Ottawa
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225874105
2008-07-15T20:22:34Z
User0529
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/* Events */ GLBT->[[LGBT]]
{{otheruses4|the capital city of Canada}}
{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = City of Ottawa
|other_name = Ville d'Ottawa
|native_name =
|nickname = [[Bytown]]
|motto = Advance Ottawa/Ottawa en avant
|image_skyline = Ottawa_from_McKenzie_King_Bridge.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|image_flag = Flag of Ottawa, Ontario.svg
|image_shield = Ottawa city coa.png
|image_map = Map of Ontario OTTAWA.svg
|mapsize = 200px
|map_caption = Location of the City of Ottawa in the Province of Ontario
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = [[Canada]] [[Image:Flag of Canada.svg|25px]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Canada|Province]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Ontario]] [[Image:Flag of Ontario.svg|25px]]
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_title1 = [[City Council]]
|leader_name1 = [[Ottawa City Council]]
|leader_title2 = [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|MPs]]
|leader_name2 = {{Collapsible list
|title = List of MPs
|frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
|title_style =
|list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
|1 =[[Mauril Bélanger]]
|2 =[[Paul Dewar]]
|3 = [[John Baird (Canadian politician)|John Baird]]
|4=[[Royal Galipeau]]
|5=[[David McGuinty]]
|6=[[Pierre Lemieux]]
|7=[[Gordon O'Connor]]
|8=[[Pierre Poilievre]]
}}
|leader_title3 = [[Member of Provincial Parliament|MPPs]]
|leader_name3 = {{Collapsible list
|title = List of MPPs
|frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
|title_style =
|list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
|1 =[[Lisa MacLeod]]
|2 =[[Jean-Marc Lalonde]]
|3 = [[Dalton McGuinty]]
|4=[[Phil McNeely]]
|5=[[Madeleine Meilleur]]
|6=[[Yasir Naqvi]]
|7=[[Norm Sterling]]
|8=[[Jim Watson]]
}}
|leader_name = [[Larry O'Brien (Canadian politician)|Larry O'Brien]]
|established_title = Established
|established_date = 1850 as "Town of [[Bytown]]"
|established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2 = 1855 as "City of Ottawa"
|established_title3 = [[Amalgamation (politics)|Amalgamated]]
|established_date3 = [[January 1]], [[2001]]
|area_footnotes =
<ref name=2001CPCITY/><ref name=2001CPMETRO/>
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 2778.64
|area_total_sq_mi = 1072.9
|area_land_km2 =
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_km2 =
|area_water_sq_mi =
|area_water_percent =
|area_urban_km2 =
|area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_metro_km2 = 5318.36
|area_metro_sq_mi =
|population_as_of = 2007
|population_footnotes =
<ref name=2001CPCITY>{{cite web
|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=301&S=3&O=D
|title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data
|work=2006 Canadian Census
|accessdate=2007-07-20}}
</ref><ref name=2001CPMETRO>{{cite web
|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3506008&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Ottawa&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All
|title=Community Highlights for Ottawa (CMA)
|work=2001 Canadian Census
|accessdate=2007-01-26}}
</ref>
|population_note =
|population_total = 848720 ([[List of the 100 largest municipalities in Canada by population|Ranked 4th]])
|population_density_km2 = 305.4
|population_density_sq_mi =
|population_metro = 1,168,788[http://www.stat.gouv.qc.ca/regions/profils/region_00/region_00_an.htm][http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/economy/demographics/projections/2007/demog07t9east.html]
|population_density_metro_km2 = 219.8
|population_density_metro_sq_mi =
|population_urban = 1,190,982
|timezone = Eastern (EST)
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EDT]]
|utc_offset_DST =-4
|latd=45 |latm=25 |lats=15 |latNS=N
|longd=75 |longm=41 |longs=24 |longEW=W
|elevation_m = 70
|elevation_ft = 230
|website = http://www.ottawa.ca
|postal_code_type = Postal code span
|postal_code = K0A, K1A-K4C
|area_code = [[Area code 613|(613)]]
|footnotes =
}} <!-- Infobox ends -->
'''Ottawa''' ({{pronEng|ˈɒtəwə}} or sometimes {{IPA|/ˈɒtəwɑː/}}) is the [[capital]] of [[Canada]] and the country's [[List of the 100 largest municipalities in Canada by population|fourth largest municipality]]. With a metropolitan population estimated at 1,190,982<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=301&S=3&O=D|title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses|work=Stastics Canada|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref> Ottawa is also the second largest city in the province of [[Ontario]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo05a.htm?sdi=population%20metropolitan|title=Population of census metropolitan areas (2001 Census boundaries)
|work=Statistics Canada|accessdate=2007-02-14}}</ref> It is located in the [[Ottawa Valley]] in the eastern portion of the [[provinces and territories of Canada|province]] of Ontario. Ottawa lies on the banks of the [[Ottawa River]], a major waterway that forms the boundary between Ontario and [[Quebec]].
There is no [[federalism|federal]] [[capital district]] in Canada. Ottawa is a [[municipality]] within the Province of Ontario. Although it does not constitute a separate administrative district, Ottawa is part of the federally designated [[National Capital Region (Canada)|National Capital Region]], which includes the neighbouring Quebec municipality of [[Gatineau]]. As with other national capitals, the word "Ottawa" is also used to refer by [[metonymy]] to the country's [[Government of Canada|federal government]], especially as opposed to provincial or municipal authorities.
The current mayor of Ottawa is [[Larry O'Brien (Canadian politician)|Larry O'Brien]], who succeeded [[Bob Chiarelli]] on [[December 1]], [[2006]].
==History==
The Ottawa region was long home to the [[Odawa]] or Odaawaa, meaning "traders" [[First Nations]] people. The Odawa are an [[Algonquin]] people who called the river the Kichi Sibi or Kichissippi, meaning "Great River". The first European settlement in the region was that of [[Philemon Wright]] who started a community on the Quebec side of the river in 1800. Wright discovered that transporting timber by river from the Ottawa Valley to Montreal was possible, and the area was soon booming based almost exclusively upon the timber trade. Favoured by many European nations for its extremely straight and strong trunk, the White Pine was found throughout the valley.
[[Image:Ottawa Elgin Street at Queen.jpg|thumb|left|Historic buildings of Elgin Street, looking towards Parliament Hill]]
[[Image:Ottawa Sussex.jpg|thumb|left|19th century architecture on Sussex Drive]]
[[Image:Ottawaexpands.png|thumb|left|thumb|Annexation history of Ottawa]]
In the years following the [[War of 1812]], in addition to settling some military regiment families, the government began sponsored immigration schemes which brought over [[Irish Catholics]] and [[Protestants]] to settle the Ottawa area, which began a steady stream of Irish immigration there in the next few decades. Along with [[French Canadians]] who crossed over from Quebec, these two groups provided the bulk of labourers involved in the [[Rideau Canal]] project and the booming timber trade, both instrumental in putting Ottawa on the map.
