Moving To Ottawa

Top of the Class

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Is your child an arts aficionado? Do you want him or her to learn French, or another language besides English? To take an accelerated program to get credit in university?

Ottawa being such a hub for government and industry, educational options abound and all those needs can be easily fulfilled. Seven school boards and 400 elementary and secondary schools crowd the region, so finding a school is not a struggle; the work instead should go into which
one is best for your child.

Most parts of Ontario have two distinct boards of education: the Public and the Separate, or Catholic, school systems. Ottawa-Gatineau offers these options as well,but you also have the choice of more
specialized schooling.

When looking for a place to live, be sure to check which boards serve the district. If you want to send your child to a school outside the district, you may have to apply well in advance.

Deadlines are critical for language immersion programs or private schools. For some schools, the application process can begin almost a year before the September your child can attend. So contact the organization responsible for the institution that interests you. Ask
when to apply for a cross-boundary transfer, French immersion, or kindergarten registration for your child.

It’s best to check not only with the school board, but also with principals and current students and their parents. Visit the school’s website or tour the school with your kids. You’ll learn about the school’s average test scores,attendance rates, homework policies, teacher-student ratios, anti-bullying policy, extracurricular activities, and special
services or programs your child might benefit from.

Also examine transportation options to the school. Students who live far away from a school usually can depend on the yellow school buses, but there are exceptions. If you live outside the school’s district, you’re often expected to provide your own transportation. Some schools offer discounts on the public-transportation system, OC Transpo, instead f yellow bus service. Check
with the school board you’re interested in for more details.

On the Ontario side of the river, you may consider one of four major school boards: the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, which provides English public education; the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board, which serves English-speaking Catholics; and the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de Ontario and Conseil des écoles catholiques de langue française du Centre-Est, which each educate non-Catholic and Catholic
children of French heritage.

On the Quebec side, choices include: the Western Quebec School Board,responsible for English language schooling in the region; the Commission scolaire des Draveurs, which manages French-language schools in Gatineau; and the Commission scolaire des Portages-de-l’Outaouais, which manages French-language schools in outlying areas. Note that under Quebec’s Charter of the French Language (Bill 101), children require special dispensation to receive schooling in English. Eligibility details can
be found at www.mels.gouv.qc.ca/daasa/rens/banque/Fiches/F95a.htm.

If private school appeals to you, check out the Ottawa-based Ontario Federation of Independent Schools for a listing and background information on each one. Again, ask other parents for references. As with any school you choose outside your neighbourhood district, you will likely have to provide your own transportation, so examine transit and car-pooling options.

To register your children, you will usually need their birth certifi cates and proof of standard immunizations. For specifics, contact the board’s office. MTO

Shelter From the Storm

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A lot of destinations in Canada are boom-andbust towns, but the situation is different in Ottawa thanks to the stabilizing presence of the federal government. Demand is up for federal jobs and the economy remains relatively strong.

Indeed, Ottawa has weathered about two centuries of change since the first immigrants came. The city’s economic foundation was built on water rather than land. In the 1800s, when the city was a shanty town, lumberjacks lashed to gether rafts of white pine and used the Ottawa River to transport the logs they cut downstream in the Ottawa Valley. The addition of the man-made Rideau Canal in 1832 expanded commerce through the centre of the city, and was a large factor in Queen Victoria’s decision to name Ottawa the capital of Canada in 1855.

Today, water is a key tourism attraction. Boaters and naturalists enjoy the slow waters of the Rideau River, which winds its way past dozens of kilometres of parks. Large boats use the Ottawa and Gatineau rivers to ship goods, a custom that dates back to when native peoples ruled the waters.

The city of Ottawa is now home to over a million people. This includes several older cities amalgamated into Ottawa in 2001 on the promise that the move would save money. However, the effort to cut back administration was unsuccessful. The amalgamated local Ottawa government of today struggles to make ends meet, keep up services such as snow removal, and avoid deficits. By contrast, Ottawa’s federal and provincial government public services are doing well. As the seat of Canadian government, practically every federal and provincial agency has a presence in Ottawa, defining policies in matters ranging from health care to atomic energy.

Thousands of public servants drive the economy, causing some stores to offer “government discounts”. Even the city’s bus system is dependent on public service; on federal holidays, OC Transpo cuts back major routes and sometimes runs on a Sunday schedule.

