Local Area

Nestled on the banks of the majestic Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau Rivers, Ottawa is one of the most beautiful G8 capitals in the world.

A thriving international technology and business centre and world-class tourism and convention destination, Ottawa is also rich in culture and heritage with its many national institutions, parklands, waterways and historic architecture. It is home to a large number of foreign embassies and is a recognized centre for both academics and professional training. The city offers an open and welcoming environment to cultures from around the world, providing service in English, French, and a host of other languages. The city’s residents enjoy an enviable quality of life that is recognized around the world.

QUICK FACTS

• A population of over 1.2 million makes the Ottawa region the fourth-largest urban area in Canada
• Ottawa is home to such high tech giants as Alcatel, Ericcson, Ciena and more
• Ottawa is also the home of government organizations such as the Government of Canada, Parliament, the Senate, and the Supreme Court of Canada
• More than 1,800 advanced technology companies employ more than 76,000 people
• With the highest-educated workforce in Canada, Ottawa has more engineers, scientists and PhDs per capita than any other city in the country
• With 90 per cent of Canada’s industrial telecommunications research and development conducted here, Ottawa is one of the world’s top five sites for R&D
• Canada’s Capital region welcomes over 7.3 million visitors per year, who spend over $1.18 billion
• According to Statistics Canada, families in Ottawa had the highest median incomes of any Canadian city in 2001
• Mercer Human Resources International recently placed Ottawa 18th in a survey of 200 cities worldwide for best quality of life. Another study by Mercer found that Ottawa is the least expensive major city in which to live in North America.
• Languages spoken include English (50%), French (32%) and a host of other languages including significant capabilities in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and Arabic