The region's population grew significantly when the canal was completed by Colonel [[John By]] in 1832. It was intended to provide a secure route between Montreal and [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]] on [[Lake Ontario]], by-passing the stretch of the [[St. Lawrence River]] bordering [[New York State]] (with the U.S invasions of Canada from the War of 1812 with the U.S.A. being in recent memory). Construction of the canal began at the northern end, where Colonel By set up a military barracks on what later became [[Parliament Hill]], and laid out a townsite that soon became known as [[Bytown]]. Original city leaders of Bytown include a number of Wright's sons,most notably [[Ruggles Wright]]. [[Nicholas Sparks (Ottawa)|Nicholas Sparks]], [[Braddish Billings]] and Abraham Dow were the first to settle on the Ontario side of the Ottawa river.
The west side of the canal became known as "Uppertown" where the Parliament buildings are located, while the east side of the canal (wedged between the canal and [[Rideau River]]) was known as the "Lowertown". At that time, [[Lower Town|Lowertown]] was a crowded, boisterous [[shanty town]], frequently receiving the worst of disease epidemics, such as the [[Cholera]] outbreak in 1832, and [[typhus]] in 1847.
Ottawa became a centre for lumber milling and square-cut timber industry in Canada and, in fact, for North America as a whole. From there, it quickly expanded further up (or westward along) the Ottawa River, and logs were boomed by raftsmen great distances down the river to the mills. Bytown was renamed Ottawa in 1855.[[Image:Ottawa Byward Market 2.jpg|thumb|right|A small street, characteristic of the Byward Market]]
[[Image:Byward Market.jpg|thumb|The Byward Market provides fresh produce throughout the warm months]]
===Ottawa as the capital===
On [[December 31]], [[1857]], Queen [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Victoria]] was asked to choose a common capital for the then [[province of Canada]] (modern Quebec and Ontario) and chose Ottawa. There are old folk tales about how she made the choice: that she did so by sticking her [[hatpin]] on a map roughly halfway between Toronto and Montreal, or that she liked watercolours she had seen of the area. While such stories have no historical basis, they do illustrate how arbitrary the choice of Ottawa seemed to Canadians at the time. While Ottawa is now a major metropolis and Canada's fourth largest city, at the time it was a sometimes unruly logging town in the hinterland, far away from the colony's main cities, [[Quebec City]] and [[Montreal]] in Canada East, and [[Kingston, Ontario| Kingston]] and [[Toronto]] in Canada West.
In fact, the Queen's advisers had her pick Ottawa for many important reasons: first, it was the only settlement of any significant size located right on the border of Canada East and Canada West (Quebec/Ontario border today), making it a compromise between the two colonies and their French and English populations; second, the War of 1812 had shown how vulnerable major Canadian cities were to American attack, since they were all located very close to the border while Ottawa was (then) surrounded by a dense forest far from the border; third, the government owned a large parcel of land on a spectacular spot overlooking the Ottawa River. Ottawa's position in the back country made it more defensible, while still allowing easy transportation via the Ottawa River to Canada East, and the [[Rideau Canal]] to Canada West. Two other considerations were that Ottawa was at a point nearly exactly midway between Toronto and Quebec City (~500 km/310 mi) and that the small size of the town made it less likely that politically motivated mobs could go on a rampage and destroy government buildings, as had been the case in the previous Canadian capitals. The Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal network meant that Ottawa could be supplied by water from Kingston and Montreal without going along the potentially treacherous US-Canada border.
The original Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa was destroyed by fire on [[February 3]], [[1916]]. The House of Commons and Senate were temporarily relocated to the recently constructed Victoria Memorial Museum, currently the [[Canadian Museum of Nature]], located about {{convert|1|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} south of Parliament Hill on Metcalfe Street. A new Centre Block was completed in 1922, the centrepiece of which is a dominant [[Gothic_architecture|Gothic]] revival styled structure known as the [[Peace Tower]] which has become a common emblem of the city. [[Image:OttawaWarMemorial.jpg|thumb|The [[National War Memorial (Canada)|National War Memorial]], in Confederation Square.]]
On [[September 5]], [[1945]], only weeks after the end of [[World War II]], Ottawa was the site of the event that many people consider to be the official start of the [[Cold War]]. A [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] cipher clerk, [[Igor Gouzenko]], defected from the Soviet embassy with over 100 secret documents. At first, the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] (RCMP) refused to take the documents, as the Soviets were still allies of Canada and Britain, and the newspapers were not interested in the story. After hiding out for a night in a neighbour's apartment, listening to his own home being searched, Gouzenko finally persuaded the RCMP to look at his evidence, which provided proof of a massive Soviet spy network operating in western countries, and, indirectly, led to the discovery that the Soviets were working on an atomic bomb to match that of the Americans.
In 2001, the old city of Ottawa (estimated 2005 population 350,000) was amalgamated with the [[suburb]]s of [[Nepean, Ontario|Nepean]] (135,000), [[Kanata, Ontario|Kanata]] (85,000), [[Gloucester, Ontario|Gloucester]] (120,000), [[Rockcliffe Park, Ontario|Rockcliffe Park]] (2,100), [[Vanier, Ontario|Vanier]] (17,000) and [[Cumberland, Ontario (city)|Cumberland]] (55,000), and the rural townships of [[West Carleton Township, Ontario|West Carleton]] (18,000), [[Osgoode Township, Ontario|Osgoode]] (13,000), [[Rideau Township, Ontario|Rideau]] (18,000) and [[Goulbourn Township, Ontario|Goulbourn]] (24,000), along with the systems and infrastructure of the [[Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, Ontario|Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton]], to become one municipality. Ottawa-Carleton used to be just [[Carleton County, Ontario|Carleton County]] before 1969 and consisted of what is now the City of Ottawa except for Cumberland.