The other major employer in Ottawa is the high-tech industry. Although the industry is still a staple of local business, the recent economic downturn has caused a lot of employment cutbacks in that area. Job losses and bankruptcies are mounting as the companies lose money.

But in general, Ottawa is still sheltered from the manufacturing woes hitting other major centres in Canada. Although Ottawa’s unemployment rate is now at about five per cent – two percentage points higher than last year – government jobs ensure a steady stream of contracts for local businesses.

Apartment vacancy rates in the city are on the rise, with about four per cent of rental units available in the city – an increase of two percentage points over last year, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. This means it’s relatively easy for new Ottawans to fi nd a home, particularly in the outlying areas of the city still under construction: the suburban former cities of Nepean and Kanata. These are on the opposite side of the Greenbelt, a 20,000-hectare natural area that separates the centre of Ottawa from the south.

Inside the Greenbelt are a variety of trails and natural preserves, and a wildbird care centre to cater to Ottawa’s avian afi cionados. Deer peer out from the trees and Canada Geese graze on the grass, just a few dozen metres away from the roads that connect the old city centre to its newer regions.

The issue for Ottawa now is staying the course – to keep business going during a time of cutbacks. But as a city that has adapted many times over a period of centuries, Ottawa has experience enough to fi gure out how to adapt once more. MTO

Ottawa 101

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Alcohol
Ontario’s legal drinking age is 19. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (lcbo.com) is the exclusive agent for spirits. The Beer Store (thebeerstore.ca) is another designated retailer. Boutiques – often near or in the larger grocery chains – sell Ontario wines.

Banks
Ottawa’s national banks are The Bank of Montreal (BMO), CIBC, TD Canada Trust, National Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, and RBC Royal Bank. Credit unions include Alterna, and Quebecbased Caisse Populaire and Desjardins. Most have extended hours Thursday and Friday; some have Saturday hours.

Business Hours
The average workday is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some government offi ces close at 4 p.m. Smaller stores are usually open Monday to Saturday to 6 p.m. Some chains and LCBOs keep Sunday hours. The Loeb chain and Shopper’s Drug Mart have outlets open 24 hours.

Electricity
The electrical standard is 110 volts/60 cycles AC. Dual-voltage appliances require an adaptor to convert the plug into one with two fl at, parallel prongs.

Emergency
On any telephone you can dial 911 for police, fire or ambulance service.

Employment
Immigrants should go to the Government of Canada Services for Non-Canadians website, canadainternational.gc.ca. To get a Social Insurance Number, which you need to work in Canada, visit a Human Resource Centre of Canada offi ce. Go to hrsdc.gc.ca or call 1-800-206-7218. Ottawa’s Employment and Financial Assistance Centres administer income and employment assistance programs. Visit ottawa.ca/residents/efa/employment/help/centres_en.html or the central office at 370 Catherine Street, Suite 100; or call the main information line at (613) 560-6000. For online job banks go to allstarjobs.ca/Canada_Job_Banks/index.htm.

Grocery Stores
Larger chains include Loblaws, Loeb, Food Basics, Price Chopper and Sobeys. A local chain, Farm Boy, specializes in fresh produce. Specialty shops – bakeries, butchers, and delicatessens – can be found in the Westboro, Glebe, and ByWard Market areas.

Immigration Assistance
Newcomers can go to the Province of Ontario site settlement.org for information about permanent resident cards, citizenship and immigration and employment. Or go to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website (cic.gc.ca) or The Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (ociso.org; (613) 725-5671) for help.

Language
English and French are the languages spoken most often in Ottawa, although other languages are also spoken here. The YMCA/YWCA has a Language Assessment Resource Centre with instruction; call (613) 238-5462 or go to ymcaywca.ca/Larc2/. To learn French, contact Alliance Francaise: (613) 234-9470; af.ca/ottawa/.

Newspapers
Ottawa has two major English-language dailies, the Ottawa Citizen and the Ottawa Sun. Le Droit is the Frenchlanguage daily. National newspapers The Globe and Mail and the National Post are available. Free local tabloids cover everything from business and neighbourhood news to entertainment and lifestyle.

Parking
You can pay at the meter. Alternatively, use the electronic City of Ottawa parking cards. They are available from city offices or the Bank of Nova Scotia and Royal Bank, and can buy you $25 or $50 worth of pre-paid parking.

