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Carole Evans

Neighbourhoods      

"Don't just buy the house, buy the neighbourhood"

~ Russian Proverb

  • West Ottawa
  • East Ottawa

West of the downtown core you’ll find a mix of neighbourhoods that include turn-of-the-century homes as well as developments built in the 60s and 70s. The Experimental Farm forms much of this area’s eastern boundary, and the parklands of the Ottawa River Parkway provide additional urban green space. This area of town is close to the government buildings at Tunney's Pasture and Dow's Lake.

Westboro is a sought-after neighbourhood filled with distinctive homes, funky shops and fun eateries. The area along Island Park Drive is filled with large, impressive single family homes from the 1940s that are popular with many of the city's ambassadors. Further west are newer neighbourhoods developed in the 1960s, including Carlington, Bel-Air Heights, Highland Park, Carlingwood, and Lincoln Fields. Carlingwood caters to a large population of senior citizens with a seniors centre in the shopping mall and excellent transit service. The community of Britannia was lakeside cottage country in the first part of the 1900s and still has a rural feel.

This area boasts numerous public and Catholic elementary schools as well as high schools. From this area of town it’s a quick commute to Algonquin College's Woodroffe campus and not far from Carleton University. The University of Ottawa is readily accessible by public transit. This part of Ottawa is bounded by the Ottawa River Parkway on the north which features great biking and in-line skating trails. The Central Experimental Farm pathways provide east-west trails. This area has four swimming pools and five arenas as well as Carlington Park's ski hill. The Rideau Canal and beautiful Dow's Lake lie on the eastern edge while a number of sailing clubs lie just west of the area on Lac des Chenes on the Ottawa River.

KANATA
Situated west of the greenbelt, Kanata is known as the city’s high-tech mecca. But don’t let that label fool you – Kanata has a wonderful mix of housing, parks and greenspace and oodles of great shopping and restaurants. It also has the distinction of being home to Scotiabank Place – a world class entertainment venue and the Ottawa Senator’s playground.


The Kanata community began in the 1960s with the development of Beaverbrook in the north and Glen Cairn to the south. These mature neighbourhoods are unique in today’s cookie-cutter world with attractive rock outcroppings and homes built into the natural landscape. In addition to family homes these areas also boast condos and apartment buildings including luxury 2-and-3 bedroom apartments along Teron Road.

To the north of the Queensway sits the Kanata Golf Course which is surrounded by the sought-after communities of Kanata Lakes and Heritage Hills. Further north but within walking distance of the high-tech offices, lie the communities of South March and Morgan’s Grant. This area is also home to the luxurious Brookstreet Hotel and Marshes Golf Course.


Katimavik-Hazeldean, which is close to shopping, Walter Baker Park, and the Scotiabank Place, is another of Kanata’s original neighbourhoods. It features a mix of housing from condos and townhomes to single-family homes.


Bridlewood is one of Kanata’s fastest growing neighbourhoods and its popularity among young families is due in large part to its vast array of parks and many schools – including a French Catholic elementary school. Bridlewood also has quick access to the Kanata South Business Park and commuters enjoy the easy connection to West Hunt Club Road.


Kanata has a number of indoor and outdoor arenas, a wave pool, numerous outdoor pools, several running tracks, tennis courts, toboggan hill, cross country ski trails, driving ranges and a variety of golf courses. For the more passively inclined, there is a community performing arts centre (Kanata Theatre), AMC-24 Movie Theatre (yes, that’s 24 movie theatres under one roof!) and a host of stores where you can exercise your wallet.


There is an impressive Park-and-Ride in Kanata where you can park your vehicle for free and ride the bus to work. The express bus will have you downtown in about 20 minutes!

STITTSVILLE
Just slightly west of Kanata is the community of Stittsville which was once known for its year-round weekend flea market. Demand for residential and retail development prompted the relocation of the flea market and the community has continued growing in all directions ever since. You’ll find a wide-range of housing in Stittsville – everything from adult-lifestyle bungalow communities to condos, townhomes, single family homes and luxury houses on large estate lots.