{{seealso|List of Ottawa mayors}}
[[Image:CorktownFootbridge.jpg|thumb|800px|center|The Rideau Canal as viewed from the [[Corktown Footbridge]]]]
Ottawa (also Odawa, or Odaawaa), meaning "traders," are a Native American and First Nations people
==Geography and climate==
[[Image:newottawamap.png|thumb|right|Map of Ottawa showing urban area, highways, waterways, and historic townships]]
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 (including what remains of [[Bytown]]) is known as ''[[Lower Town]]'', and occupies an area between the canal and the rivers. Across the canal to the west lies ''[[Centretown]]'' (often just called "downtown"), which is the city's financial and commercial hub. Situated between Centretown and the Ottawa River, the slight elevation of [[Parliament Hill]] is home to many of the capital's landmark government buildings, including the Peace Tower, and the Legislative seat of Canada. As of June 29, 2007, the Rideau Canal, which stretches {{convert|202|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to Kingston, Fort Henry and four Martello towers in the Kingston area was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
[[Image:Carleton University south view 2.jpg|left|thumb|In view: the [[Rideau Canal]], the [[Rideau River]], [[Colonel By Drive]], [[Carleton University]], Downtown Ottawa and the [[Laurentian mountains]]]]
The City of Ottawa has a main [[urban area]] but there are many other urban, [[suburb]]an and [[rural]] areas within the city's limits. The main suburban area extends a considerable distance to the east, west and south of the centre, and includes the former cities of [[Gloucester, Ontario|Gloucester]], [[Nepean, Ontario|Nepean]] and [[Vanier, Ontario|Vanier]], the former village of [[Rockcliffe Park]] and also the communities of [[Blackburn Hamlet, Ontario|Blackburn Hamlet]] and [[Orléans, Ontario|Orléans]] (pop. 100,000). The [[Kanata, Ontario|Kanata]] suburban area consists of [[Kanata, Ontario|Kanata]] (pop. 90,000) and the former village of [[Stittsville, Ontario|Stittsville]] (pop. 20,000). [[Nepean, Ontario|Nepean]] is another major suburb which also includes [[Barrhaven, Ontario|Barrhaven]] (pop. 70,000) and the former village of [[Manotick, Ontario|Manotick]] (pop. 7,545). There are also the communities of [[Riverside South]] (pop. 8,000) on the other side of the [[Rideau River]], [[Morgan's Grant]] (pop. 8,000) and [[Greely, Ontario|Greely]] (pop. 4,152), southeast of [[Riverside South]]. There are also a number of [[rural]] communities ([[village]]s and [[hamlet (place)|hamlets]]) that lie beyond the greenbelt but are administratively part of the Ottawa municipality. Some of these communities are [[Burritts Rapids, Ontario|Burritts Rapids]] ([[hamlet (place)|hamlet]], pop. 300); [[Ashton, Ontario|Ashton]] ([[hamlet (place)|hamlet]], pop. 300); [[Fallowfield, Ontario|Fallowfield]] ([[hamlet (place)|hamlet]], pop. 600); [[Kars, Ontario|Kars]] (small [[village]], pop. 1,539); [[Fitzroy Harbour, Ontario|Fitzroy Harbour]] (small [[village]], pop. 1,549); [[Munster, Ontario|Munster]] (large [[village]], pop. 1,390); [[Carp, Ontario|Carp]] (large [[village]], pop. 1,400); [[North Gower, Ontario|North Gower]] (large [[village]], pop. 1,700); [[Metcalfe, Ontario|Metcalfe]] (large [[village]], pop. 1,810); [[Constance Bay, Ontario|Constance Bay]] (large [[village]], pop. 2,327) and [[Osgoode, Ontario|Osgoode]] (large [[village]], pop. 2,571) and [[Richmond, Ontario|Richmond]] (very large [[village]], pop. 3,301). There are also a number of [[town]]s in the [[National Capital Region (Canada)|national capital region]] but outside the [[city of Ottawa]], one of these [[urban area|urban]] communities is [[Almonte, Ontario]] ([[town]], pop. 4,649).
Across the Ottawa River, which forms the border between Ontario and [[Quebec]], lies the city of [[Gatineau]]. Although formally and administratively separate cities in two separate provinces, Ottawa and Gatineau (along with a number of nearby municipalities) collectively constitute the [[National Capital Region (Canada)|National Capital Region]], with a combined population exceeding one million residents, which is is considered a single metropolitan area. One federal crown corporation (the [[National Capital Commission]], or NCC) has significant land holdings in both cities, including sites of historical and touristic importance. The NCC, through its responsibility for planning and development of these lands, is an important contributor to both cities.
[[Image:Ottawa Byward Market.jpg|right|thumb|The Byward Market is presently experiencing a condo construction boom]]
Around the main urban area is an extensive [[Greenbelt (Ottawa)|greenbelt]], administered by the National Capital Commission for conservation and leisure, and comprising mostly forest, farmland and marshland.
Ottawa itself is a single-tiered city, meaning it is in itself a [[census division]] and has no county or regional municipality government above it. Ottawa is bounded on the east by the [[Prescott and Russell United Counties, Ontario|United Counties of Prescott and Russell]]; by [[Renfrew County, Ontario|Renfrew County]] and [[Lanark County, Ontario|Lanark County]] in the west; on the south by the [[Leeds and Grenville United Counties|United Counties of Leeds and Grenville]] and the [[Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties, Ontario|United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry]]; and on the north by the [[Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais Regional County Municipality, Quebec|Regional County Municipality of Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais]] and the City of [[Gatineau, Quebec|Gatineau]].
Ottawa is made up of eleven historic townships, ten of which are from historic [[Carleton County, Ontario|Carleton County]] and one from historic [[Russell County, Ontario|Russell]]. They are [[Cumberland Township, Ontario|Cumberland]], [[Fitzroy Township, Ontario|Fitzroy]], [[Gloucester Township, Ontario|Gloucester]], [[Goulbourn Township, Ontario|Goulbourn]], [[Huntley Township, Ontario|Huntley]], [[March Township, Ontario|March]], [[Marlborough Township, Ontario|Marlborough]], [[Nepean Township, Ontario|Nepean]], [[North Gower Township, Ontario|North Gower]], [[Osgoode Township, Ontario|Osgoode]] and [[Torbolton Township, Ontario|Torbolton]].
[[Image:Supremecourt.JPG|thumb|The [[Supreme Court of Canada]] viewed from Parliament Hill]]
[[Image:Christmas Lights by rossoblack.jpg|thumb|[[Christmas]] Lights - Parliament Hill]]
{{seealso|List of Ottawa neighbourhoods}}
===Climate===
Ottawa has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Koppen climate classification|Koppen]] ''Dfb'') with a range of temperatures from a record high of 37.8 °[[Celsius|C]] (100 °[[Fahrenheit|F]]) in the summers of 1986 and 2001, to a record low of -38.9 °C (-38 °F) being recorded on December 29, 1933, the third coldest temperature recorded in a capital city (after [[Ulaanbaatar]], [[Mongolia]] and [[Moscow]], [[Russia]]). This extreme range in temperature allows Ottawa to boast a variety of annual activities - more notable events such as the [[Winterlude]] Festival on the [[Rideau Canal]] in the winter and the National [[Canada Day]] celebrations on [[Parliament Hill]] in July - and the requirement of a wide range of clothing. Because of its relatively warm summers, Ottawa is only the seventh coldest capital in the world<ref name=7thcoldest>{{cite web
| url = http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/coldcapital.htm
| title = Coldest Capital Cities. Is Ottawa the coldest capital?
| accessmonthday = 16 October
| accessyear = 2006
| author =
| last = Rosenberg
| first = Matt
| publisher = geography.about.com & WorldClimate.com
| language = English
}}</ref> by annual average temperature, however by mean January temperature, Ottawa ranks third behind [[Ulaanbaatar]], [[Mongolia]] and [[Astana]], [[Kazakhstan]].
