8 things you need to know before moving to Ottawa

If you're considering moving to Ottawa, Ontario, these are the 8 things you need to know. Don't plan your move until you know what it's like living in Ottawa.
Want more tips and resources? Check out our city guide for tons more information about moving to Ottawa: moving2canada.com/living/city...
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Photo credit: Curtis Perry
Stock footage is from Ottawa Tourism: ottawatourism.ca/en

[@Moving2Canadainfo]

What’s your favourite spot to eat in Ottawa? 🤤

[@jmc506cr]

I liked the market and Chinatown

[@mimseydemon1844]

Shawarma - Palace or 3 Brothers, both on Rideau Poutine - too many good places to mention, standards for it are pretty high here so any poutine place is going to be decent. For best results try anywhere in Vanier or Gatineau. Fancy Italian - Mamma Theresa's downtown. Pizza - Louis on McArthur, Colonnade Pizza Indian - Taj Mahal on Bank, Host India on Montreal road Diner/late night - Elgin Street Diner

[@marcoprolo2299]

None. Always overpriced, food is at the best average and service always sucks. Ottawa is not a culinary experience.

[@dramakiddramatrugy]

Oh So Good !!!!!

[@Imonetone]

Monkey Joe's

[@word6344]

The positivity of this man... Really rare to find anyone that upbeat about this city

[@dropgloves4491]

The positivity in this man...trying to get hits ;)

[@djw8888]

To all the people who find Ottawa boring - if you like noisy, crowded, shiny entertainment, this is not your city. If you prefer quiet, peaceful living with beautiful outdoor settings with plenty of intelligent people, give it a try. I moved there without knowing a soul and loved it.

[@thrillhouse9633]

I’m tired of this narrative that Ottawa is good because it’s calm and small. The “beautiful outdoor settings” aren’t even in town and they’re not that convenient to get to. It’s not that calm either; the traffic for a city of barely a million is terrible and everything’s either falling apart or under construction downtown. The downtown core is also full of homeless people. The comment about intelligent people is pretty typical though. Government employees def suffer from grandiose delusions about how smart they are despite just being hired to make sure that they’re working in some capacity.

[@billybob3302]

@@thrillhouse9633 If you're a childless no-life loser that wants to just go to work and go home and do nothing else with your life except huff your own farts it's perfect.

[@peterbutz642]

@@thrillhouse9633Bingo right on the money

[@tytheby5029]

@@thrillhouse9633it’s not calm and it’s not small lmao. Tbh living here is just fine, I don’t mind it and I’m content with what I have. But I couldn’t in good conscious recommend someone travels here

[@eileenchang2096]

@@thrillhouse9633 I love my life in ottawa, and I find your comment about the people there very humorous , unfortunately I think you’re right!🤣🤣

[@mariedmitrieff6829]

I traveled to Europe, Africa and across Canada... ❤ Ottawa ❤ is the best place to live.. been here since the 70ies and love it here. I am a senior citizen. .

[@staycasual7203]

You must have dementia?

[@MrBeatboxmasta]

- If you plan to move here, know that it's humid, which means summers feel hotter and winters feel colder than the advertised temperatures. - If you want to live in Gatineau, know that it's on the province of Quebec side and Ottawa is located in the province of Ontario. That means you need to familiarize yourself with the differences with the laws, particularly, taxes and driving.

[@qaisrashid6496]

What’s the main differences aside from the languages of course?

[@loveyoutube2]

@@qaisrashid6496 Tax!

[@sandihunter1260]

I moved here 14 years ago from Toronto and I love it here. I settled in Little Italy in a condo and love the vibe of this community and its location to the Rideau Canal and all the bike trails. Ottawa is so bike friendly. I don't speak French and get along great here. I worked in retail in the west end of the city before retiring and I just love the small town feel of this place.

