What You Might Not Know about Canada’s Capital

While Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver seem to get all the attention, Canada’s capital is – perhaps ironically – all too often overlooked. In reality, Ottawa ranks as one of the world’s top cities in terms of quality of life and several other major indicators. 

If you don’t know much about the city, read on. You may be surprised at just how many different areas this Ontario hub excels in. And if you are thinking about moving, you can find an immigration consultant Ottawa that can assist you in the process. If you never thought about living in Ottawa before – or even if you have, but didn’t think it was possible – you might be surprised. Making the move can be easier than you think if you go about it in the right way.

Education and research

Many people don’t realize that Ottawa is not just a seat of government, but the center of many prestigious educational institutions on different levels:

• Higher education. Home to the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Algonquin College, Dominican University College, and Cegep Heritage College, the city is rich in intellectual capital, and this culture pervades the entire area.
• Elementary and secondary schools are top-notch. Ottawa’s school system consistently gets high marks from national and international school ranking systems.
• The population is extremely well-educated overall. Experts say that a full third of all Ottawans have some sort of higher education, which is well above average.

Technology

Ottawa is also a leader in technology. Thanks in part to its high education level in technical fields, the city automatically lends itself towards this industry. Nearby Kanata is also host to a Tech Research Park, which hosts offices of Apple, Amazon, Shopigy, Dell, and others.

Bayview Yards is another growing innovation hub that helps connect eager entrepreneurs with business so that ideas can flourish and specialists can together grow their businesses in new directions. 

Culture

Ottawa is also extremely rich in culture. Proud of its indigenous heritage, the city frequently hosts indigenous events so that residents and visitors can learn about the region’s fascinating local history. The National Arts Centre is a leading performing arts facility, and in it visitors can enjoy plays, as well as educational programs about the performing arts. The National Ballet of Canada offers its own type of spectacle for dance lovers.

Beyond this, urban art enthusiasts can enjoy a wide range of street murals across the city. There are numerous boutique arts shops, as well as open house artist tours that lovers of the arts can take. And – perhaps most importantly – the area has a vibrant community that can help support and find common ground with fellow artists.

Safety

There has been a slight increase in the overall crime rate across Canada in recent years. But Ottawa’s remains among the lowest in the country. It has consistently been ranked as a safe city to live in, and one where families should feel confident raising children.

For those who need extra assurance, the city is becoming smart in multiple technologies. By downloading apps, you can find interactive maps that notify you about different types of problems including rates of breaking and entering, vehicle theft, and robbery. 

Healthcare

Quality healthcare is at or near the top of every family’s priority list. In this area, too, Ottawa excels. Once you obtain an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), you have access to free healthcare. There are four major hospitals in the city, including:

• Ottawa Hospital
• Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
• The Queensway-Carleton Hospital
• Montfort Hospital

Beyond this, there are smaller clinics in the areas surrounding Ottawa. Once you have a health plan, you will have access to special care facilities, dental facilities, and senior care all as part of your government-sponsored plan.

Recreation and Leisure

Being part of the Ottawa Valley, residents of the area have easy access to numerous outdoor activities. People can take advantage of the Ottawa River for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and white water rafting. There is also great hiking in the nearby area. Camping is extremely popular both in summer and winter as people are eager to take advantage of Canada’s diverse nature all year round.

You will never suffer from a lack of recreation options when living in Ottawa. And it is relatively close to the US border, as well. Being able to travel freely to the US, there are yet more possibilities for tourism and recreation south of the border. It is truly an ideal place to live.

And more still

The advantages of moving to Ottawa are simply too many to count. Culturally, educationally, economically, you can’t get much better. The city is populated enough to offer everything you need, but not so overpopulated that you feel suffocated. You have easy access to both urban and rural treasures. And you can live freely knowing that you are in one of the safest urban areas in North America. So if you haven’t done it yet, come on over to Ottawa and give it a try. Once you’re there, you won’t want to leave!

Image credit: Pixabay