Snow and ice are dominant during the winter season. Ottawa receives about 235 centimetres (93 [[Inch|in]]) of snowfall annually. Its biggest snowfall was recorded on March 3-4, 1947 with 73 [[centimetre|cm]] (2.5 [[Foot (unit)|feet]]) of snow.<ref name=snowfall1947>{{cite web
| url = http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/diarymar.htm
| title = Significant Weather Events Canada
| accessdate =
| accessmonthday = 16 October
| accessyear = 2006
| author =
| last = Heidorn
| first = Keith C., PhD
| publisher = The Weather Doctor
| language = English
}}</ref> Average January temperature is -10.8 °C (13 °F), although days well above freezing and nights below -30 °C (-22 °F) both occur in the winter. The snow season is quite variable; in an average winter, a lasting snow cover is on the ground from mid-December until early April, although some years are snow-free until beyond Christmas, particularly in recent years. The year 2007 was notable for having no lasting snow cover until the third week of January. It was also notable for having lasting snow cover from the first snow fall in November, with the 2007-2008 winter season snowfall (436.7 [[centimetre|cm]] (171.9 [[Inch|inches]])<ref name=total_snowfall2008>{{cite web
| url = http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climateData/canada_e.html
| title = Canadian Climate Data
| publisher = Environment Canada
| language = English (also available in French)
}}</ref>) coming within 10 [[centimetre|cm]] (4 [[Inch|inches]]) of the record snowfall set in 1970-1971 (444.1 [[centimetre|cm]] (174.8 [[Inch|inches]])<ref name=total_snowfall1971>{{cite web
| url = http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2008/03/05/big-snowstorm.html
| title = It's officially Ottawa's 2nd heaviest snowfall on record
| publisher = CBC News
| language = English
}}</ref><ref name=comparative_snowfall_extremes_and_averages_for_Ottawa_and_Quebec2008>{{cite web
| url = http://www.criacc.qc.ca/climat/suivi/Evenements/CumulHivernalNeige_e.html
| title = Summary of 2007-2008 snow season
| publisher = CRIACC
| language = English (also available in French)
}}</ref>). High [[wind chill]]s are common, with annual averages of 51, 14 and 1 days with wind chills below -20 °C (-4 °F), -30 °C (-22 °F) and -40 °C (-40 °F) respectively. The lowest recorded wind chill was of -47.8 °C (-54.0 °F) on [[January 8]], [[1968]].
Freezing rain is also relatively common, even relative to other parts of the country. One such large storm caused power outages and affected the local economy, and came to be known as the [[1998 Ice Storm]].
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|Oct_Precip_mm =79.4 |Oct_Snow_mm =
|Nov_Precip_mm =80.1 |Nov_Snow_mm =
|Dec_Precip_mm =81.5 |Dec_Snow_mm =
|Year_Precip_mm =943.5 |Year_Snow_mm =
|source =Environment Canada <ref name=Weatherbox1>{{cite web
| url =http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?Province=ALL&StationName=Ottawa&SearchType=BeginsWith&LocateBy=Province&Proximity=25&ProximityFrom=City&StationNumber=&IDType=MSC&CityName=&ParkName=&LatitudeDegrees=&LatitudeMinutes=&LongitudeDegrees=&LongitudeMinutes=&NormalsClass=A&SelNormals=&StnId=4337& | title =Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000 OTTAWA MACDONALD-CARTIER INT'L A * ONTARIO | accessmonthday =April 10 | accessyear =2008
| publisher =Environment Canada | language =English (also available in French) }}</ref>
|accessdate = 2008-04-10
}}<!--Infobox ends-->
Summers are fairly warm and humid in Ottawa, although they are moderate in length. The average July maximum temperature is 29.5 °C (85 °F), with occasional incursions of cool northerly air which drop humidity levels, although temperatures of 30 °C (86 °F) or higher occur frequently. A maximum temperature of 39.5 °C (103 °F) was recorded in the summer of 2005 at certain locations. During periods of hot weather, high humidity is often an aggravating factor, especially close to the rivers. Ottawa annually averages 41, 12 and 2 days with humidex readings above 30 °C (86 °F), 35 °C (95 °F) and 40 °C (104 °F) respectively. The highest recorded humidex was 48 °C (118 °F) on [[August 1]], [[2006]].<ref name=Highesttemp>{{cite web
| url = http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2006/08/02/1714593-sun.html
| title = It's hot enough for us
| accessdate =
| accessmonthday =
| accessyear =
| last = Herbert
| first =Alex
| date = [[August 2]], [[2006]]
| publisher = The Ottawa Sun
| language = English
}}</ref>
{| class="prettytable" style="margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;float:right;"
|+'''Top 12 Ottawa snowiest winters'''
|-
!rowspan="2" align=center |'''Year'''
!colspan="2" align=center |'''Snowfall Amounts'''
|-
|align="center"|'''[[Centimetre|cm]]'''
|align="center"|'''[[Inch|in]]'''
|-
|1970-71
|{{convert|444.1|cm|in|1|disp=table}}
|-
|2007-08
|{{convert|436.7|cm|in|1|disp=table}}
|-
|1992-93
|{{convert|347.3|cm|in|1|disp=table}}
|-
|1946-47
|{{convert|337.5|cm|in|1|disp=table}}
|-
|1942-43
|{{convert|316.4|cm|in|1|disp=table}}
|-
|1971-72
|{{convert|312.6|cm|in|1|disp=table}}
|-
|1996-97
|{{convert|301.8|cm|in|1|disp=table}}
|-
|1993-94
|{{convert|284.6|cm|in|1|disp=table}}
|-
|1995-96
|{{convert|283.2|cm|in|1|disp=table}}
|-
|1959-60
|{{convert|280.3|cm|in|1|disp=table}}
|-
|2000-01
|{{convert|277.6|cm|in|1|disp=table}}
|-
|1954-55
|{{convert|274.6|cm|in|1|disp=table}}
|-
|colspan=3 align=center| <small>All amounts are snowfall only<ref name = ottawasnowrecords> {{cite web
| url = http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/features/storm/story.html?id=b23a8459-968c-42da-a22c-476ad5363127&k=67542
| title = More snow
| accessdate = 2008-02-12
| last = Hughes
| first = Graham
| date = [[February 12]], [[2008]]
| publisher = The Ottawa Citizen
| language = English
}}</ref>
|-
|}
Spring and fall are variable, prone to extremes in temperature and unpredictable swings in conditions. Hot days above 30 °C (86 °F) have occurred as early as March (as in 2002) or as late as October, as well as snow well into May and early in October (although such events are extremely unusual and brief). Average annual precipitation averages around 943 millimetres (37 in.). The biggest one-day rainfall occurred on [[September 9]], [[2004]] when the remnants of [[Hurricane Frances]] dumped nearly 136 mm (5½ inches) of rain in the city. There are about 2,060 hours of average sunshine annually (47% of possible).