[@theigpugamer]

Would you suggest learning French before coming to Ottawa as an international student I'd like to know your thoughts and insights

[@djdeemz7651]

Is there many british people there i would love to come and work in canada ottowa looks like a nice place , as long as there are jobs , weed and girls im good

[@glowx6882]

I want to ask - how is life in Toronto, Canada? Ottawa is so beautiful and Id love to move there. Unfortunately, that’s not possible..however, moving to Toronto is! So, I’d like to request some information about how your living experience was there. Was it good? Is it a nice place? How is it in Toronto? Thank you in advance!😊🏙

[@sandihunter1260]

@@glowx6882 Toronto is a very big city but friendly. Many different nationalities live there and that is what makes it great. So many people from different parts of the world living together. I grew up in Toronto so I saw it grow to the city it is today. There are many neighbourhoods, Little Italy, Little India, Chinatown, Greek town etc. Of course in a large city there is crime but when I visit I always feel very safe. I'm sure after covid there would be lots of employment available. Hope this helps.

[@glowx6882]

@@sandihunter1260 I appreciate this! Thank you. This did help since I had almost little to no idea about how Toronto really is. Thanks again!

[@LuccasSchmigel]

One thing. Public transportation in Ottawa is terrible. Having a car is highly recommended

[@shz8990]

Sooo true .. a10 mins drive will take u like 1 hour and half by public transport

[@cordeliadaniels7737]

Dear Lucas , so true , I live there and the bus and train sucks ! Plus our train (subway) keeps on breaking down and It is new ! He is trying so hard to sell the city..... Housing priced have gone through the roof ! Lets also mention that Theresa us a lot of homeless and they are multiplying every year !

[@gavinmacnabb3095]

It's better than a lot of places, gotta be thankful for what we have

[@shz8990]

@@gavinmacnabb3095 LRT is back so that’s great and it will b free in December.. grateful for that

[@bobbob396]

Wait ..What? ....where is all that green money going?.....ah yes justin got himself a habit...different kind of green

[@trishemerald2487]

A note about living in Québec: Although rents are cheaper, you'll lose a LOT of $$ in the extra tax deductions the Québec gov't will take from your paycheques. My Qc co-worker with my exact salary and exact job loses twice as much in taxes per pay than I do.

[@tryinyourluck]

I was waiting for this video for so long. Thank you

[@MrRoointan]

I couldn't stop putting a comment. This was amazingly prepared and done. Thanks for the awesome video.

[@Marc89000]

Best informative Ottawa video I have seen in a while. Some good humour too.

[@Lanarkwow]

Great Video! I have been living in Ottawa for 50 years now and I still love it! Sometimes I still feel like a tourist in my own city there is so much to do. Great city if you love being outside. So many bike paths and cross county ski trails around. Gatineau Park is truly the jewel of the National Capital Region with lakes to swim and canoe in during the summer and ski hills to ski in the winter. Gatineau Park also has many road cyclists biking and mountain bikers too. Ottawa also has easy access to Cottage country in both Ontario and Quebec. Algonquin Park is also not too far away. I absolutely love Ottawa even after 50 years of living here.

[@dropgloves4491]

Seems to me you’re not bored because you’re Always in Gatineau and Not in Ottawa lol

[@df2mobile]

This is a GREAT overview of Ottawa! Very well prepared script, locations well chosen, brilliantly organized and edited. No kidding SUBSCRIBE! WOW! Just a great overview!

[@MMMKlein]

I loved your video! So funny and informative at the same time.

[@leonidas759]

These videos have so much quality! Really, it is very impressive. I'm not moving to Canada, but I enjoy watching this videos just to learn something new. I am even thinking about a trip to Canada 💯

[@JulianPhotofit]

I love Ottawa! I live in the states and my wife lives there. Whenever i visit our tradition is to get a shawarma and garlic potatoes. This past September we went to Shawarma Palace. Couldn’t tell you where it’s located but it was sooo good!!! Great video!

[@difencrosby]

It’s located on Rideau St close to Augusta St

[@wizardsuth]

Shawarma Palace has five locations in Ottawa: downtown on Bank Street, in the Byward Market, in Orleans, near South Keys, and in Westboro.

[@user-stonetyler]

Thanks for your sharing so amazing video that let me know something live in Ottawa. Happy New Year!🤝

[@Moving2Canadainfo]

Thank you! You too!

