Ottawa

The name Ottawa is thought to derive from the name "Odawa", an Algonquian-speaking people, and possibly meaning "to trade", "people of the forest", "those who have ears" or "raised hairs". Located on the Ottawa River and right on the Ontario-Quebec border, Ottawa is the capital of Canada and the country’s fourth largest city with a population of approximately 865,000 people living within the city limits.

The first hints of permanent settlement appeared in 1826 when Lieutenant-Colonel John By established a construction camp for the building of the Rideau Canal. The place soon became known as "Bytown." Bytown was renamed Ottawa on January 1, 1855.

Choosing a political capital for the Province Canada was politically difficult, so the decision fell to Queen Victoria, who selected Ottawa in 1857. The Parliament Buildings' construction began two years later, and when the Dominion of Canada was formed in 1867, Ottawa was confirmed as the capital of the new nation.

The region is known as "Silicon Valley North" because of the development of the high technology sector. Public sector employment at its peak accounted, in fact, for only about 25 per cent of the labour force in the 1980's.

Ottawa’s natural environment is a very large part of its identity. The Rideau Canal is the world’s largest, naturally frozen skating rink and is used by Ottawa residents and visitors alike. The city has 850 parks that contribute to Ottawa’s green character.

Ottawa is a must-see for tourists and houses many national treasures, including national museums, the National Art Gallery, National Arts Centre, the National Library and Archives Canada.

You can also visit the websites for Ottawa and Canada's Capital Region.