5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Ottawa

[@Devyn89]

This is helpful, I’ll be moving to Ottawa in March next year. Nervous but excited!

[@LivingInOttawa]

Best of luck on the move Devyn!

[@pamgodsoe9076]

I loved living in Ottawa, it is a beautiful city

[@Saint3188]

I might be moving there in April and I'm nervous about it too but I simply love in BC anymore and it's time for a change.

[@LivingInOttawa]

@@pamgodsoe9076 Agreed!

[@frederickzoreta6617]

Been living in O-town since I arrived as a Permanent Resident. This was back in Oct 2nd, 2010. I have no friends, no relatives nor any form of contact when I arrivef here. Now it's Feb 6, 2023 as I'm writing this. I LOVE this city! I dunno what is it. I just fell in love and really can't see myself leaving.

[@LivingInOttawa]

Amazing. Glad to have you! No city is perfect but too many people focus on negative - whether it's the city, or social media, or other people. It's unfortunate - there are a lot of positive things happening around so many people and et we focus on the negative. Glad you are enjoying it. Been here since 1973 and I love it too!

[@cpwong7977]

Ottawa for sure is the most beautiful city in Canada👍! Rivers, Rideau Canal, river locks, Parliament, fire works, Winterlude festival, tulip festival…… Weather wise; global warming made Ottawa one of the best cities to live in Canada these days. Winter is getting shorter and shorter each year and the coldest is now below 20 degrees compared with below 40 thirty years ago! Summer will be very hot though but only for four to six weeks. It's true that most of the restaurants in Ottawa are not worth what you paid for! It's no harm to dine out once a while 🤣! Ottawa is my hometown for 50 years😊 I did live in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver before, every city for two to ten years. Ottawa is my final destination…☀️

[@LivingInOttawa]

CP Wong! It certainly has some great spots but Canada is also beautiful. Best!

[@alonzorodriguez8878]

2:55 I visited my family there and went Rideau mall, the people were so kind. I miss this. I’m in Toronto and it the total opposite 😢

[@LivingInOttawa]

Come visit anytime Alonzo!

[@pamgodsoe9076]

Loved the size of Ottawa. Had great friends and the children enjoyed the activities. I was back there last month for a family wedding, at a beautiful restaurant e18hteen, ByWard Market. My nephew is the Executive Chef there and he was the groom. I don’t find the traffic bad but I now live in the Bay Area and before that NYC

[@LivingInOttawa]

Love E18hteen and dinners in the ByWard Market. The traffic really is easier than most major cities. And once we get the LRT running properly things will get better. Cheers.

[@AouadSidahmed]

Gulf means Dubai

[@AouadSidahmed]

Gulf means Dubai

[@AouadSidahmed]

There are Arabs residing in Dubai who obtained Canadian residency for two years.

[@murtazagondal4918]

Visited Ottawa last month. Loved the city . Definitely lots of activities and fun city.

[@LivingInOttawa]

I agree! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@veroniquecharlie6408]

What I love the most of Ottawa is the food including Farmboy grocery store. I live in Orleans and this part of the city is very boring, but great for families.

[@LivingInOttawa]

There is good variety in Ottawa. One of the benefits of living in the capital with many diplomatic representation here.

[@AouadSidahmed]

Is Ottawa a city like Quebec?

[@mihirgoswamii]

I’m from Toronto and I recently took a trip to Ottawa last week and I fell in love with the city! The second I got back, I realized that Toronto isn’t the same anymore. There’s too many wild things going on every day, everything is extremely expensive and I’m struggling to afford rent. Thinking of moving to Ottawa at the end of this month to enjoy more nature, lesser people, lesser traffic and less rent. What do you guys think?

[@LivingInOttawa]

Thanks for the comment. It’s always great to hear other people’s opinions. Best.