[@kanata2006]

Let’s not forget the alpine ski hills and cross country ski trails minutes away from the downtown core. The Ottawa region also has extensive bike trail systems.

[@christianrossetti34]

What a great video! I was thinking of going to Ottawa for school but I wasn’t sure what to expect. This video makes me want to move right now! Lol thanks for posting.

[@UlrichBosquet]

Thanks, I needed an Ottawa video..

[@hero.ambition]

I lived in Ottawa since 2017.. Love it.

[@wecandothisnow4331]

Great job on this video. It really shows off the city I grew up in, although I"ve live in L.A. since 1978. But I love my hometown.

[@GurmeetSingh-vn1lt]

Thanks 😊👍 for this great video about Ottawa

[@mah.d]

this is really helpful! thank you!

[@tanishqdubey7226]

This is so informative.

[@OttawaCaper]

Very well done! I will say that there is a perception about Ottawa that since it is a government town the nightlife is somewhat lacking, which was alluded to in this video. When I moved here I was expecting that. It didn’t take long for me to realize it is wrong, Ottawa has a great nightlife! I also lived in Toronto around that time and visited Montreal during that time. Of course those cities have more options, well duh, they have much bigger populations, but I always preferred hanging out in Ottawa. The Market and Elgin street offer everything you want in a nightlife and Ottawa now has even more vibrant areas. I would recommend the city to anyone! July was also mentioned in the video. It is my favorite month and I wouldn’t want to spend it anywhere else in the world. Starting with Canada Day on July 1! It is one huge party that spans several blocks in Centretown and the Market. Huge crowds but a great vibe, people celebrating in the many bars in the area and walking the street in one big lovefest for the country. Another misconception is that Canadians aren’t patriotic, come to Canada Day in Ottawa and you will see that is not true! The Bluesfest starts the first week in July. It is a world class music fest that runs for 2 weeks and if you google it you will see the quality of the acts that play there. Don’t let the name fool you it is all types of music, not just Blues! There is also a Jazzfest that starts just before the Bluesfest The HOPE beach volleyball tournament also takes place in July. It is the worlds biggest beach volleyball tourney. It is played on a small beach and is basically just one big fun party also with great musical acts at the field where they hold the concerts

[@pamela-sonyaovono4758]

Very interesting and lovely, especially when introducing with such a great energy! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@carvenyong9345]

Ah! Thanks for making this video!

[@FreestyleSkierMikey]

I live here and still had to watch this haha, I love this guy!

[@moradkhan8945]

Excellent video and information.

[@Moving2Canadainfo]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wayne2k33]

thank you for including transportation info!!

[@arturokoenig]

Incredible video! It's left me pondering, much like The Clash's iconic tune, "Should I stay or should I go?" You're truly tempting me to visit Ottawa. :)

[@michaelwallin1103]

Ottawa also has two huge historical cemeteries. So much history and beauty

[@staycasual7203]

Lol, yeah, ok..

[@thedreamweavingalchemist]

I'm doing research for moving my teenage boys and I to Canada from the UK, though I'm a Kiwi. We're looking at Ottawa. You alone have sold me on Ottawa. You're adorably delightful lol

[@trembita332]

Great job!

[@jamesesguerra8751]

Were are moving from Toronto in a couple of months. Fam is a little overwhelmed on what to expect. Having a diabetic child, healthcare is our first priority. Our MD here in Toronto said that all child medical programs comes from Ottawa! Hope it does not disappoint lol. Great vid, Dane!

[@assortedlunatics4381]

Loved your charisma!

[@graceb9628]

I lived in Ottawa while I attended Algonquin College. My favourite thing was the free museum visits on certain days of the week. My least favourite thing was the humidity in summer. Having an air conditioner and/or a dehumidifier is a must especially in a small apartment.

[@Roch_C]

yeah i lived in ottawa during my time at Algonquin college as well, city was amazing but man that summer humidity really is painful. thankfully the fall months in ottawa are amazing! and more than make up for the brutal summers

[@frankihatch]

@@hgoon9415 go to Toronto instead

[@abdinasserabdow5626]

nice video , alot of good information . soon moving here

[@Moving2Canadainfo]

Best of luck!