Destructive summer weather events such as [[tornado]]es, major [[flash flood]]s, extreme [[heat wave]]s, severe [[hail]] and remnant effects from [[hurricane]]s are rare, but all have occurred. Some of the most notable tornadoes in the region occurred in 1978 (F2), 1994 (F3), 1999 (F1) and [[Fallowfield, Ontario|2002 (F1)]].<ref name="Fallowfield F1 Tornado">{{cite web
| url = http://www.lanarkweather.org/June23/index.html
| title = Fallowfield Tornado Report
| date = [[June 23]], [[2003]]
| last = Mayne
| first = Stephen
| publisher = Lanark Weather
| language = English
}}</ref><ref name="EC Data 6-23-2002 Fallowfield">{{cite web
| url = http://www.yorku.ca/pat/research/dsills/papers/svrsumm.html
| title = Ontario Severe Weather Summary
| date = [[October 1]], [[2002]]
| publisher = Environment Canada
| language = English
}}</ref> However, it is very unlikely that F4 or F5 tornadoes like in the U.S. Plain States will occur since it is located much farther away from the interaction of the airmass from both the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and the [[Rocky Mountains]], which can produce strong to violent tornadoes further south.
On [[February 24]], [[2006]], an earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter Scale [[n:Earthquake Hits Ottawa, Canada|struck Ottawa]]. On [[January 1]], [[2000]], an [[earthquake]] measuring 5.2 on the [[Richter Scale]] struck Ottawa. On average, a small tremor occurs in Ottawa every three years.<ref name=Earthquake>{{cite web
| url = http://geoscape.nrcan.gc.ca/ottawa/earthquakes_e.php
| title = Geoscape Ottawa-Gatineau Earthquakes
| accessmonthday = 16 October
| accessyear = 2006
| date = [[December 8]], [[2005]]
| publisher = Natural Resources Canada
| language = English
}}</ref>
==Transportation==
[[Image:Ottawa Sparks Street.jpg|thumb|Sparks Street, a pedestrian mall in the city's downtown]]
[[Image:otrain.jpg|thumb|The [[O-Train]], Ottawa's [[light rail]] train system]]
Ottawa is served by [[VIA Rail]], a number of [[airlines]] that fly into [[Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport]], and inter-city bus companies such as [[Greyhound Lines of Canada|Greyhound]] through the [[Ottawa Bus Central Station]].
The capital city of Canada is also served by a network of freeways, the main one being provincial [[Highway 417 (Ontario)|Highway 417]] (called [[Queensway (Ottawa)|The Queensway]]), Ottawa-Carleton Regional Road 174 (Formerly Provincial Highway 17), and the newly constructed [[Highway 416 (Ontario)|Highway 416 (Veterans' Memorial Highway)]], connecting Ottawa to the rest of the [[400-Series Highways|400-Series Highway]] network in Ontario. Highway 417 is also the Ottawa portion of the [[Trans-Canada Highway]]. The city also has a few Scenic Parkways (Promenades), such as the [[Ottawa River Parkway]], and has a freeway connection to [[Quebec Autoroute 5|Autoroute 5]] and [[Quebec Autoroute 50|Autoroute 50]], in [[Hull, Quebec|Hull]]. For a complete listing of the parkways and roads in Ottawa, see the [[List of Ottawa roads]].
Ottawa's main mass transit service is [[OC Transpo]] (provided by the City of Ottawa). The Ottawa rapid transit system includes the [[Ottawa Rapid Transit|transitway]] (a network of mostly grade-separated, extremely high-frequency, reserved [[bus rapid transit]] lanes with full stations instead of stops) and a [[light rail]] system called the ''[[Ottawa O-Train|O-Train]]''. A new [[light rail]] system, including a tunnel under the downtown core, was considered for connecting the north-south and the east-west sections of the city, however the city had cancelled an expansion plan of the north-south line that would have linked [[Barrhaven, Ontario|Barrhaven]] to downtown in 2009. A series of 4 new rapid transit proposals have now been tabled to City Concil, all of which include a tunnel under the downtown core. The most elaborate proposal includes the conversion of Bus Transitway between Baseline Station in the west, Blair Station in the east and MacDonald-Cartier International Airport in the south being converted to Light Rail, as well as the expansion of the Bus only Transitway out to Kanata in the west, Orleans in the east, Bowesville (Riverside South) and Barrhaven in the south. There are also discussions of having OC Transpo Light Rail and STO Transitway networks linking on the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River. Both OC Transpo and the Quebec-based ''[[Société de transport de l'Outaouais]] (STO)'' operate bus services between Ottawa and Gatineau. A transfer or bus pass of one is accepted on the other without having to pay a top-up fare on regular routes.
[[Image:000 0497.jpg|thumb|The Rideau Canal and pathway at dawn, near [[Carleton University]]]]
The [[Rideau Canal]], which starts in [[Kingston, Ontario]], winds its way through the city. The final flight of locks on the canal are between [[Parliament Hill]] and the [[Château Laurier]]. Also, during the winter season the canal is usually open and is a form of transportation downtown for about 7.8 kilometres (4.8 [[Mile|mi]]) for ice skaters (from a point near [[Carleton University]] to the [[Rideau Centre]]) and forms the [http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/skateway/index_e.asp world's largest skating rink].
There is a large network of paved multi-use pathways that wind their way through much of the city, including along the Ottawa River, Rideau River, and Rideau Canal. These pathways are used for transportation, tourism, and recreation. Because most streets either have wide curb lanes or bicycle lanes, cycling is a popular mode of transportation in the region throughout the year.
Ottawa sits at the confluence of three major rivers: the [[Ottawa River]], the [[Gatineau River]] and the [[Rideau River]]. The Ottawa and Gatineau rivers were historically important in the logging and lumber industries, and the Rideau as part of the Rideau Canal system connecting the [[Great Lakes]] and [[Saint Lawrence River]] with the Ottawa River.
{{seealso|List of airports in the Ottawa area}}, ''[[List of Ottawa, Ontario parks|List of Ottawa parks]], [[List of Ottawa, Ontario roads|List of Ottawa roads]]''
==Landmarks and notable institutions==
{{seealso|Architecture of Ottawa}}, ''[[National Capital Region (Canada)|National Capital Region]]''
Ottawa is home to a wealth of national museums, official residences, government buildings, memorials and heritage structures. Federal buildings in the National Capital Region are managed by the [[Public Works and Government Services Canada|Public Works Canada]], while most of the federal lands in the Region are managed by the [[National Capital Commission]] or NCC; its control of much undeveloped land gives the NCC a great deal of influence over the city's development.
In 2006, the National Capital Commission completed work on the long-discussed [[Confederation Boulevard]], a ceremonial route linking key attractions in National Capital Region, on both sides of the Ottawa River, in Ottawa as well as Gatineau, Quebec. <ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/bins/ncc_web_content_page.asp?cid=16300-20444-20505&lang=1 |title=Confederation Boulevard, National Capital Commission Web site |accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref>
Below is a map of the National Capital Region showing the prominent buildings and structures. Click on the stars to read articles on the individual buildings.
