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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ottawa?Ottawa lies in northeast North America, in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It is bordered by the Ottawa River to the north, while the historic Rideau River and Rideau Canal meander north to south through the city. Directly across the Ottawa River are the City of Gatineau and the picturesque Outaouais region in the Province of Québec. Distances to Ottawa
Ottawa can be found at Latitude 45° 22' N and Longitude 75° 43' W, and it is 114 metres (374 feet) above sea level. Maps
What does Ottawa look like?Ottawa, Canada is a picturesque city with beautiful waterways, historic architecture, and an abundance of parklands and open spaces. Check out the links below to see some still and moving images of Ottawa.
How do I get to Ottawa?Ottawa is easily accessible by air, rail or road. By airCheck with your favourite airline for daily flights into the Ottawa International Airport, or visit the airport website for information about the airport, directions and flights. The Airport operates on a 24-hour basis, and offers a number of daily scheduled non-stop flights to cities in Canada, U.S. and Europe. The airport recently unveiled its new terminal, which includes its own U.S. Customs and Immigration pre-clearance facility. Two small airports complement the Ottawa region’s air capacity. The Carp Airport has evolved into a commuter airport, conveniently located close to many of the high-technology industries in the west part of the region. The Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport serves the Outaouais region and other areas of Québec. All three airports provide access to, and services for, corporate aircraft. By trainOttawa’s VIA Rail terminal is centrally located, and you can visit their website to book your travel to Ottawa. By busThe City’s bus terminal is close to downtown, and is served by both Greyhound Canada serving western and central Canada with links to the U.S., and Voyageur Colonial, serving western Québec and Eastern Ontario. By carFor directions by road, please visit MapQuest.ca and search on Ottawa, ON. Look for the “Driving Directions” icon at the top of the site for help, or click here for written directions. By boatOttawa can be accessed by four main waterways: the Ottawa River (flowing into the St. Lawrence River), the Rideau River (flowing into the Ottawa River), the Gatineau River (flowing into the Ottawa River) and the Rideau Canal (linking Lake Ontario at Kingston to the Ottawa River). For directions by boat, please visit the Friends of the Rideau website.
How large is the city?Ottawa is Canada’s fourth largest city with over 877,300 residents. The size of the Ottawa region is 4,662 square kilometres (1,800 square miles), with over 90% of its area being in a country setting. While it is large enough to support the finest amenities, such as world-class entertainment venues and shopping districts, Ottawa retains the warmth and charm of a quaint European city.
What is Ottawa’s climate like?Ottawa’s four seasons provide an exhilarating canvas of colour, beauty, and recreational activity. Spring, summer, fall and winter are welcomed, and the changing seasons are an integral part of living in our city. Temperatures can range from 33° C (91° F) in summer to –40° C (-40° F) in winter, with average summer temperatures around 20°C (68° F) and average winter temperatures around –10° C (14° F). In summer, it is hot enough for residents to seek the nearest lake or swimming pool to cool off, while in winter, warm clothing is required. Both spring and fall are cool, and residents usually wear a sweater or light jacket. While cycling, swimming, tennis, golf and whitewater rafting are favoured activities in summer, winter’s white beauty offers its own recreational opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, skating, tobogganing and snowmobiling. Check out today’s weather in Ottawa by visiting the Environment Canada website or The Weather Network online weather office.
Is Ottawa a good place to live?Ottawa is a “Bright City”. It is one of the world’s safest and most beautiful communities in which to live, work, learn, play, and raise a family. The city prides itself on its quality of life. It is home to a wide range of age groups from families with children to adult professionals to university students and senior citizens. As a G8 capital city, Ottawa is Canada’s showcase city to the world. It is endowed with a number of national museums and performing arts institutions, as well as a rich local cultural and heritage fabric. The city is graced with a civic design that places high priority on green spaces, parklands and trails, making Ottawa a bright and beautiful landscape for all to enjoy. The city's academic foundations -- from its strong public school system to universities, colleges and R&D centres of excellence -- contribute to Ottawa having the highest educated workforce in Canada. A bright workforce is a key foundation for a smart city and business success. Ottawa offers a wealth of choices in employment opportunities, from the federal government to the high technology and life sciences sectors, to professional services and the tourism and convention industry. Ottawa offers a bright future for all. Learn more by visiting the “Live in Ottawa” pages of this website. To learn more about the many kinds of businesses in Ottawa, visit the “Do business in Ottawa”.
How do I contact the local government?The City of Ottawa’s municipal government is centralized under the auspices of an elected Mayor and Councillors representing 21 Wards. Visit the City’s website for information and contact details.
What kinds of businesses are in Ottawa?The Ottawa region has three basic types of economic market sectors: export companies serving markets all around the world; regionally focused companies serving Ottawa residents, and businesses; and our rural economy. Ottawa is a global technology and business centre as well as a world class tourism and convention destination. More than 1500 companies are involved in key growth sectors such as telecommunications, software, photonics, semiconductors, defence and security, life sciences, tourism, wireless technologies, film and video, multimedia, professional services and contact centres. The region also benefits from the entry of new seed industry sectors such as biophotonics, environmental technologies, electronic pay systems, and micro electromechanical systems (MEMS). Ottawa is home to dozens of federal government organizations, as well as scores of foreign embassies who provide trade links to their own domestic businesses. On the regional front, Ottawa benefits from a rich array of retail, hospitality and service companies. Ottawa is also the agricultural capital and economic centre of Eastern Ontario. To learn more about the business environment in Ottawa, visit the “Do Business in Ottawa” pages in this site.
How can I set up a business in Ottawa?There are a number of resources available to help you set up your business in Ottawa. OCRI (Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation) is our central contact point for companies looking to do business in Ottawa. The Ottawa Global Marketing team provides expert advice and helps companies establish themselves in Ottawa. For all businesses, the City of Ottawa also offers specific information about the rules and permits you need to be aware of to set up shop in Ottawa. Ottawa’s Entrepreneurship Centre is dedicated to helping Ottawa entrepreneurs make educated decisions about starting and growing their businesses. The Ottawa Tourism provides industry leadership for businesses in the tourism, convention, travel and hospitality sectors. The Ottawa Chamber of Commerce works with businesses to help to improve and expand the local economy. The National Capital Business Alliance is an umbrella organization with representatives from Ottawa's Chambers of Commerce and major business alliances. The Regroupement des gens d’affaires brings together francophone businessmen and businesswomen, entrepreneurs and executives to support the economic development of the region.
When is the best time to visit Ottawa?In Ottawa, there are exciting things to see and do all through the year. The region’s extensive activities calendar offers a wide array of business, leisure and cultural activities that will delight all the members of your party. Visit the Ottawa Tourism website and you’ll find that it is always a good time to visit Ottawa.
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