[@marcoprolo2299]

Good compact presentation. There is a bit more than that but you captured it mostly.

[@decadentdragon6217]

great video! Thanks. :)

[@ibbest123]

Beautiful video

[@eliaslejeune1472]

I like to play and I love the cold, this is perfect.

[@mikebothwell2321]

Been here since March 2021 thanks for th video

[@raymondchinrealestate]

Great content! It's a great city for investors too cuz the housing price is not as crazy as the other 3 !

[@mlfett6307]

Thanks for a great review on a great place. Viewers might be interested in knowing that while the Ottawa part of the NCR is in Ontario, Gatineau is in Quebec, so in choosing which you want to live in, there will be differences in language and tax rules. As well, while traffic can be major, it is still better than Montreal or Toronto.

[@Saif-zf9vb]

Quebec is better to live in. Law states they can’t charge first and last months rent, only month by month. Health care is quicker and better. Mostly everything is cheaper than Ontario,

[@sirxavior1583]

Hardly better then Toronto. Housing costs are reaching the same prices as in Toronto, then you'll find yourself living far out of the city and having to buy a car since you can't rely on OC transpo. Gas coats a $1.40-$1.50 a litter and if you have a trucks or SUV that will cost you. You can't buy direct and theren't any real outlet stores in Ottawa...other then Costco so thats another cost to consider. Once you add all these additional costs Ottawa costs the same sometimes more then Toronto and you don't get the same amenities in Toronto. I've Lived 10yrs in both cities.Other then housing if you can budget your personal expenses and know where to shop in Toronto you will get more for your money in Toronto then in Ottawa.

[@pablomadera6271]

I love your videos about Canadian cities. Could you please make one about Kelowna in BC? Me and my girlfriend and my two dogs have been dreaming about moving there!!! Thank you so much in advance!!!

[@jasonzy4607]

Love your smile:)! You are gorgeous! Great video!

[@silence4531]

You give a lot of great neighbourhoods a shout out but not: Hintonburg or Westboro?! Bizarre as they are hugely popular places to live. & have great local shops and coffee places

[@JDnBeastlet]

Our favourite special restaurant is Petit Bill's Bistro on Wellington Street.

[@AdamW77]

Really interesting video and enjoyed it but I’ll be watching out for you if I use a scooter thingy to have a look around.

[@apdaniel3735]

Enjoyed 🤎🤗

[@tomlloyd9400]

Well said.

[@imjustsomecanadianguyandis184]

If you work for government or in the civil service, then Ottawa is great - the pay for working for either is pretty decent and only room to move up.

[@wheresperry3561]

Lives in kanata Ontario for 5 years back in B.C. Canadian 🇨🇦😍 been to all museum in Ottawa very beautiful

[@frankihatch]

BC is way better

[@JasmineBrownOttawa]

Good video! I would add 2 that there are 5 post-secondary institutions here, not 3. In addition to Carleton University, Ottawa University and Algonquin College, there is also St Paul's University and La Cité college :)

[@claude12341]

Thank you. He forgot my LA CITE. COLLEGIALE

[@alanking7582]

Which university can you recommend in Ottawa that doesn’t require good grades

[@is-sam]

This confirms my city choice after moving, wish me luck on my express entry application

[@eyituoyoiyomere3223]

i loved it...ur enthusiasm is infectious......not like Omicron. but u know what i mean

[@RosmelOrtizPimentel]

Buen video 👍

[@lukedaley17]

The scooters in you mentioned reminds me of the Uber Lime hire scooters we have here in London, UK 🇬🇧.

[@jacobsalloum6139]

Thank you for sharing, I'm preparing a plan to move to Ottawa from Montreal. this video helped me in some points, i visit Ottawa frequently and i really loved the city charm, more organized and more friendlier than Montreal also will relax from the Language debates :) thanks again.