The Crossing Bridge neighbourhood is famous for its elegant homes trimmed with gingerbread detail (absolutely stunning at Christmas time!). Amberwood Village encircles the Amberwood Golf Course and attracts seniors as well as young families due to its great housing mix. Stittsville also has many new housing developments underway – there’s Jackson Trails in the north end of the community and Westwind Farms in the south.


One of Stittsville’s most notable features is its picture-perfect Main Street. Dotted with shops and restaurants it is a wonderful backdrop for the annual Christmas Parade of Lights. The Trans-Canada Trail, which runs east to west through the community, is a serene spot for family hikes, jogging, cross country skiing or simply walking the dog.


Stittsville is a quick 5 minutes from the Scotiabank Place and big box retail shopping and an express bus from Kanata’s Park-and-Ride will have you downtown in 20 minutes. Alternately, if you work at Dwyer Hill Road your daily commute would be a 15 minute drive through unblemished farmland.

NEPEAN
Nepean is Kanata’s neighbour to the east and extends from Baseline Road south, and from the Rideau River west to Bells Corners. Built in and around the NCC Greenbelt, Nepean offers an abundance of open space and recreation. The community has 2 golf courses, a driving range, 3 marinas, an equestrian park, a toboggan hill (at Bell high school), and two beaches on the Ottawa River. It offers great cross country skiing at places like Pinhey Forest and Stoney Swamp (which also has some heritage structures). Schools and public libraries abound – including Algonquin College – and Centrepointe Theatre is situated in a beautiful municipal building in the heart of the community and attracts artistically and culturally diverse entertainment.


Variety is Nepean’s strong suit. It has a vast mix of neighbourhoods and an equally varied mix of housing options. The mature, elegant community of Qualicum with its executive homes is adjacent to the newly renovated Queensway Carleton Hospital and the Greenbelt. The neighbourhoods of Lynwood Village, Arbeatha Park and Westcliffe Estates are never more than a few streets from Greenbelt lands. The Crystal Beach community is nestled around the river and the beautiful Andrew Haydon Park while Rideau View overlooks Mooney’s Bay and Hog’s Back.


Nepean boasts a number of rural neighbourhoods too. On Prince of Wales Drive (Hwy 16) along the Rideau River you’ll find Heart's Desire, Rideau Glen and Clear View. If you’re looking for small and cozy, follow Richmond Road to Fallowfield Village.


Nepean is well known for its shopping districts, everything from strip malls, large shopping centres and big box retailers are sprinkled throughout this community. Whether you’re looking for clothing, furniture or a car you’re sure to find it by hitting Bayshore Shopping Mall, Carlingwood Mall, Merivale shopping district, Bells Corners or the big box retail heaven known as West Hunt Club.


 

VANIER, GLOUCESTER & ORLEANS

This part of Ottawa is east of the Rideau River and includes the former municipality of Vanier, Blackburn Hamlet and Orleans. It lies between the Ottawa River to the north and the Mer Bleu Conservation Area to the south. The area is trisected by the Rockcliffe government lands (which include the former military airport, DND facilities and the National Research Council) and the Green's Creek Conservation Area.

This part of town is home to Ottawa’s largest francophone population making it a very bilingual community. Many of the residential communities here are surrounded by Greenbelt parklands and the mix of housing runs the gamut from mature homes to newer developments with prices from low to high and everywhere in between. There are neighbourhoods positioned between the Aviation Parkway and various federal lands and most have ready access to the downtown core via OC Transpo’s express bus service.

The large community of Orleans sits east of the Greenbelt the bulk of it sandwiched between Innes Road and the Ottawa River. This community of 90,000 is self-contained with its own shopping areas and plenty of parklands. There are oodles of public elementary and Catholic elementary schools in this area as well as high schools.

Shopping in the east end is a piece of cake with handy malls such as Place d'Orleans, Gloucester Centre, and St Laurent Shopping Centre. There are also a number of retails districts along St Laurent Blvd., Ogilvie Road and Innes Road.

