Family and age

According to the census, there were 210,875 families, of which 72.8% were married couples living together, 11.1% were common-law couples, and 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present.

The age profile of the city is spread out: 25.3% were under the age of 19, 6.9% from 20 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income for a working individual in the city was $39,713, and the median income for a family was $73,507. Males had a median income of $47,203 versus $31,641 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,061.

	Old city of Ottawa	New city of Ottawa
Population (2001)	337,031	774,072
Population (1996)	323,340	721,136
% Change (1996-2001)	4.2	7.3
Private Dwellings	155,536	310,132
Density (per km²)	3059.7	278.6
Density (per sq mi)	7922.8	721.6
Land area (km²)	110.15	2,778.64
Land area (sq mi)	42.5	1072.8

Items of interest

Parliament Hill from the Mackenzie King Bridge

The Rideau Canal serves as a waterway in summer and a skating rink in winter.

One of many tulips found along the side of Dow's Lake during the Tulip Festival (Ottawa).

• The National Research Council of Canada's shortwave time signal station, CHU, is located in Ottawa.

• The Ottawa ankle rules were developed in, and named after the city.

• List of attractions in Ottawa

• List of Ottawa cinemas

Community organizations and clubs

• Ottawa Curling Club

• Ottawa Flying Club

• RA Photo Club

• Rideau Canoe Club

• Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club

Events

• Capital Pride is an annual festival celebrating the GLBT community in both Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.

• Canada Dance Festival

• Carnival of Cultures

• CKCU Ottawa Folk Festival

• Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival

• Ottawa Fringe Festival

• Ottawa International Children's Festival

• Ottawa International Hockey Festival

• Winterlude is an annual winter carnival held each year in February. It is focused on the Rideau Canal.

• Tulip Festival: each May Ottawa receives a gift of several hundred thousand tulips from the royal family of the Netherlands. The festival takes place in various locations throughout the city.

• Canada Day is one of Ottawa's most important holidays and people from across the nation visit to celebrate the nation's birthday.

• Ottawa SuperEX is an eleven-day exhibition with entertainment and amusements that takes place every August.

• Hope Volleyball Summerfestis the world's largest volleyball tournament with more than 25,000 players and spectators attending a gigantic beach party with funds going to local charities.

• Ottawa Chamber Music Festivalis the world's largest festival of chamber music, held annually.

• Ottawa Bluesfest is an annual outdoor music festival, dubbed the largest blues festival in Canada.

• Ottawa Jazz Festivalis an annual outdoor music festival highlighting local, national and internationaljazz musicians.

• Ottawa International Animation Festivalis an annual international animation festival featuring works of the film makers from all over the world.

• The August Ontario civic holiday which is called Simcoe Day in Toronto and Peter Robinson Day in Peterborough is named Colonel By Day in Ottawa.

• Westfest

Motto

"Advance" is the motto of the Ottawa and The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. From the Highlander's homepage:

The 43rd Ottawa and Carleton Battalion of Rifles was first permitted to adopt the motto "ADVANCE" and to bear the same upon its appointments in accordance with General Order - 82 dated 13 January, 1882. This motto has been perpetuated by all successors to the 43rd, including the Regiment today. It is the motto of the City of Ottawa.

Although Ottawa is often associated with the Governor General's Foot Guards (who wear the distinctive scarlet tunic and Bearskin headdress, and parade regularly on Parliament Hill during the summer), the Cameron Highlanders have a special privilege: marching with bayonets fixed when they march through town. This is part of the "Freedom of the City" honour, accorded to the unit by the mayor of Ottawa in May 1969.

Comprehension Check Exercises

I. Fill in the blank with the correct word or phrase:

1. Ottawa has a significant francophone population, and under city government policy … .

2. Ottawa lies on the banks of the Ottawa River, a major waterway that forms … .

3. The first European settlement in the region was that of … .

4. Ottawa became the centre for … industry in Canada, and in fact for North America as a whole.

5. Ottawa is made up of eleven historic townships, ten of which are from historic Carleton County and one from historic Russell. They are … .

II. Find out whether the statement is true or false according to the information in the text:

1. Ottawa is the capital of Canada and the country's largest city.

2. It is located in the Ottawa Valley on the eastern edge of the province of Ontario.

3. There is a federal capital district in Canada.

4. Ottawa is a municipality within the Province of Ontario.

5. The current mayor of Ottawa is Bob Chiarelli.

6. Ottawa is the fourth coldest capital in the world.

III. Questions:

1. What are old folk tales about how the Queen chose a common capital for the then province of Canada?

2. In fact, the Queen's advisors had her pick Ottawa for three important reasons: …

3. Describe the geographical position of Ottawa.

4. What can you say about the climate?