So its an average of -16C...that makes a bit more sense. I tend to think about daily highs and lows.

Average of -16 in practice means a morning low in the mid -20s (or colder) and daily highs just a bit warmer than -10 for the month.

As I said, the ottawa area often seems to be several degrees cooler than nearer the lake over most of the winter..like you said...pretty cold. -16 just didnt sound "pretty cold" to me...I've been in Canada too long!

I meant the pub or club scene. There is no night life such as you see in downtown Ottawa. Kanata goes to bed at 11 PM.

A great example of how polarising the newer suburbs can be.

For me entertainment includes the dynamics involved in living in an area with more people, varied architecture and a shopping/dining street I can walk to. As such, places like Kanata are not appealing despite the housing bang for the buck.

Most of Kanata shuts down early...the O'Connor's and a couple of other restaurants and bars at the Kanata Centrum are open until 1 or 2 am...and the teenagers find some places to cause trouble at that time as well....although the chav factor is nothing like the UK.

I think the average daily low in January is about -16 or -17 and the average daily high is about -7 or -8.

I guess the downtown Ottawa vs the Burbs (Kanata, Stittsville and the rest) will burn for a very long time. It really about what stage you are at in your life. I personally have a very young family and the Burbs suits us now and probably for the next 15 years.
Currently with young kids having pubs and clubs is not on the priority list, but when I become an empty nester maybe I will move closer to town, or alternatively further out into the country.
Given that the OP has kids, I would assume that they will want easy access to ice rinks., soccer pitches and swimming pools, clubs and pubs may be a little lower down the list.

This isn't particularly an Ottawa issue, one could as well consider Toronto vs. Mississauga, Manhatten vs. New Jersey, London vs. Milton Keynes. To my mind having children is a compelling reason to want to live in the city not least because access to transit gives them, and you, freedom at an early age. Of course, if what you value is internal space in your house then the suburb will be more attractive than the city.

I think the mention of pubs/clubs and downtown is a distraction. Isn't the debate for a family in Ottawa primarily about inner vs. outer suburbs? For me it's Westboro vs Kanata, Old Ottawa South vs. Stittsville, Alta Vista vs Barrhaven and so on.

I am living in the Westboro/Highland Park area with two children and can't imagine a better place to have a family. All the facilities you mention are nearby as well as fun stuff for grown ups too. The neighbourhood is full of children and the layout (narrow streets, grid, higher density, small parks) encourages lots of planned and unplanned interaction with friends and neighbours.

The proximity to downtown and the Queensway makes quick visits possible to museums, Byward Market, the canal, Gatineau Park etc... Good transport and cycle paths mean you could, if you choose, minimise your car use.

The main negative? Housing cost. If sq feet is your main objective you can't beat the areas outside of the greenbelt.

I'd agree regarding the pubs/clubs thing, I was trying to counter the negative comment regarding it being Dull in Kanata, for the OP, size of yard and Sqft of house with 3 kids and close proximity to work makes Kanata and the Burbs a great option.
For me I had done years in London, so living downtown and dealing with the 417 vs 10km on the bike or side roads in the winter was a no brainier.

That's good that you are used to the extreme winters now. When I move I reckon I will find -5 cold!!

Yup you actually look forward to the days when it goes UP to -20 - mmmm toasty

-5 is shorts and T Shirt weather! (I am not kidding!)

Oh, is that coz it's a different type of cold to the UK?

No. It's because when you've been seriously cold for months minus 5 feels quite warm. The winter sunshine here is also pretty intense (we are much further south than people realise). On a sunny, windless, day I wouldn't feel the urge to wear a hat or gloves at minus 10.

That does not sound good