LIVING IN CANADA : OTTAWA, ONTARIO
Christmas Lights - Parliament Hill
Ottawa ranked 18th in the Mercer Human Resource Consulting annual international survey that ranked 215 cities around the globe, based on 39 criteria measuring such quality-of-life determinants as personal safety and social, economic and environmental conditions.
Ottawa is the capital of Canada and the country's fourth largest city, as well as the second largest city in the province of Ontario. Ottawa lies on the banks of the Ottawa River, a major waterway that forms the border between Ontario and Quebec.
The Canadian 2006 Census enumerated 202,700 Canadian immigrants in the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Ottawa - Gatineau, an increase from 185,100 in 2001 and a growth rate of 9.5%. Although the majority (88.8%) of the Canadian immigrants lived in the Ontario part of Ottawa - Gatineau, the Quebec part experienced stronger growth.
Geography and Climate
The Supreme Court of Canada viewed from Parliament Hill
Ottawa is situated on the south bank of the Ottawa River, and contains the mouths of the Rideau River and Rideau Canal. The oldest part of the city is known as Lower Town and occupies an area between the canal and the rivers. Across the canal to the west lies the city's financial and commercial hub. Between here and the Ottawa River, the slight elevation of Parliament Hill is home to many of the capital's landmark government buildings, and is the Legislative seat of Canada.
Around the main urban area is an extensive greenbelt, administered by the National Capital Commission for conservation and leisure, and comprising mostly forest, farmland and marshland. Ottawa makes a perfect balance between city living and nature, a feature that many people find appealing when deciding to immigrate to Ottawa.
The weather can be an important factor when immigrating to Canada. Ottawa has a humid continental climate with a range of temperatures from a high of 37.8 °C (100 °F) in the summers of 1986 and 2001, to a record low of -38.9 °C (-38 °F) being recorded on December 29, 1933. This extreme range in temperature allows Ottawa to boast a variety of annual activities, and the requirement of a wide range of clothing.
The snow season is quite variable; in an average winter, a lasting snow cover is on the ground from late November until early April, although some years are snow-free until around or beyond Christmas.
Ottawa Immigration Profile
Since Ottawa is very multicultural and multilingual, new immigrants to Ottawa can easily adapt to life in Ottawa. Recently, a substantial portion of Canadian immigrants that settled in Ottawa were from Asia and the Middle East (48%), specifically the People’s Republic of China which represented 12.7% of the entire group of newcomers.
During the period of 2001 to 2006 Ottawa became home to 35,085 new Canadian immigrants. The chart to the left shows the regions of birth for the recent immigrants according to the Canadian 2006 Census.
In 2006 the population of the city of Ottawa was 812,129. Because Ottawa is the core of an urban area extending into French-speaking Quebec, the city is very bilingual. Those who speak English as a first language constitute 50.45%, those who speak both English and French, 1.07%, while those who speak French as a first language number 32.15%. Other languages include Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Spanish, and German.
Economy and Job Opportunities for Immigrants
Immigrants to Ottawa will find that Ottawa's primary employers are the Canadian federal government and the hi-tech industry.
Because major companies have offices in the city, it has become known as "Silicon Valley North." Major technology companies in Ottawa include; 3M, Adobe Systems, Bell Canada, Cisco Systems, Corel, CGI Group, Dell, General Dynamics, Hewlett-Packard, Hot Lava Software, IBM, MBNA Canada Bank, MDS Nordion, and TELUS.
Ottawa is also a centre for advanced research and development, especially in the fields of space science, telecommunications and environmental technology. As a result there are many opportunities for business class investor, business class Entrepreneur and independent/skilled worker immigrants. Tourism also pays a significant role in Ottawa’s economy.
Education for Dependant Children and Post Secondary
University of Ottawa, Tabaret Hall
When post secondary education is your primary influencing factor for selecting a city to immigrate to in Canada, Ottawa should be a top contender. Ottawa is home to four universities and five colleges including, University of Ottawa, Saint Paul University, Carleton University, Algonquin College, Ican College and the Ottawa School of Art.
