Currently living on PEI with my wife and 2 boys and have been for the past 2 years, we have just about had our fill of the place and would like to return to living somewhere with a bit more 'life' to it. We are thinking about Halifax and like the pace of life there, but we don't want to limit our options to just one place and wondered if anyone had any thoughts on Ottawa. We have not heard too much on the forum about Ottawa and wondered what Ex-Pats who are living there think of the place.

Cheers

I love Ottawa, hoping to be there in March next year at the latest. It's a brilliant city. Some nice rural areas not too far out of downtown too.

Some people have said if you're not bilingual you're going to struggle to find work, but I find that hard to believe.

I've lived in Ottawa for over two years now, and love it. Much because it has a lot to offer in areas that are important to me - lots of museums, lots of 'stuff' (festivals, exhibitions etc) going on, easy access to 'the outdoors', good public transport and so on.

If you have any specific questions, just let me know.

Well said! Ive been to Ottawa a few times - the place is so much better compared to Toronto - I would love to move there however its time for me to move back to the UK!

Ottawa as above is great - also I love how you can walk over the bridge and be in Quebec! Also during the summer months the place is dead as all the MPs have gone on vacation!

Have to agree visited Ottawa several times and what a great city, not too big or congested yet like the T dot but still lots of lively places to go and Canadian style recreation is on your doorstep. Friends have lived there and loved it.

Hi - I've spent many summers holidays in PEI during the past 18 years - sorry to see you have had your fill. I see your point about it lacking the life factor . . .

I live in Montreal, but as Ottawa is only 2 hours away, I have often spent time there - usually for social/cultural activities. On par with Halifax, I would say. Like many old-Canada towns/cities, Ottawa is very rich in culture. It dates back to about 1800 - it was an old timber-trade settlement, I think? Tons of Gothic-styled buildings, older neighborhoods, the Rideau Canal, Ottawa River, Byward market, dandy suburbs (Nepean, Blossom Park, etc), and at least 50 odd museums (ah, yes, that's where Canadian tax dollars are hiding). It has a good-sized French population (25%) which gives it a cultural edge over many other Canadian cities - as does its proximity to Gatineau (Ottawa's poor cousin . . .). Schools are plentiful (e.g. x3 universities), good transport links, extreme climate (no doubt you are used to that in PEI), etc.

It's a real swell town! The only negative is that turd living in 24 Sussex Drive; no doubt that will be short lived. Sideways of that, it's picture perfect. It sure beats North Rustico, Tignish or Souris an a Sunday afternoon - without the sunsets though.

Thanks for everybody's thoughts, they are all a great help, definitely given us food for thought.

Hello Wannabe,
when I was searching for some info about to move to Ottawa I found a few answers from you which I like very much. Then I saw all of your pictures and I love them too - you are very good!
Now - I have a simillar question for living in Ottawa but maybe a bit more specific.. We are family with two little girls 3 and 1 and we are moving to Ottawa in the end of this year. I would be very happy if i can get some of your opinions about Ottawa's areas which would be nice to live in. We like to be close to the river or parks, not too far from city.. but we don't know - maybe there is place which you can suggest.
Thank you

kathiva

Some people would consider a time when the MP's are away from Ottawa to be a bonus in favour of Ottawa.

Hi kathiva and purplemoose,

I moved to Ottawa last December from Coventry, UK. As to where to live, it really comes down to what you are willing to pay - you didn't mention if you were going to rent or buy? Nepean along the river is nice with a lot of parks and easy access into the downtown core... Kanata is further out and very nice but harder to access and not the parks etc. We have a beach right up the road that my teenaged kids spent most of the summer sunning themselves on! In a lot of areas you will find the parks have community skating rinks to be used in the winter and plenty of outdoor swimming pools etc for the summer.

As to the winters... if you like snow and don't mind it being chilly, this is definitely the city for you. It IS colder than if you find a town/city along the great lakes as the lake effect keeps it warmer during winters - you don't have that up here in Ottawa. There is NOTHING better though than skating on the Rideau Canal and eating a Beavertail in the dead of winter or spending time at Winterfest or even going to a Ottawa Senator's game at Scotiabank place where the tickets are only $15 per person for the family zone!

All in all, its a great city to live in, with lots to do all year around. The people are friendly and warm and very helpful. As to the French language, yes it would be an asset if you spoke it, but hasn't affected my Canadian wife from finding a job in a downtown firm nor myself from working so no, I don't think it matters as much as people seem to think! Afterall, its NOT Quebec!

Any other questions, just give us a shout

Matt

even as a leafs fan I love going to the sens games

mmmmmmm beavertails!

When my bro came over in February, we all went down to the canal. He and Souvette had their first-ever beavertails. A couple of bites anyway. Neither of them is likely to repeat the exercise.

LOL Souvenir re: Beavertails... its an acquired taste I think! Depends on whether you get sweet or savoury? I didn't like the savoury but the sweet was lovely

you have to get the chocolate one, just so you're wiping choccie spread from your clothes for the rest of the day!

Thank you very much Matt,
you gave me really so nice and positive info about living there . Feel like can't wait to be already there. I believe this is the best place for families.
We want to rent in the beggining to get know better the city and than buy some little house or townhouse. But we don't want to rent for long so I am trying to get more information to make shorter our search.
Of course as we have little kids I am trying to find out something about the health service, kindergartens etc..
I believe I will have some more questions so thank you for offering me some answers .

iva