If you’re an avid cyclist you’ll enjoy the recreational pathways along the Ottawa River which connect to
Rockcliffe Park. There are two conservation areas – Green's Creek with its winter toboggan hill, and
Mer Bleu, which features excellent cross-country skiing and hiking trails and is known throughout the city as one of the best bird watching spots around. The area has four pools, including a wave pool on Blair Rd, plus another to the east in Cumberland. This part of Ottawa has five ice arenas, a small bunny ski hill (in Beacon Hill), two multi-screen cinemas and the National Aviation Museum at Rockcliffe.

OTTAWA EAST

The charming historical areas of Lowertown and Bytown help make up the city’s East End. This part of town also boasts many of the city’s museums and historical attractions. Bordered by the Rideau Canal and Rideau River, this picturesque area boasts recreational pathways that attract cyclists and inline skaters.

Both Lowertown and ByWard Market have older row housing and newer condos that offer excellent proximity to nightlife and dining. Sandy Hill is quieter and fronts on Strathcona Park and the University of Ottawa and has a host of older fixer-uppers being lovingly restored. The area south of the Queensway (between the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal) has numerous older brick homes on both sides of the charming Bank Street retail district. The area closer to Carleton University is popular for student housing.

Ottawa East is rich in educational opportunities, with six public and four Catholic elementary schools, and three public and two Catholic high schools. The University of Ottawa, Carleton University, St. Paul University, and the Rideau (Lees Ave) Campus of Algonquin College are also close-at-hand. There is no shortage of swimming pools and ice arenas in this community and to the south there is easy access to Mooney’s Bay for boating, athletics and swimming.

Shopping is abundant here and unique shops are easy to find in the ByWard Market, along Rideau Street and the south end of Bank Street. There are also a number of malls including the Rideau Centre in the downtown core, Billings Bridge in the middle, and Herongate Mall to the south. The Queensway also gives quick access to St. Laurent Shopping Centre to the east.


ROCKCLIFFE & NEW EDINBURGH

Renown as home to some of the most expensive houses in Ottawa, this well-treed area is on a hill east of the Rideau River and counts the Prime Minster and the Governor General among its residents. The area is also popular with foreign ambassadors (noted by their national flags on their front lawns) and high-tech billionaires such as Michael Cowpland (Mitel & Corel). New Edinburgh is right on the banks of the Rideau River and has (slightly) more affordable homes with ready access to the area's many parks, though true "affordability' happens further south in Vanier.

The homes in Rockcliffe are large single family dwellings with enclosed lawns – some sporting pools and tennis courts. Several homes date back to the 1860s but most were built in the 1920s Tudor or Georgian style. Price tags on such homes here are often in the millions.

New Edinburgh is a beautiful area with a number of posh neighbourhoods such as Lindenlea and Manor Park, and is home to exclusive Ashbury College.

Situated on a 13-acre, park-like campus Ashbury College is enriched by the resources, bilingualism, and the diplomatic community of Ottawa. Students represent over 30 countries and are attracted by the International Baccalaureate diploma, Ashbury’s bilingual diploma, and a global education that prepares them for positions of leadership and service to others.

Shopping is available along Beechwood Ave and Montreal Rd. to the south and the Byward Market and Rideau Centre Mall are a quick, picturesque drive across the Rideau River. Recreational pathways abound along the Ottawa River and east bank of the Rideau River.

Rockcliffe Park, maintained by the NCC, is along the banks of the Ottawa River and on the eastern edge is the pretty and somewhat secluded Hemlock Lake. The museums and historical sites along Sussex Drive are close-at-hand as is the National Aviation Museum.

DOWNTOWN OTTAWA

The downtown core is situated north of the Queensway between the Rideau Canal and Preston Street and boasts some of the most unique neighbourhoods in the city. In the Glebe, for instance, mature, tree-lined streets meet beautiful turn-of-the-century homes, duplexes, renovated townhomes and even Tudor-style mansions.

Centretown is mostly comprised of high rises, Somerset Street is home to Ottawa’s Chinatown and has a smaller multi-unit home appeal with an Asian flair and Preston Street, the heart of the city’s Italian community, is a mix of residential, commercial and retail and features many of the best Italian restaurants in town!

