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Ottawa, Ontario City Guide

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Ottawa Meeting Planning

Ottawa Skyline

As the vibrant and alluring capital of Canada, Ottawa is home to the nation's Parliament, national museums and many prominent monuments that together provide a unique and memorable setting for any meeting or event. A brand new convention center, the Ottawa Congress Centre, emerges in April 2011 as the prime site for any event needs. Boasting a breathtaking windowed façade, the centre triples its size to offer 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting space along with cutting-edge technology and services.

While the addition of Ottawa Congress Centre will certainly be an asset to planners looking to host a meeting or event in Ottawa, the city also offers a variety of other facilities from which to choose. Many of the cities over 50 hotels offer function space. The Lac-Leamy Conference Center has 33,000 square feet of space and is conveniently located next to the popular Casino du Lac-Leamy and Hilton Lac-Leamy. The multi-purpose sports and exhibition facility Landsdowne Park has hosted over 65 million visitors at its various venues, such as the 36,000-square-foot Aberdeen Pavilion and 10,000-seat Civic Centre Arena. With options like these and many more, planners do not have to search far for traditional meeting space.

Planners can also take advantage of the plethora of attractions and dining establishments populating the city, many of which are available for private functions. Up to 400 guests can enjoy a reception at the National Gallery of Canada's Water Court Foyer, a breathtaking 2,860-square-foot space with an overhead reflecting pool. Or, for magnificent views of the Ottawa River, the gallery's Great Hall, capable of hosting 880 guests, can be reserved. Social Lounge and Restaurant, known for its unique blend of French and New American cuisines, can accommodate up to 125 people for dinner. Since there's no better way to enjoy a city on the river than from the water, Paul's Boat Lines offers Ottawa River cruises and private charters complete with food and entertainment for up to 150 people. Other unique venues include the  Canadian War MuseumCanadian War Museum
Canadian War Museum, Canadian Museum of CivilizationCanadian Museum of Civilization
Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canada Aviation Museum and Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm.

Located between Montréal and Toronto, Ottawa is easily accessible from other Canadian locations and international destinations across the globe. The recently-renovated Ottawa International Airport offers flights to 30 destinations, 10 of which are international cities in the United States, as well as London. Canada's VIA Rail, which services major cities from Windsor to Québec, has a stop in the city, and several major highways connect to Ottawa, with the U.S.-Canada border located only about an hour away. Whether by air, train or car, guests find a trip to Canada's capital comfortable and easy.

Skating on the Rideau Canal

Though the city's northern location results in chilly winters, the fun need not stop due to cold weather. Strap on a pair of ice skates at the Dow's Lake Pavilion on the Rideau Canal, which becomes the world's longest skating rink when the temperature drops. Or embrace the cold during Winterlude, an annual two-week celebration every February that entices 650,000 guests annually. Ottawa also hosts numerous other festivals throughout the year including Italian Week, WESTFEST, TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Fest, Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival, One World Film Festival, the Canadian Tulip Festival and the Ottawa Storytelling Festival, just to name a few.

Known as "Silicon Valley North," Ottawa employs many in technology as well as federal government. Companies such as 3M, Adobe Systems, Cisco Systems, CGI Group, Dell, IBM and Intel have a presence in the city.

Key Statistics

About Ottawa / Additional Info

From miles of parks and tended lawns to historic architecture reflecting its British heritage, Ottawa beckons both local and international visitors to explore its offerings. Chosen by Queen Victoria as the capital of Canada in 1857 because the rowdy lumber town was a safe distance from the United States border, Ottawa has been influenced and enriched by this title.

At 2,778 square miles, Ottawa is situated at the convergence of the Ottawa and Rideau rivers. Right on the border of Canadian provinces Ontario and Québec, Ottawa is separated from neighboring Québec city of Gatineau by the Ottawa River, but together both cities form the National Capital Region, home to over one million residents and the 4th largest urban region in the country. A bilingual and multicultural city, nearly 20 percent of residents are foreign-born, hailing in large numbers from China, Lebanon and northeast Africa. French-only speakers make up about 15 percent of the population, though the majority of Ottawans are bilingual.

Rideau Canal

Outdoor enthusiasts find plenty to do in this lush green city. Ride over 105 miles of bike paths, golf on one of the city's 88 manicured courses, or take a walk alongside the manmade Rideau Canal, North America's oldest continually operating canal. On Sunday during the summer, the parkways along the Ottawa River and the 15 miles along both sides of the Rideau Canal are closed from the morning to early afternoon, offering cyclists, joggers and walkers a pleasant trip among the parks and flower beds that edge the waterways.

As the nation's capital, Ottawa offers a walker-friendly and easily navigable downtown. Located on the banks of the Ottawa River, downtown Ottawa's  Parliament HillParliament Hill
Parliament Hill attracts nearly three million visitors per year. Here, visitors will enjoy viewing glorious Gothic Revival-style buildings patterned after the British Parliament house, the nation's House of Commons and Senate chambers. Parliament Hill is also home to the Centre Block Building, site of the Peace Tower, a nationally recognized Canadian symbol towering above the Ottawa skyline at 300 feet. Visitors who climb to the top of the tower are afforded spectacular views of the city. For the less adventuresome, the tower holds the Books of the Remembrance, including a sombering list of Canadians who lost their lives in service to Canada.

National Arts Gallery of Canada

Aside from assorted federal structures, Ottawa is bursting with a wealth of national museums, memorials and attractions. Examine top Canadian artwork on display within the astounding glass façade of Canada's National Gallery. Explore the life-size replica of a Québec Inn from the 18th century at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, or enjoy the serene sounds of the orchestra performing at the National Arts Centre. Try your luck at the  Casino du Lac-LeamyCasino du Lac-Leamy
Casino du Lac-Leamy or dance the night away to lively jazz entertainment at Café Paradiso. With all the stately and historic charm expected of a nation's capital, Ottawa entices visitors to soak in culture and history by day and let their hair down at night.