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. Formerly a liberal arts college, it has been teaching pure and applied sciences in both French and English since the 1800s. The university has been conferring Bachelor's degrees since 1872, Master's degrees since 1875, and Doctorates since 1888. The University of Ottawa is ranked 5th in research-intensity, and 8th in total-research funding in Canada. It is also ranked 10th nationally in the Gourman Report university ranking guide.
Saint Paul University is a Catholic Pontifical university federated with the University of Ottawa. It is located on Main Street in Ottawa, and has been entrusted for more than a century to the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
Carleton University is an international, comprehensive university. It was founded in 1942 as Carleton College by the Ottawa Association for the Advancement of Learning. Its first degrees, in journalism and public administration, were awarded in 1946. Today Carleton offers 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines, inter alia, public affairs, journalism, film studies, engineering, high technology, and international studies.
Algonquin College is an English-language college of applied arts and technology. Funded by the Province of Ontario its main campus is in Ottawa. Algonquin College's other campuses are in Perth and Pembroke.
Families immigrating to Canada with children should note that Ottawa has a strong school system in place. The Ottawa education system is made up of English and French Public School Boards and a Catholic School Board. Ottawa also has a several Private School Boards including English, French, Bilingual, Christian, Jewish and Islamic.
Arts and Culture
Ottawa has evolved into Canada's cultural capital. There are over 50 galleries and theatres in the region, showcasing the best of Canadian and international art, theatre, music, and dance performances. The city's museums, heritage buildings, parks, and monuments paint an exciting picture of its colourful past, while also allowing a glimpse of its future.
The National Gallery of Canada, founded in 1880, is home to the world's largest collection of Canadian art (including major works by Inuit artists) as well as excellent European and American collections.
The National Arts Centre is Canada's premier showcase for the performing arts. It features three stages, where visitors can enjoy the best of English and French theatre, dance - avant garde to classical, music, opera and variety performances year-round. Under the direction of the newly-appointed and world-renowned celebrated conductor, Pinchas Zucherman, the National Arts Centre Orchestra has gained a high international reputation, touring at home and abroad.
The Great Canadian Theatre Company highlights Canadian content in their production schedules, and the Ottawa Little Theatre stages popular works performed by local amateur actors on a year around basis. During the summer months, the Odyssey Theatre presents professional outdoor theatre in the style of the Italian Comedia dell'Arte at Strathcona Park, one of the city's historic parks on the Rideau River.
Scotiabank Place
Sports and Recreation
Ottawa is home to one major league sports team, the Ottawa Senators (established 1992) of the National Hockey League. The Senators play at Scotiabank Place. Ottawa has a major junior ice hockey team, the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League. Ottawa will be hosting the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship. Ottawa also has a professional women's hockey team, the Ottawa Raiders.
Ottawa is also home to a AAA minor league baseball team, the Ottawa Lynx of the International League, which is affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies. Until the team's sale (effective November 16, 2006), the team was a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles. Under the terms of the sale, the Lynx will leave Ottawa following the 2007 season. In April 2008, the team will begin play as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at newly-constructed Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Ottawa had a significant presence in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Rough Riders football team and an attempted revival with the Ottawa Renegades (established 2002 - suspended operations 2006). Football was played at Frank Clair Stadium.
Ottawa's top soccer team is the Ottawa Fury who play in the women's W-League and the men's USL Premier Development League.
Harness and Horse racing can be found at Rideau Carleton Raceway off Albion Road and Auto racing can be found at the Capital City Speedway off Highway 7. The Rideau Canoe Club, located at Hog's Back Park on the Rideau River, produces and supports many national- and international-level paddlers.
The city also supports many casual sporting activities, that can help new immigrants in Ottawa immerse themselves in the Ottawa lifestyle. These activities include skating on the Rideau Canal or curling in winter, cycling and jogging along the Ottawa River, Rideau Canal, and Rideau River in summer, playing Ultimate all year round (especially through the O.C.U.A.), skiing and hiking in the Greenbelt and the nearby Gatineau Park, and sailing on Lac Deschenes, part of the Ottawa River or golfing on many of the golf courses in the Ottawa area. During the coldest parts of winter there is ice fishing on the Ottawa river. Ottawa has many cricket clubs for people of all ages. Eastern Ontario's top rugby players are members of the Ottawa Harlequins which competes each summer in the Rugby Canada Super League.