Residents of the downtown area rarely use their cars since everything from the canal to boutiques, cafes and fabulous nightlife is either within walking or biking distance. Families who enjoy the urban lifestyle also enjoy the many parks, schools, community centres and museums in the downtown core.

The area is served by two high schools, five public schools, three separate schools and an adult continuing education facility. This central area is close to many of Ottawa’s finest post secondary schools including University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Algonquin College’s Rideau campus and St. Paul’s University. The city’s main branch of the public library is also situated downtown on Metcalfe Street.

A variety of year-round recreational possibilities are available from small community cinemas to large
movie theatres in the World Exchange Centre and at nearby Rideau Centre. The National Arts Centre hosts a fantastic array of live performances and a number of more intimate venues such as the Ottawa Little Theatre and Great Canadian Theatre Company boast lively community theatre. Along the northern, eastern and southern perimeters of the community are parkways and recreational pathways that follow the city's waterways to offer cycling, walking, and boating in the summer and skating & cross-country skiing in the winter.

 

BARRHAVEN
At one time, long ago, Barrhaven was merely a school on a road. Today it’s a beautiful, thriving suburb that is one of the most rapidly growing areas of the city. Situated 20 km southwest of Ottawa’s downtown core, Barrhaven’s boundaries include Greenbelt lands to the north, the Rideau River to the east, Hwy. 416 to the west and the Jock River to the south. The mature neighbourhood of “Old Barrhaven” lies between Cedarview Road and Greenbank Road while an abundance of new developments such as Longfields, Davidson Heights, Chapman Mills and Stonebridge make up a large portion of this part of town. Numerous other neighbourhoods are either being built or in the planning stages. Before municipal amalgamation in 2001 Barrhaven was part of the City of Nepean and had a population of fewer than 35,000. In a few years, due to ongoing development, Barrhaven's population is expected to surpass 100,000.


Once upon a time Barrhaven had no theatres, no bars and only one grocery store. Today two new shopping centres at the junction of Strandherd and Greenbank, as well as smaller lifestyle centres spread throughout the area make Barrhaven a prime shopping destination.

SOUTH END

This part of Ottawa lies south of Heron Road, and includes a number of newer subdivisions that extend to and around the Airport, all surrounded by NCC Greenbelt lands. The southern reaches of "Ottawa South" extend into what used to be Gloucester. One of the more popular communities in Ottawa South is Riverside South, home to some of the nicest homes in Ottawa.

Riverside pathways and parkways line the western boundary of this community while the east abuts railways and light industrial lands. Commuting to the downtown core is easy via the Transitway and the new Light Rail Transit Line (LRT) connects South Keys with Carleton University, Dow's Lake and LeBreton Flats.

If you prefer country living the nearby communities of Manotick, Riverside South, North Gower, Osgoode, Kars and Kemptville are all accessible to town via Highway 16. Further east, along Highway 31, are the communities of Greely, Metcalfe, Vernon and Winchester.

The Mooney's Bay area boasts single family two-storey and ranch-style homes with above-average prices. The communities scattered in the Greenbelt include Blossom Park and Parkhaven where condos abound. The Upper Hunt Club community offers upscale singles while the new community of Chapman Mills offers more affordable single-family housing and townhomes.

Riverside South offers townhomes and singles in a small town atmosphere yet the commute to downtown is a quick 15 minutes.

This area has a large number of schools from every school board and a public library. Carleton University is accessible by LRT and the University of Ottawa is accessible via the Transitway.

Shopping is plentiful from malls (South Keys and Herongate Mall) to smaller plazas along Riverside Drive and Bank Street. This part of Ottawa has numerous recreational opportunities available using the Greenbelt and the Rideau River at Mooney's Bay as backdrops. Mooney's Bay has a beach, athletic park and boating facilities and recreational pathways which lead along the Rideau River to downtown and Rockcliffe. The Greenbelt provides ready access to Pine Grove Park and the Pine Grove Nature Trail. Ottawa’s south end also features a number of swimming pools and arenas as well as two public golf courses and the exclusive Hunt Club Golf Course.

 

 

 
 
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