{{Ottawa map}}
==Primary industries==
Ottawa's primary employers are the Canadian federal government and the hi-tech industry. Ottawa has become known as "Silicon Valley North."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca/gol/innovation/site.nsf/en/in02340.html|title=Silicon Valley North:The Formation of the Ottawa Innovation Cluster|author=Dr. Jocelyn Ghent Mallett|publisher=[[Information Technology Association of Canada]]|date=[[2003-02-28]]|accessdate=2007-01-26}}
</ref>
{{seealso|List of Major Technology Companies in Ottawa, Canada}}
[[Image:Chateau Laurier at night.jpg|thumb|The Château Laurier in downtown Ottawa.]]
[[Image:National Gallery of Canada glass tower 2005.jpg|thumb|The glass façade of Canada's National Gallery.]]
==Sports==
Ottawa is home to one major league sports team, the [[Ottawa Senators]] of the [[National Hockey League]]. The Senators' home rink is located at [[Scotiabank Place]]. Recently, they were eliminated by the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], 4-0, in the 2008 Eastern Conference quarter finals. In 2007, they were the Eastern Conference champions, having defeated the [[Buffalo Sabres]] in the Eastern Conference Final of the National Hockey League playoffs, but lost in five games to the Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup finals.
Ottawa was also home to a AAA minor league [[baseball]] team, the [[Ottawa Lynx]] of the [[International League]], which was 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 left Ottawa following the 2007 season. As of April 2008, the team began playing as the [[Lehigh Valley IronPigs]] at newly-constructed [[Coca-Cola Park]] in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]]. As of spring 2008, the [[Ottawa Rapidz]] are playing at [[Rapidz Stadium]] as part of the [[Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball]].
[[Image:Scotiabankplaceottawa.JPG|thumb|left|[[Scotiabank Place]], where the [[Ottawa Senators]] of the [[National Hockey League]] play.]]
Ottawa had a significant presence in the [[Canadian Football League]] with the [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] [[Canadian football|football]] team and an attempted revival with the [[Ottawa Renegades]] (established 2002 - suspended operations 2006). Football was played at [[Frank Clair Stadium at Lansdowne Park|Frank Clair Stadium]]. On [[March 25]], [[2008]], CFL commissionner [[Mark Cohon]] awarded a conditional franchise to a group led by 67s owner [[Jeff Hunt]].
Ottawa also has a major junior ice hockey team, the [[Ottawa 67's]] of the [[Ontario Hockey League]]. Ottawa's two major universities, [[Carleton University]] and the [[University of Ottawa]] both have athletic associations; the team names are the [[Carleton Ravens]] and the [[Ottawa Gee-Gees]] respectively. Ottawa's top [[soccer (football)|soccer]] team is the [[Ottawa Fury]] who play in the women's [[W-League]] and the men's [[USL Premier Development League]]. [[Harness racing|Harness]] and [[Horse racing]] can be found at Rideau Carleton Raceway off [[Albion Road (Ottawa)|Albion Road]] and [[Auto racing]] can be found at the Capital City Speedway off [[Highway 7 (Ontario)|Highway 7]]. Ottawa also has a professional women's hockey team, the [[Ottawa Capital Canucks]][http://www.sport.ca/team/index.php?team=724]. Ottawa will be hosting the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship [http://www.hockeycanada.ca/2/0/9/6/9/index1.shtml]. 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, such as 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 (sport)|Ultimate]] all year round (especially through the [http://www.ocua.ca/ 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 Union|rugby]] players are members of the [[Ottawa Harlequins]] which competes each summer in the [[Rugby Canada Super League]].
===Sports teams===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" | Club
! scope="col" | League
! scope="col" | Venue
! scope="col" | Established
! scope="col" | Championships
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Senators]]
| [[National Hockey League|NHL]]
| [[Scotiabank Place]]
| 1992–present <br> <small></small>
| 0 ([[Stanley Cup]]s)<br>1 ([[President's Trophy]])<br>1 ([[Prince of Wales Trophy]])</td>
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]]
| [[National Hockey League|NHL]] (and other leagues) [[ice hockey]]
| [[Ottawa Auditorium]]
| 1884–1955
| 12 ([[Stanley Cup]]s)<br>1 ([[Prince of Wales Trophy]])<br> 1 ([[Allan Cup]])</td>
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Rapidz]]
| [[Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball]]
| [[Rapidz Stadium]]
| 2008
| 0
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Gee-Gees]]
| [[Canadian Interuniversity Sport|CIS]] various
| [[University of Ottawa]]
| 1848
| 2 ([[Vanier Cup]])
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Carleton Ravens]]
| [[Canadian Interuniversity Sport|CIS]] various
| [[Carleton University]]
| 1942
| 5 ([[Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's basketball champions|Canadian University Basketball]])
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa 67's]]
| [[Ontario Hockey League|OHL]] ice hockey
| [[Ottawa Civic Centre]]
| 1967-present
| 3 (OHL) <br> 2 ([[Memorial Cup]]s)
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Raiders]]
| [[National Women's Hockey League|NWHL]] ice hockey
| Sandy Hill Arena
| 1999-2007
| 0
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Capital Canucks]]
| [[Canadian Women's Hockey League|CWHL]] ice hockey
| Sandy Hill Arena
| 2007
| 0
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Loggers]]
| [[Roller Hockey International|RHI]] ice hockey
| [[Ottawa Civic Centre]]
| 1997-99
| n/a
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Fury]]
| [[W-League]] and <br> [[USL Premier Development League|USL PDL]] [[Football (soccer)]]
| [[Keith Harris Stadium]]
| 2003
| 0
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Harlequins]]
| [[Rugby Canada Super League]] ([[Rugby Union]])
| Twin Elm Rugby Park
| 1999
| 0
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Rebel]]
| [[National Lacrosse League]]
| Scotiabank Place
| 2001 - 2003
| 0
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Renegades]]
| [[Canadian Football League]]
| Frank Clair Stadium
| 2002 - 2006
| 0
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Rough Riders]]
| [[Canadian Football League]]
| Frank Clair Stadium
| 1876 - 1996
| 9 ([[Grey Cup]]s)
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Ottawa Swans]]
| [[Ontario Australian Football League]]
| [[Rideau Carleton Raceway]]
| 2007-
| 0
|}
==Media==
{{main|Media in Ottawa-Gatineau}}
==Government==
{{Main|Government of Ottawa}}
[[Image:Parliament-Ottawa.jpg|thumb|[[Centre block]] of [[Parliament Hill]].]]
