Ottawa  is the capital of Canada. Located in Southern Ontario, Ottawa lies on the banks of the Ottawa River, a major waterway that forms the boundary between Ontario & Quebec.

Across the Ottawa River is the city of Gatineau. Although separate cities Ottawa, Gatineau & nearby municipalities collectively constitute the National Capital Region.

The first European's in the region in 1800 transported timber by river from the Ottawa Valley to Montreal. Following the War of 1812 some military regiment families & government sponsored immigration schemes began a steady stream of Irish immigration. Along with French Canadians from Quebec they provided the bulk of workers involved in the Rideau Canal project & timber trade which put Ottawa on the map.

When the canal was completed in 1832 it provided a secure route between Montreal & Kingston.The west side of the canal became known as "Uppertown" where the Parliament buildings are located, while the east side of the canal was known as the "Lowertown". At the time, Lowertown was a crowded shanty town. Ottawa became a centre for lumber milling & square-cut timber industry in Canada & North America.

Ottawa is visitor friendly town with most sights within a short walk or cab ride. There are many theater companies including the Great Canadian Theatre Company & Ottawa Little Theatre. Ottawa is home to the National Gallery of Canada, National Arts Centre, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canada Science & Technology Museum & the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

There is a large network of paved multi-use pathways that wind their way through much of the city. These pathways are used for transportation, tourism & recreation. Most streets either have wide curb lanes or bicycle lanes making cycling is a popular mode of transportation throughout the year.