexpensively priced.

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. Chief among these is the Holiday Inn Select just off the Queensway near Terry Fox Drive. There is also a Days Inn on Katimavik Drive near Eagleson Road that offers all the amenities that one has come to expect from the popular budget hotel.

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. Situated on the main thoroughfare in Bells Corners, the moderately priced Best Western Baron’s Motel offers all the amenities visitors have come to expect from the famous chain. Slightly less expensive is the Days Inn Ottawa West on Moodie Drive.

The East End Affordability is also the name of the game in the eastern part of the nation’s capital, where one can find such budget choices as the WelcomInns and the Chimo Hotel 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. The two most popular are the Holiday Inn Plaza La Chaudiere on the corner of Rue Montcalm and Tache Boulevard and the Ramada Plaza Hotel, located on Victoria Street across from the Museum of Civilization.

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. Among them are the Albert House Inn on Albert Street and Bronson Avenue, Haydon House on the Driveway near the Rideau Canal, the Rainbow Bed-and-Breakfast on York Street and the Canal View Bed-and-Breakfast. Once again, all are within easy walking distances of most of the major downtown attractions

Fred Sherwin

    Getting there

Getting There:

By Air: Ottawa International Airport (+1 613 248 2000/ http://www.ottawa-airport.ca) offers transportation to destinations throughout the world. Its terminals house the following airlines:

Air Canada (+1 800 776 3000/ http://www.aircanada.ca )

American Airlines (+ 1 800 433 7300/ http://www.aa.com)

Bearskin Airlines (+1 800 465 5039/ http://www.bearskinairlines.com)

Canadian North (+1 800 661 1505/ http://www.canadiannorth.com)

CanJet Airlines (+1 800 809 7777/ http://www.canjet.com)

Continental (+1 800 525 0280/ http://www.continental.com )

Delta (+1 800 221 1212/ http://www.delta.com )

First Air (+1 800 267 1247/ http://www.firstair.ca)

Jetsgo (+ 1 866 440 0441/ http://www.jetsgo.net)

Northwest (+1 800 225 2525/ http://www.nwa.com )

QuickAir ( + 1 800 551 7845/ http://www.quikair.ca)

United (+1 800 241 6522/ http://www.ual.com )

US Airways (+1 800 428 4322/ http://www.usairways.com )

WestJet (+ 1 800 538 5696/ http://www.westjet.com)

Zoom Airlines Inc (+1 866 359 9666/ http://www.flyzoom.ca)

Ottawa’s safe and reliable OC Transpo (+1 613-741-4390/ http://www.octranspo.com) provides an effective route for getting to and from the airport. Bus route 97 departs outside the Arrivals area and run frequently to points throughout the city.

Ottawa’s light rail system, the O-train, also provides an effective means to travel the city.

Taxis generally cost about 25 Canadian dollars to downtown. Taxis can be easily located outside each terminal. You can also call +1 613 523 1234.

Rental Car companies include:

Alamo (+1 800 327 9633/ http://www.alamo.com )

Avis (+1 800 831 2847/ http://www.avis.com )

Budget (+1 800 527 0700/ http://www.budget.com )

Hertz (+1 800 654 3131/ http://www.hertz.com

By Train:

Ottawa is serviced by VIA Rail Canada (+1 888 842 7245/ http://www.viarail.ca). Multiple destinations can be reached along the Toronto-Kingston-Ottawa line and the Ottawa-Alexandria-Montreal line.

By Bus:

The Ottawa bus terminal (+1 613 238 5900) is located on the edge of downtown and offers convenient transportation to rural and urban areas throughout Canada.

By Car:

Ottawa can be easily accessed by interstates 41, 5, and 50.

Getting Around:

Ottawa is serviced by an extensive bus system, OC Transpo ( +1 614 714 4390/ http://www.octranspo.com) and the O-train (a light rail system) which seats up to 135 and has standing room for 150.

   District guide

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 theatre 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 centres including the pedestrian Sparks Street Mall and the Rideau Shopping Centre.

One can also find many fine restaurants in the downtown core including Hy’s Steak House, Suisha Gardens and Mamma Teresa Ristorante. 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 including Griffin’s, Big Daddy’s Crab Shack and Oyster Bar and Bulldog Pub (The).

The Glebe South of the Queensway, running along both sides of Bank Street, is the Glebe, a trendy arts and specialty shop district that has attracted 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 70s brought about a name change. 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 Somerset Street 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, in-line skate or just park themselves on a bench and watch the world go by.

Vanier Further east from Sandy Hill is Vanier. This smallish 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 on 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 centre of Ottawa and home to many high tech giants such as Nortel, Mitel, Alcatel, Mosaid and Entrust.

Fred Sherwin
   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 around the heights that overlook the two rivers was the traditional meeting ground of the Algonquin Indians, the natives 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 the 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 called Wrightsville, the small community grew into a burgeoning lumber town within 20-30 years helping 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 from the Ottawa River in the north to Kingston in the south?a distance of 202-kilometres. 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 now the present day site of the 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 1850’s 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 a very controversial one, but was made to both appease the two sides?it bordered Lower Canada, which was mainly French speaking and Upper Canada which was mainly English speaking?and because of its remoteness from 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 centre 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 last 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 Greber 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 wasn’t 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 with names like 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 centres in the world with most of the industry located in the city’s western suburb of Kanata.

Fred Sherwin

    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. Recent traveling exhibits that have made an appearance at the gallery include works by Van Gogh, Monet, and most recently, 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 epicentre, featuring world-class opera and dance performances, English and French theatre productions and several symphony concerts.

Quality theatre productions are presented on an ongoing basis by a number of smaller, local theatre 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, where the popular dance clubs Griffin’s, Maxwell’s Bistro and The Bulldog Pub. While the Bulldog caters to a mainly twentysomething crowd, the clientele at Griffin’s and Maxwell’s is more the over 30 set. For the slighty older crowd there is always Hartwells located in the Westin hotel.

Places to both see and be seen in the Byward Market include the Celtic Pub, the Heart and Crown, which features live music every night and the Empire Grill with its popular martini bar. Blues lovers venturing in the Byward Market can check out the Rainbow Bistro. For the younger generation there is always On Tap on York Street whre 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. Among them are the Lookout Bar and Bistro and the Rock Bottom Grill in the Byward Market. The city’s Capital Xtra magazine’s 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 colouring 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 theatres and independent films will feel very at home here. In addition to the mainstream theatres 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 flicks. For those interested in the bigger picture, an IMAX theatre is located in the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull.

Anita Dolman

    Fun Facts

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