In addition to being the capital of Canada, Ottawa is politically diverse with regard to local politics. Most of the city traditionally supports the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]], although only some parts of the city are consistent Liberal strongholds. Perhaps the safest areas for the Liberals are the ones dominated by [[francophones]], especially in [[Vanier, Ontario|Vanier]] and central [[Gloucester, Ontario|Gloucester]]. Central Ottawa is usually more [[Left-wing politics|left]]-leaning, and the [[New Democratic Party]] can win ridings there as government unions and activist groups are fairly strong. Some of Ottawa's suburbs are swing areas, notably central [[Nepean, Ontario|Nepean]] and, despite its Francophone population, [[Orléans, Ontario|Orléans]]. The southern and western parts of the old city of Ottawa are generally moderate or slightly left of centre but periodically swing to the [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party]]. The farther one goes from the city centre - into suburban fringes like [[Kanata, Ontario|Kanata]] and [[Barrhaven, Ontario|Barrhaven]] and rural areas - the voters tend to be increasingly conservative, both fiscally and socially. This is especially true in the former Townships of [[West Carleton Township, Ontario|West Carleton]], [[Goulbourn Township, Ontario|Goulbourn]], [[Rideau Township, Ontario|Rideau]] and [[Osgoode Township, Ontario|Osgoode]], which are more in line with the staunchly conservative areas in the surrounding [[county|counties]]. However not all rural areas support the Conservative Party. Rural parts of the former township of [[Cumberland Township, Ontario|Cumberland]], with a large number of Francophones, traditionally support the Liberal Party, though their support has recently weakened.
Ottawa became the legislative capital of the Northwest Territories when it reverted to 1870 constitutional status, after [[Alberta]], and [[Saskatchewan]] were carved out in 1905. From 1905 to 1951 almost all of the council members were civil servants living in Ottawa. From 1951 to 1967 the territory alternated legislative sessions with various [[List of communities in the Northwest Territories|Northwest Territories communities]]. Ottawa only held legislative sessions of the council. [[Fort Smith, Northwest Territories]] became the administrative centre and officially housed the civil service from 1911 to 1967.
[[Image:Ottawa_Parliament_Panorama.jpg|thumb|800px|center|The back of the Parliament buildings as seen from the Ottawa River]]
==Demographics==
[[Image:Francoottawa.PNG|thumb|Map of Ottawa showing the francophone concentrations]]
{| class="wikitable" align="left"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
!Ethnic Origin
!Population
!Percent
|-
|[[Canadian]]
|463,280
|44.09%
|-
|[[French people|French]]
|272,085
|25.89%
|-
|[[English people|English]]
|200,900
|19.11%
|-
|[[Irish people|Irish]]
|183,130
|17.24%
|-
|[[Scottish people|Scottish]]
|125,215
|14.48%
|-
|[[Germans|German]]
|63,290
|6.02%
|-
|[[Italian people|Italian]]
|37,435
|3.56%
|-
|[[Jewish]]
|13,445
|1.83%
|-
|[[Iranian]]
|12,846
|1.66%
|}
In 2001 the population of the city of Ottawa was 774,072 (310,132 households, and 210,875 families of which 72.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.1% were common-law couples, and 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present), while the greater area had 1,063,664 inhabitants[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CMA&Code1=505__&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Ottawa&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=], an increase of 6.5 percent from the previous census in 1996. The population of the pre-amalgamated city was 337,031 at the 2001 census, and had fallen to 328,105 at the 2006 Census. The census of May 2006 estimates 1,148,800 people living in the greater Ottawa (Ottawa-[[Gatineau]]) area. In 2001 females made up 51.23 percent of the population. Youths under 14 years of age number 19.30 percent of the total population, while those of retirement age (65 years and older) make up 10.81 percent resulting in an average age of 36.6 years of age.
Foreign born residents in Ottawa made up 18.46 percent of the population in which many come from [[China]], [[Lebanon]], northeast Africa, [[Iran]], and [[Balkan]] Europe[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/Products/Analytic/companion/etoimm/subprovs.cfm#ottawahull]. Members of visible minority groups (non-white/[[European ethnic groups|European]]) constituted 14.14 percent, while those of [[Aboriginal peoples in Canada|Aboriginal]] origin numbered 1.28 percent of the total population. The largest visible minority groups consisted of [[Black Canadian]]s: 3.32%, [[Chinese Canadian]]: 2.59%, [[Arab]]: 2.19%, and [[Asian people|Asian]]: 2.02%, as well as smaller mixed race, and other East Asian groups.[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/themes/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?Temporal=2001&PID=58628&METH=1&APATH=3&PTYPE=55440&THEME=44&FREE=0&AID=0&FOCUS=0&VID=0&GC=99&GK=NA&SC=1&CPP=99&SR=1&RL=0&RPP=9999&D1=0&D2=0&D3=0&D4=0&D5=0&D6=0&GID=431576] Because Ottawa is the core of an urban area extending into French-speaking [[Quebec]], the city is very bilingual. Those who speak [[English language|English]] as a first language constitute 62.6 percent, those who speak both English and French, 0.85 percent, while those who speak [[French language|French]] as a first language number 14.9 percent. Other languages include [[Arabic]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[German language|German]], [[Persian language|Persian]] and many others.[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3506008&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Ottawa&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=3506008]
As expressed in 2001 census, the most popular religion is [[Christianity]] as 79.34 percent of the population described themselves belonging to various Christian denominations, the most popular being [[Roman Catholicism]]: 54.16%, [[Protestantism]]: 21.85%, [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Christian Orthodox]]: 1.68%, while the remaining 1.64% consists of independent Christian churches like [[Jehovah's Witness]], [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|LDS]] etc. Non-Christian religions are also very well established in Ottawa, the largest being [[Islam]]: 3.97%, [[Judaism]]: 1.09%, and [[Buddhism]]: 0.95%. Those professing no religion number about 13.29 percent.
{{seealso|Ottawa population history}}
==Education==
Ottawa has the highest per capita concentration of [[engineer]]s, scientists, and residents with [[PhD]]s in Canada.<ref>{{cite news | first=Roman | last=Zakaluzny | coauthors= | title=Where must Ottawa's tech sector go from here? | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/290233008271272.php | work =Ottawa Business Journal | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-16 | language = }}</ref>
[[Image:Ottawa Old with New.jpg|thumb|Old meets New in the city's office district]]
*[[Algonquin College]]
*[[Carleton University]]
*[[Dominican University College]]
*[[La Cité collégiale|La Cité Collégiale]]
*[[Saint Paul University]]
*[[University of Ottawa]]
{{seealso|List of schools in Ottawa}}
==Items of interest==
[[Image:Rideau Canal in winter.jpg|thumb|The [[Rideau Canal]] serves as a waterway in summer and a skating rink in winter.]]
[[Image:Tulip Festival 2006 - Dow's Lake 16.jpg|thumb|One of many tulips found along the side of Dow's Lake during the [[Tulip Festival (Ottawa)|Tulip Festival]].]]
*The [[National Research Council of Canada]]'s shortwave time signal station, [[CHU (callsign)|CHU]], is located in Ottawa.
*The [[Ottawa ankle rules]] were developed in, and named after the city.
