Ottawa began as a rough canal-building settlement called Bytown and became the capital of a country that spans six time zones. It sits where the Rideau Canal meets the Ottawa River, with Quebec on the opposite bank. Here are the facts and stories that make the city special.
10 fun facts about Ottawa
- A capital chosen by a queen: in 1857 Queen Victoria picked Ottawa as capital of the Province of Canada over Toronto, Kingston, Montreal and Quebec City, partly because it lay between English- and French-speaking Canada.
- It used to be called Bytown: the town grew up around the camp of John By, the British engineer who built the Rideau Canal, and was renamed Ottawa in 1855.
- A canal that turns into an ice rink: the Rideau Canal opened in 1832 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In winter almost eight kilometres of it become the Rideau Canal Skateway, listed by Guinness World Records as the world's largest naturally frozen ice rink.
- The library that survived the fire: in 1916 a fire destroyed almost all of Parliament's original Centre Block. The round Library of Parliament, completed in 1876, survived because a clerk shut its iron doors.
- A flame above a fountain: the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill was lit on 1 January 1967 for Canada's 100th birthday. The fountain around it carries the shields of the provinces and territories; Nunavut's was added in 2017. Coins thrown in fund a research award for people with disabilities.
- A memorial with an unknown soldier: the National War Memorial was unveiled by King George VI in 1939. Since 2000 it has also held the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a Canadian of the First World War brought home from near Vimy Ridge.
- A princess born in Ottawa: Princess Margriet of the Netherlands was born here in 1943, while her family was in exile; the maternity ward was declared outside Canada so that she would be purely Dutch. The tulip bulbs the Dutch sent after the war led to the Canadian Tulip Festival, held every May since 1953.
- A market from the canal-building days: the ByWard Market was laid out by John By in the 1820s and is still the place for food stalls, restaurants and nightlife.
- Red tunics and bearskins: in summer, soldiers of the Ceremonial Guard march to Parliament Hill in scarlet tunics and tall bearskin hats for the daily Changing the Guard.
- Two provinces in one view: the Ottawa River separates Ontario from Quebec. Walk over the Alexandra Bridge to Gatineau and the Canadian Museum of History for one of the best views of Parliament.
Colonel By and the canal through the wilderness
After the War of 1812, Britain wanted a military supply route from Montreal to Lake Ontario away from the American border. Lieutenant-Colonel John By built it between 1826 and 1832, as thousands of labourers, many of them Irish and French-Canadian, cut through forest, swamp and rock; hundreds are believed to have died, many from malaria. The canal was finished in six years but far over budget, and By was recalled to London to face an inquiry. He was cleared, yet never received the honours he expected, and died in 1836. The canal was never needed for war.
Parliament Hill, explained
The Gothic Revival buildings on the hill date from 1859 onwards. After the 1916 fire the Centre Block was rebuilt, and the Peace Tower was completed in 1927 as a memorial to the First World War. Since 2019 both have been closed for the largest heritage restoration in Canada's history, planned to last into the early 2030s. Meanwhile the House of Commons sits in the West Block and the Senate in Ottawa's former railway station.
What to eat in Ottawa
- BeaverTails: fried, stretched dough shaped like a beaver's tail, usually topped with cinnamon sugar. The ByWard Market stand is the classic spot.
- Poutine: fries with squeaky cheese curds and gravy, a Quebec dish at home on both sides of the river.
- Shawarma: Ottawa has a strong shawarma tradition thanks to its Lebanese community. Ask for garlic sauce and pickled turnips.
- Maple taffy: hot maple syrup poured on snow and rolled onto a stick, a winter treat at Winterlude and at sugar shacks in spring.
Good to know before you go
- The Centre Block is closed, but guided tours of the House of Commons in the West Block and of the Senate Building can be booked in advance.
- The Skateway opens only when the ice is thick enough, usually in January, and may not open at all in a mild winter. Check its status before you go.
- Winterlude, Ottawa's winter festival, takes place in February, with ice sculptures and events along the canal.
- Gatineau Park, just across the river in Quebec, is the place for hiking and autumn colours.
Explore Ottawa with World City Trail
Our Ottawa scavenger hunt turns these sights into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around two hours, with about 34 minutes of walking, and includes Parliament Hill, the Centennial Flame and the National War Memorial.
At each stop you solve a puzzle and hear a short story, at your own pace. You can start whenever you like.
Play the Ottawa scavenger hunt →
Facts checked in October 2026.