[@joeblack888]

If you want move to Ottawa from Toronto, 5 things you need know: 1. Ottawa winter is way colder than Toronto. 2. Ottawa grocery is way expensive than Toronto. 3. Find a job is way harder in Ottawa than in Toronto. 4. Ottawa airport is tiny compare with Toronto airport and you can not direct fly to any Europe major city. 5. If you don't know French, you have little chance work for federal.

[@MapleLeaves1111]

Thanks for the information 🙏

[@LivingInOttawa]

My pleasure

[@anomanderrake8693]

Im thinking of moving near Ottawa, we have 2 young adults that will probably go to college there. But we also have a 10 year old daughter. We were thinking about getting a house in Dunrobin which is not too far from Ottawa. We do not want to live anywhere close to downtown but we like the proximity of its services. We want a house with an intimate and big yard but not in a farm area or a place where its not nice. We want nice, welcoming, kind of private property in a safe and nice neighborhood. What are your thoughts about this if I may ask you? About schools for my little one and so on. Thanks for any pointers. We will need a realtor to help us out I presume :)

[@LivingInOttawa]

That’s exciting news! I love Dunrobin area. So many great little areas around there. Probably best for us to connect via email to have a conversation. Please email me at [e-mail] and we can setup a video call to discuss further. Best.

[@eileenchang2096]

I love living in Ottawa! Very easy access to Hull is another advantage. The Ottawa river dividing the two provinces is so beautiful. Unfortunately I’m moving away to BC soon. I don’t want to leave Ottawa 😭😭🥺

[@LivingInOttawa]

Sorry to see you go! Sometimes you don’t appreciate what you have until you have lost it.

[@eileenchang2096]

@@LivingInOttawa I know! Now I feel every day I’m still here, it’s like a festival! I hope one day I’ll be contacting my friend, saying: I’m moving back to Ottawa next year….

[@eileenchang2096]

@@GHOSTVAPOR please tell me how! I’d love to know more

[@herlsone]

#1 Ottawa is Cold... Proceeds to show video of Quebec.

[@LivingInOttawa]

Hey Herlsone. Not sure if that was intentional by any means just coincidental. Best.

[@wjameswright]

Ottawa is a beautiful City. I lived there in the 80s for 5 years. Those were the party times (I was in my 20s) Hull was our go to and cabs were our friends. I missed the club scene in Ottawa because i was in Hull. I also workd for Sam The Record Man in Ottawa so new all the new music and sold to DJ's ...I was there when CDs came out and that was awesome too

[@LivingInOttawa]

Loved Sam the Record Man. Fond memories.

[@Saint3188]

I am considering moving to Ottawa soon for school and change because BC is getting to be far to expensive and unstable to live in now I know Ottawa is also considerably expensive too and I have my concerns about it especially with employment I will be living in shared accommodation to save on rent so please let me know what you think?

[@LivingInOttawa]

Saint318 - I completely understand. It's an emotional process uprooting your life and moving from one end of the country to the other side. I can let you know many have done it and have made it work. If you are looking at room rents and the cost of living between Vancouver and Ottawa then you will be ahead of the game financially while living in Ottawa. If you are in small town BC then I would assume it would be more expensive in Ottawa for restaurants, groceries, gas, public transit, etc. It's a difficult one to answer without more details. Best.

[@mmorden9938]

We moved from Northern Ontario to Ottawa…. Love it soooooo much. Love almost everything about the city except for the damp cold in the winter!

[@PeterTwolan]

@@mmorden9938 agreed. The damp cold can be a bit much. Although that should be gone by tomorrow at we dip to -27. Rather it be dry and cold. This close to freezing and damp is worse then the real cold and dry.

[@sifakalonji6242]

I really want to move to Ottawa with my family but nervous and scared 😅

[@JANCOff1al]

Winter isn’t long it’s just 6 months of snow

[@JANCOff1al]

Summer isn’t short it’s just 2 month’s long

[@JANCOff1al]

People aren’t mad/bad they just hate living there

[@erlinasoriano890]

Very well said, we love Ottawa, the BEST !!!

[@LivingInOttawa]

Thank you Erlina!! I agree!