[@anthonyisaac1155]

I am planning to do the same.. I have travelled to montreal almost 2 months ago, its a great city from what i have seen so far but i saddly have a language barrier knowing that i will never be as good talking in french than english...

[@bobby27]

just watched all of the videos about the different cities you made. one thing is for sure, you became funnier with time. but i still dont know which city to settle in.

[@seabelleliz751]

For education there's also the French college called La Cite Collegial located on Aviation Parkway. :) awesome video though..

[@mq9413]

Love Ottawa, has many attractions, beautiful and peaceful, friendly and safe. Cultural, gastronomy, art, architectural gems...lots to explore...great destination,

[@Strawberryknight]

I used to work in Kanata (Ottawa). Don't plan your move until you experience the -45C wind chill, and then you decide.

[@zainfun6830]

Castle was incredibly beautiful dear.

[@Moving2Canadainfo]

It really is!

[@Klwl127]

welcome!

[@djdeemz7651]

I would love to move from the UK to canada might look at Ottowa , it looks nice

[@JessieGerhardt]

"I kinda wanna push them off..." LOL! Thank you for the excellent, high quality video!

[@mattkrasniqi]

I love ottawa it’s the best place in canada

[@pat6146]

Do note that there is a cost to living in gatineau in the form of taxes. Even in the lowest bracket you pay 5% more than in ontario. Can make a big difference

[@user-dimitra1424]

ive been to ottawa its lovley even eat food

[@balkanlife1ak47]

I do love to live there many people says is really safe for kids too

[@LALA-ld2zw]

Visited OTTAWA last August, I really loved the city except some other negative sides such as a raise of homelessness and drug’s consumption . I would love moving there. It has good vibes, clean and green landscapes not noisy like Montreal and it seems to offer a good quality of life for families. I haven’t experienced the winter yet but if it is the only bad thing to handle It would comeover wearing warm clothes ;) enjoy you life there

[@gamingbuddy_0781]

What about employment...? and living of an international student because I want to know from the person who having experience about the city

[@LALA-ld2zw]

@@gamingbuddy_0781 I wish I could be a good advisor but I have no clue about student’s life in Ottawa! From comments the job market locally is dedicated to government positions and requiere clearance. However you have some HQ tech companies like HP if you’re in this field. Good luck

[@JUALIJU]

Nice

[@christinew4108]

I laugh as I come across this video as I am just getting ready to leave Ottawa. I grew up here, I've lived in many different places. Next to Edmonton (being my least favourite place to live) Ottawa is second on that list. Unless you are government oriented in your job, good luck. Restaurants are not the best. It is a beautiful city, but it lacks a lot. Transportation sucks big big big time. Rent is stupid crazy, especially for what you get. I will miss my home, but I won't miss the city. I do wish all those that do move here all the best.

[@WOranos]

There's just one thing you need to know before moving to Ottawa: you should seriously consider moving someplace else.

[@guytitanic]

Montreal

[@justinothedominicandragon940]

💯

[@pranoychow3808]

Agreed. Don't move to Canada in general if you care about freedoms.

[@dropgloves4491]

Yep

[@warrenandrews4590]

@@dropgloves4491 man have u seen windsor, fucking unreal dude. no joke. hit me up and ill show u the ropes of hangin in the downtown also its near deeeeeetroit so its fuckin lit at night with gun shots n shit.

[@ryansheridan6845]

Di Rienzo or La Bottega sandwiches! Public transportation sucks right now but will be much better in the upcoming years.

[@SorayaZiziArtist]

Well done😀👏🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@joseriascos]

Nice video, actually I'm living in Quebec city and I'm planning to move to Ottawa next summer, maybe Gatineau because the rent is cheaper there 😁

[@6ixPonchoBeats]

Ottawa is defiantly a vibe

[@somyhabibi3219]

perfect

[@jamessmith6333]

you played at the NAC in highschool? did you go to Canterbury?

[@rogerclarke7407]

After browsing your list of videos , maybe you should do some warning videos. Fort Mcmurray, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Oshawa, are cities that come to mind.

[@wenkoffs]

😂

[@Coltoid]

Trendiest neighbourhoods right now are in the west end, Hintonburg and Westboro.

