Discovery the History of Ottawa
Ottawa, Canada’s capital, is located in eastern Ontario, facing Gatineau. It became Canada’s capital in 1867, and is home to the country’s federal institutions, such as Parliament and the residences of the Governor General and Prime Minister.
In 2021, Ottawa was home to over a million people, making it Canada’s fourth most densely populated city, behind Toronto, Montreal and Calgary. In the capital city, 63.7% of residents declare English as their mother tongue and 15% French, with 22.3% speaking both languages.
The city’s economy is based on the activities of federal government departments and agencies, as well as the Canadian Parliament, but a significant proportion of jobs are also to be found in the high-tech and tourism sectors.
Why choose Ottawa?
Ottawa’s main employment sectors are the Public Service of Canada and the high-tech industry, although tourism and healthcare are also increasingly important economic activities.
Ottawa is home to the national headquarters of many federal government departments, as well as National Defence Headquarters, the main command center for the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence. The city is also a major tourist attraction, with iconic sites such as Parliament Hill, Sussex Drive, home of the Prime Minister’s official residence, and Rideau Hall, residence of the Governor General.
Ottawa is also home to several museums, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canadian War Museum. Ottawa is home to three universities: the University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Saint Paul University.
In terms of quality of life, Ottawa ranks third among Canadian cities and 19th worldwide, according to a 2019 Mercer survey. It is also ranked the second cleanest city in Canada and third cleanest in the world.