[@Crieslol]

Hi, very sorry that you’re about to be bombarded with questions but I REALLY need your insight since you seem like the right guy for it. So, I’m considering moving to Ottawa as an international student for college (alone), do you think that’ll be a good idea? I’m not too much into the nightlife and getting wasted but more of the type to stay home, draw, read and going out on walks and cafes, just the average introvert. I’m a pretty creative person and plan on doing psychology for my studies, do you think that I’ll be able to find a job after I graduate since Ottawa is known for their government related jobs? Also, are winters that hard to get used to? I come from a tropical country (Panama) so it’s pretty hot all year round (I always keep my AC on when I’m home haha) and I’m very worried about the harsh winters and so are my parents, they are worried I might regret going to Ottawa because of that. Are there a lot of places to visit? I know there are museums and all but are there a lot of places to hang out with friends or go out to? (Cafes, restaurants, malls) Are there a lot of homeless people or crime going around? There was a comment on this video talking about it and it worried me a bit. I want to be in a safe environment, especially as a girl who’s going alone to a different country for her studies :’) What are some transportation options I could take? Like for day to day life or to maybe visit Montreal or Toronto? By car wouldn’t be an option since I don’t think I’ll get one. I was considering Montreal for my studies but with the new law about French I had to give up, no way I was going to be fluent in it in a few months. Toronto and Vancouver are very expensive and I’m worried I wont be able to afford it so I ended up with Ottawa. Once again, really sorry for the bunch of questions but really want to know your opinions on these since I don’t have anybody else to ask then to 😭😭

[@LivingInOttawa]

No worries at all-I'm happy to help with your questions! Moving to Ottawa as an international student sounds like a great idea, especially given what you've shared. Ottawa has a vibrant student community and is generally considered safe, making it a good environment for someone coming from abroad. It’s also a city that offers a lot for introverts like you: plenty of cozy cafes, beautiful parks for walks, and quiet spots perfect for reading or drawing. As for studying psychology, Ottawa has solid opportunities, especially if you're interested in government-related work or research after graduation. While it’s true that the city is known for its government jobs, there’s also a growing creative and tech scene that could align well with your interests. Now, about the winters-I won’t sugarcoat it: they can be pretty intense, especially if you’re used to tropical weather. However, many international students adapt by layering up, investing in good winter gear, and embracing indoor activities during the colder months. The city does a great job of keeping things running smoothly despite the snow, and there's something magical about an Ottawa winter once you get used to it! In terms of places to visit, Ottawa has a good mix of museums, restaurants, malls, and cultural spots. Whether you want to hang out with friends or find a new favourite cafe, you'll have plenty of options. Regarding safety, Ottawa is generally very safe, especially compared to larger cities like Toronto or Vancouver. Like any city, it has its challenges, but crime rates are relatively low, and most areas are quite secure, especially those around universities and popular student neighbourhoods. As for transportation, while Ottawa has a public transit system with buses and light rail, it does have its challenges. You might experience longer wait times, and service can be inconsistent, especially during peak hours or in bad weather. However, it should still cover your daily needs. For trips to Montreal or Toronto, you can easily take a train or bus-both are well-connected and convenient options. Given your concerns about language in Montreal and the cost of living in Toronto and Vancouver, Ottawa strikes a nice balance. It’s a bit more affordable, and you won’t have to worry about needing to be fluent in French. I hope this helps ease some of your concerns! Ottawa is a wonderful city, and I think it could be a great fit for you.

[@wizardsuth]

It would have been useful for me to know that Ottawa's transit system has a transitway, i.e. a set of roads reserved for buses. I wasted so much time taking the most direct but slowest buses to and from the downtown because I didn't know there was a high speed route three blocks away. Now much of the transitway is being replaced by light rail, which should have happened decades ago.

[@LivingInOttawa]

Agreed

[@jamalgrant9335]

I practically grew up there an I'm from NY so I'll say this people from Ottawa are super funny but they can be rude in a hilarious way, u probably wouldn't even know their being funny

[@LivingInOttawa]

That’s good to hear! Love it.