*[[List of attractions in Ottawa]]
*[[List of Ottawa cinemas]]
*[[Beaver Tail (pastry)|Beaver Tails]]
===Events===
*[[Canada Dance Festival]]
*[[Remembrance Day]]
*[[Carnival of Cultures]]
*[[CKCU Ottawa Folk Festival]]
*[[Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival]]
*[[Ottawa Fringe Festival]]
*[[Ottawa International Children's Festival]]
*[[Ottawa International Hockey Festival]]
*[[Winterlude]] is an annual winter carnival held each year in February. It is focused on the Rideau Canal.
*[[Tulip Festival (Ottawa)|Tulip Festival]]: each May Ottawa receives a gift of several hundred thousand [[tulip]]s from the [[Dutch monarchy|royal family]] of the [[Netherlands]]. The festival takes place in various locations throughout the city.
*[[Canada Day]] is one of Ottawa's most important holidays and people from across the nation visit to celebrate the nation's birthday.
*[[Ottawa SuperEX]] is an eleven-day exhibition with entertainment and amusements that takes place every August.
*[[Ottawa International Jazz Festival]]
*[[Ottawa Bluesfest]] is an annual outdoor music festival held in July, dubbed the largest [[blues]] festival in Canada.
*[[Capital Pride (Ottawa)|Capital Pride]] is an annual summer festival celebrating the [[LGBT]] community in both Ottawa, [[Ontario]] and [[Gatineau]], [[Quebec]]. It is the only Festival in Ottawa that has a parade (although there are other parades).
* The August Ontario [[Holidays in Canada#The August holiday|civic holiday]] which is called [[Simcoe Day]] in [[Toronto]] and Peter Robinson Day in [[Peterborough, Ontario|Peterborough]] is named [[John By|Colonel By]] Day in Ottawa.
* [[Westfest (Ottawa)|Westfest]]
*[[Ottawa International Chicken & Rib Cook-Off]]
*[[Ottawa International Busker Festival]]
==See also==
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{{col-2}}
*[[Ottawa City Council]]
*[[Ottawa (City of)]] defunct electoral district
*[[Ottawa municipal election, 2003]]
*[[Ottawa municipal election, 2006]]
*[[1900 Hull-Ottawa fire]]
*[[1929 Ottawa sewer explosion]]
*[[City of Ottawa]] (municipal government)
*[[City of Ottawa Act]]
*[[Dominion Arboretum]]
*[[List of communities in the Ottawa area]]
*[[List of Ottawa churches]]
*[[List of Ottawa mayors]]
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*[[List of Ottawa media outlets]]
*[[List of people from Ottawa]]
*[[Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton]]
*[[List of bridges in Ottawa]]
*[[List of Ottawa buildings]]
*[[List of Ottawa schools]]
*[[List of Ottawa-Gatineau's 10 tallest skyscrapers]]
*[[List of embassies and high commissions in Ottawa]]
*[[List of designated heritage properties in Ottawa]]
*[[List of crossings of the Ottawa River#From the Lake of Two Mountains upstream|List of crossings of the Ottawa River]]
{{col-end}}
== Notes ==
=== References ===
{{reflist}}
=== Sources ===
{{sourcesstart}}
* Statistics Canada [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/home/Index.cfm 2001 Census of Canada], retrieved [[October 10]], [[2006]].
{{sourcesend}}
==External links==
{{commons|Ottawa}}
* {{wikitravelpar|Ottawa}}
* [http://www.ottawa.ca/ City of Ottawa's website]
* [http://www.ncf.ca/~dw413/area_map.htm National Capital Freenet - Directory of Ottawa and Environs]
* [http://collections.ic.gc.ca/bytown/ Musée Bytown Museum]
* [http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/so05/indepth/ Interesting Facts About Ottawa from Canadian Geographic]
* [http://www.parliamenthill.gc.ca/text/hillcam_e.html Parliament Hill Webcam]
{{Geographic Location (8-way)
| Centre = Ottawa
| North = [[Pontiac, Quebec|Pontiac]], [[Gatineau, Quebec|Gatineau]]
| Northeast =
| East = [[Clarence-Rockland, Ontario|Clarence-Rockland]], [[The Nation, Ontario|The Nation]], [[Russell, Ontario|Russell]]
| Southeast =
| South = [[North Grenville, Ontario|North Grenville]], [[North Dundas, Ontario|North Dundas]]
| Southwest =
| West = [[Arnprior, Ontario|Arnprior]], [[Mississippi Mills, Ontario|Mississippi Mills]], [[Beckwith, Ontario|Beckwith]], [[Montague, Ontario|Montague]]
| Northwest =
| image = Flag of Ontario.svg
}}
{{Ottawa}}
{{Ottawa landmarks}}
{{Subdivisions of Ontario}}
{{Census metropolitan areas by size}}
{{North American capitals}}
<!---{{Cities with million plus in Canada}} --->
{{coord|45.417|-75.7|region:CA-ON_type:city(800000)|display=title}}
[[Category:Ottawa| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in North America]]
[[Category:High-technology business districts]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1800]]
[[Category:Ontario communities with large francophone populations]]
[[af:Ottawa]]
[[am:ኦታዋ]]
[[ar:أوتاوا]]
[[frp:Ottawa]]
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[[be:Горад Атава]]
[[be-x-old:Атава]]
[[bo:ཨོ་ཏ་ཝ]]
[[bs:Ottawa]]
[[bg:Отава]]
[[ca:Ottawa]]
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[[cy:Ottawa]]
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[[es:Ottawa]]
[[eo:Otavo (Ontario)]]
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[[fo:Ottawa]]
[[fr:Ottawa]]
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[[gl:Otava - Ottawa]]
[[ko:오타와]]
[[hy:Օտավա]]
[[hr:Ottawa]]
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[[id:Ottawa]]
[[iu:ᐊᑐᕚ/atavaa]]
[[is:Ottawa]]
[[it:Ottawa]]
[[he:אוטווה]]
[[ka:ოტავა]]
[[sw:Ottawa]]
[[ht:Otawa]]
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[[lv:Otava]]
[[lt:Otava]]
[[ln:Ottawa]]
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[[mk:Отава]]
[[mr:ओटावा]]
[[nl:Ottawa (stad)]]
[[ja:オタワ]]
[[no:Ottawa]]
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[[oc:Ottawa]]
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[[pms:Ottawa]]
[[nds:Ottawa]]
[[pl:Ottawa]]
[[pt:Ottawa]]
[[ro:Ottawa]]
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[[ru:Оттава]]
[[simple:Ottawa, Ontario]]
[[sk:Ottawa (Kanada)]]
[[sl:Ottawa]]
[[sr:Отава]]
[[sh:Ottawa]]
[[fi:Ottawa]]
[[sv:Ottawa]]
[[tl:Ottawa]]
[[ta:ஒட்டாவா]]
[[th:ออตตาวา]]
[[vi:Ottawa]]
[[tr:Ottawa, Ontario]]
[[uk:Оттава]]
[[vo:Ottawa]]
[[yi:אטאווא]]
[[zh-yue:渥太華]]
[[zh:渥太華]]