[@englishbyfatima2014]

Great

[@sammiejones7693]

Favourite local joints: Pure Kitchen Chickpea Greens & Beans The Green Door Stella Luna Thimble Cakes

[@yuriimarko7317]

You are soo gayish and cute 😍 Dane! Thanks for your great job. Planning to move to Canada but not sure where exactly. But still considering something more rural like NS or NL.

[@sharongeorge8522]

Hahaha! I love your wit!😂😂❤❤❤

[@keyone415]

I used to live in Gatineau. One other expense about living in Gatineau you forgot to mention, you will have a lot more income provincial taxes in Quebec, so if you have a good paying job in Ottawa and you choose to live north of the river, the tax will easily offset the cheaper housing price in Gatineau.

[@aprilthomas1489]

It is the city that fun forgot. And people are clicky and its extremely hard to make friends. Apartments almost never have AC and there are roaches galore. As far as crime goes it is pretty safe. So if you come here you will be safe, lonely, bored, probably uncomfortable, but you can get high so that might help you cope. Also its really hard to get a job if you do not speak French, and at the local universities they have courses that they only offer in French, so its a good idea to learn French if you don't know it already or else you wont have much of a life here, especially as a newcomer.

[@michelelzo8583]

Yes, my friend and i live in Ottawa and we say, Ottawa..where fun goes to die.

[@Tjd1982]

No need to know french unless you plan on working high up in the federal government. I know toooons of people with good paying jobs as anglophones. I am fluent, and barely use it.

[@aprilthomas1489]

@@Tjd1982 or Healthcare. I wanted to study dietetics, but it's only taught in French.

[@Tjd1982]

@@aprilthomas1489 the 2 universities and algonquin offer it in english, 2 family members there. Citė college offers it in french.

[@aprilthomas1489]

@@Tjd1982 the only school that offers dietetics in Ottawa is Ottawa University. It is the only accredited dietetics program. They have a nutrition program which starts with the option of French or English which then splits into two branches. Nutrition science is one branch and that is offered in a French or English. A degree in nutrition science is not a medical degree. What kind of work you would be doing is research for food corporations as to ensure they are providing accurate nutritional information and similar of such functions. The other branch is dietetics. Ottawa University is the only School in the area that is an accredited program for dietetics. This is the only program that can lead you to being a registered dietitian. This branch is only offered in French. All disciplines are supposed to be offered bilingually. But they get away with only offering dietetics in French because they combined it with the larger nutrition program which has bilingual options. It made me so sad. I had a really hard time figuring out what I wanted to study. I didn't have passion for anything. After a lot of searching I finally felt excited about studying dietetics. Then I did my research and found out I would have to learn French first. When I emigrated to Canada I did take French classes early on. I couldn't get very far. I just don't have a mind for learning new languages.

[@MSingh-jq5me]

my city!!!!!!!

[@artcyan6086]

很棒的影片，非常感谢。如果有字幕就更完美了。🤗

[@fuhrerptin5308]

Hi im from ottawa 🇨🇦🇹🇷

[@charlesjames7283]

i have plan move to canada ontario soon. because bi. dealing with difficulty in my country and discrimination . badly

[@jemiss443]

My dream county ☹️

[@ISWI665]

It could be that there are hundreds of trucks are standing still on public roads. So keep that in mind

[@assiamt1066]

you are so cute you have a beautiful smile thank you for informations!

[@zhandosmukhambetali834]

Karatai, raushan and others can make irradiation by sattelite from my location

[@Rivionna]

This was really cool, ive lived in Ottawa 7 yrs and youve told me things i didnt know. THo got me wondering, are there no amusement areas /parks "fun" activities to do? AND you forgot to mention, that the city rolls up its sidewalks at sundown. nothing happens after 4pm here.

[@justinothedominicandragon940]

💯💯Thank you. Here since 91..left a couple times . This will boggles some. I was better in Florida . More money more opertunity. No snow. Great people in Naples

[@solderbuff]

I watch this channel not because I want to move to Ottawa. I watch this channel because of the host ^_^