Congratulations! If you are moving to Ottawa or considering it, you've found a great place to call home. Voted #1 in 2008 by Money Sense magazine as Canada’s Best Place to Live, Ottawa offers friendly neighbourhoods, great schools, beautiful parks and plenty of cultural activities and community events. If you're like most people, you may think of tulips, the Parliament Buildings, Royal Canadian Mounted Police on horseback and ice skating on the Rideau Canal in winter. That's all part of the Ottawa picture, but there's so much more.

Did you know that the National Capital Region is the fourth largest population centre in Canada, with just over one million people? It is a picture postcard city of greenery and bicycle paths, crossed by three rivers with a view of Quebec's Gatineau Hills.

Unique in North America among cities of its size for its low crime rate, Ottawa is renowned as a clean, safe yet dynamic place to live and work. This reputation combined with its charm and many cultural and recreational activities, have also earned Ottawa the distinction as a great convention venue and terrific tourist destination.

More than six million people visit the Ottawa region each year. In addition to the tourist draw of Parliament Hill, with its eternal flame and Changing of the Guard, the region boasts 29 museums, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and most recently, the Canadian War Museum.

Then there's the lifestyle. The Ottawa region is unmatched for its unique combination of urban and rural amenities - from winter skiing to summer water sports and from hiking in the Gatineau Hills to nightlife in the Byward Market.

Year-round, various festivals and ceremonies celebrate the region's own special lifestyle. The Winterlude Festival truly sets the tone of winter in the Ottawa region. The world's largest outdoor skating rink on the Rideau Canal, crossing the heart of the city, is the focal point of a series of original competitions and activities during three weekends in February.

With spring comes the Tulip Festival, when more than 100,000 tulips turn the whole city into one magnificent garden. On July 1st, tens of thousands of residents and visitors congregate on Parliament Hill and surrounding vantage points to witness an impressive fireworks show that marks Canada Day in Ottawa. In August, the Super Ex offers the traditional rides, shows and exhibits of a major exhibition. The Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival takes place on Labour Day Weekend.

Cycling is both a favourite sport and daily means of transportation for many Ottawa area residents, and a remarkable network of dedicated paths and reserved lanes is the pride of the region. During peak cycling season until Labour Day weekend in September, Colonel By Drive and the Eastern and Western parkways along the Ottawa River are closed to motorized traffic on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Excellent ski centres can be found only a short drive from Ottawa in the foothills of the Laurentian Mountains. Favourites are Edelweiss Valley, Vorlage, Mont Cascades, Camp Fortune and Mont-Ste-Marie. There is also a profusion of cross-country trails in and around the Ottawa area.

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Education
Ottawa has many schools to choose from. The city offers high quality English and French education in public, Catholic and private school systems.
To learn more about Ottawa’s elementary, secondary and post secondary education, visit the following web sites:

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board
French Language Public School Board
French Language Catholic School Board
Algonquin College
La Cite collegiale Carleton
Carleton University
University University of Ottawa

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Transportation
Ottawa’s public transit is provided by OC Transpo. There are three Park and Ride locations in Orleans. Park your car and hop on the bus for a speedy, hassle-free trip along the Transitway. The OC Travel Planner is a handy site that tells you which buses you need to take, at what time, and how long the trip will be in order to arrive at a specified destination.

Other Useful Links

City of Ottawa
Parks and Recreation
Orleans Chamber of Commerce
Orleans Online
EastOttawa.ca
Ottawa Citizen

Want More Information?
As a real estate professional specializing in Ottawa's east end communities, and long time resident of Orleans, Karen knows everything there is to know about relocating to, from or within the Ottawa region. Those who have worked with Karen appreciate knowing the purchase of their new home is in the hands of such a capable and trustworthy professional while they're wrapping up all the last-minute details of packing and moving out of their previous home.

Make Your Next Move Your Best Move
Karen believes in making the relocation process as easy as possible for everyone involved. To her, that means providing information to anyone who wants to find out more about the city she loves and knows so well. Contact Karen today for information on relocating to Ottawa’s East End. You'll be glad you did!

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For further information on relocating to Ottawa.