[@etiennegiroux9146]

Also born and raised in Ottawa. Nightlife truly sucks. Who is so insane to pay $140 to go at the blues festival? Or the balloon festival for same price. To make me happy, I need to leave this city many times a year to enjoy better weather and much cheaper outings. Shameful!!!

[@LivingInOttawa]

Nightlife is lacking for sure. But a great location of home base to run to Toronto and Montreal for fun and special events but Ottawa can be great for certain people and families. If you are looking for dance clubs and nightlife not the right city for you. If you are looking for outdoor activity, quality of life, safety, balanced life - then Ottawa is a good option.

[@petermitchelmore2592]

Expensive houses?

[@adanzium]

Would you recommend a new immigrant to move to Ottawa?

[@LivingInOttawa]

Depends on you - do you want to move to Ottawa? What are your hopes in terms of occupation? What are your expectations of the city? Are you by yourself or with family? There are a lot of variables. Moving to Ottawa is right for everyone - it's a personal choice.

[@eskil1u]

If you are from a major metropolitan city, dont move to Ottawa

[@gjmarc]

I think you missed something... if you are moving to Ottawa it is important to have a knowledge of the French language. (better to be bilingual)

[@LivingInOttawa]

Thanks! If you're moving to Ottawa, knowing some French can definitely be a plus. Being bilingual is a benefit but not an absolute requirement.

[@JesterFace9]

Ottawa is full of potential but is let down by its car-centric and sprawled nature.

[@stevecreighton5809]

I've lived in a few cities in my time Newfoundland Nova Scotia Toronto I was born in Ajax I lived in Sault ste Marie Kingston Ontario and now I'm in Ottawa I got to tell you something if you're retired 65 and older it is a great city to live in for wanting the transit is okay like I said you don't have to go to work or go to school you can pick the times to travel it's no problem the snow in the cold I love the winter so that's not a problem the government here in Ottawa is way better than Toronto or anywhere else in the world I find I'm hoping this new guy that gets in Pierre whatever his name is he supposed to take away the health card and that's not good ask the text x x the tax form us that's not a good thing all the economy will crash another Donald Trump anyways as far as living in Ottawa is a good city

[@saifraeef]

I am 27 years old and can work..I want to live and work in Canada..it is big and it will not become crowded if I live in it..please spread this message of mine

[@MsElke11]

You lost me at "It's COLD from NOVEMBER to MARCH" (and at "TURDEAU LIVES HERE!")

[@LivingInOttawa]

Have to be truthful! Best.

[@anonnon4737]

If you're thinking of moving to Ottawa.....don't. Ottawa is the most boring place I have ever lived and outside of the people at the universities, the people are as boring as the city. Ottawa only exists because of the War of 1812. In that war, the Americans attacked Toronto, which was the nation's capital, and burned the parliament buildings to the ground. Our government moved the capital to Ottawa because it is further back from the border and on a hill, so harder to attack and easier to defend. Ottawa is not on a trade route, so it has no organic industry, the majority of people are employed by the government, and that ethos of mediocrity and laziness that permeates the public service also permeates Ottawa. The city core is dead after 6pm because all of the government workers live in the suburbs. ByWard Market can be lively but it tends to be populated with university students and tourists. The other problem with Ottawa is that it is overrun with homelessness and crime. You will see drug addicts doing crack and injecting heroin on city sidewalks and the police do nothing about it because the mayor is ultra left wing. The rampant drug addiction and homelessness spurs crime and twice in the three years I lived in Ottawa people tried to mug me. Moral of the story.....don't move to Ottawa.

[@al8775]

How about Black lives in Ottawa..

[@LivingInOttawa]

What in particular are you asking about?

[@LilyEstime-qt1cm]

@@LivingInOttawamaybe he asking about diversity the question was not properly asked

[@kardoviyan3898]

at all is not could;