Restaurants
Enjoy Asian food along Somerset Street, Italian on Preston Street, and an eclectic international variety in the ByWard Market, on Bank Street in the Glebe, and along Wellington Street in Westboro. Check listings in the Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa City magazine, or CheapEats Ottawa.

Taxes
There is a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of fi ve per cent on all but basic groceries and some prescription drugs. The provincial sales tax (PST) is eight per cent.

Telephones
The area code for Ottawa is 613. In Gatineau, the area code is 819. Residents must now dial all 10 digits for local calls. For long distance, dial 1 plus the 10-digit telephone number. 1-800, 1-888, and 1-866 numbers are toll-free. For operator assistance, dial 0. For local and North American directory assistance, dial 411; there is a charge of 75 cents.

Weather
Ottawa typically has long, cold winters and, increasingly, hot and humid summers. A bonus: there is an average 2,059 hours of sunshine annually. The amount of precipitation is variable, with enough snow to make cross-country skiing a common pastime and enough rain to keep the many greenbelts lush. MTO

Quitting Time!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Government employees downtown typically pack up every day around 5 p.m., as well as the tech employees across town in Kanata. But with the end of the “normal” workday comes the beginning of night life. Ottawa is hardly a spot that goes to sleep when the sun goes down. In many ways, in fact, it comes alive.

Anyone strolling down the pedestrian Sparks Street Mall during summer’s annual Busker Festival, for example, knows Ottawa is a great place to play. Buskers from all over the world come to showcase their craft, with the biggest crowds coming to watch the “fire-eaters.”

Elgin Street’s variety of restaurants – and the late hours many of them keep – are reminiscent of the eclectic neighbourhoods of Toronto. It’s easy here to grab a 1 a.m. bite of pizza or drop into one of many clubs for a little midnight dancing.

For those who want to go a little further afield, the Gatineau Hills beckon just north of downtown. Their trails are a popular cross-country skiing destination in wintertime, and can ready you for even more ambitious ski events. Two of Ottawa’s most prominent competitions are the Canadian Ski Marathon, the world’s longest cross-country ski tour, and the Gatineau (Keskinada) Loppet, which features races long and short.

Nor does the winter fun end there. The Gatineau trail system has dedicated snowshoe routes, and the highest hills in the area have downhill ski and snowboarding facilities. You can take up dog sledding and skijoring, a unique exercise that has a dog pulling you on your skis. And it’s not hard to fi nd hills for tobogganing and snow tubing.

Besides such trails, Gatineau Park offers abundant hiking, camping or canoeing possibilities. Not far away, you can try rock climbing, white-water rafting, and other forms of outdoor entertainment. For an overview, check Ottawa Outdoors magazine: ottawaoutdoors.ca. Its updated calendar will ensure you spend no more time at home than is absolutely necessary.

The Rideau Canal becomes the world’s largest skating rink for more thana month every year. And for three weekends in February, the canal is the centerpiece of the Winterlude festival, which features ice carvings, snow sculptures, outdoor concerts, and a giant children’s playground full of snow slides. The event draws hundreds of thousands of people for such unique experiences as a skater’s-eye view of Canada’s capital, manic bed races down the ice, and the taste of beavertail, the local bread-and sugar dessert specialty served from huts on the canal.

The warmer seasons are even more packed with outdoor options. Bicycles proliferate for business and pleasure, and no wonder – 170 kilometres of pathways run through beautiful greenbelt and parkland. Major commuter routes have designated bicycle lanes, and despite occasional complaints from both drivers and cyclists, the two manage to show a great deal of respect for one another on the road.

Each May, during the Canadian Tulip Festival, more than two million of these flowers blossom throughout the city, accompanied by a series of outdoor concerts by major talent from across Canada. Find out more online at tulipfestival.ca.

By June the city is buzzing with the Dragon Boat Races on the canal, the Carnival of Cultures folklore celebration, and the Ottawa Fringe Festival, an eclectic assortment of stage works lasting more than a week. Music fills the summer months, as the city hosts major Jazz and Blues festivals and the world’s largest collection of chamber music concerts – annually, well over 100 concerts in just 15 days.

In autumn, tourists throng to catch a glimpse of the spectacular fall colours that fi ll the hills overlooking the Ottawa River. The National Capital Commission provides workshops, guided tours and outdoor activities as part of Fall Rhapsody. And just as fall begins, the skies over Ottawa are fi lled with lighter-than air craft from around the world for the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Later in the season, the Ottawa International Writers’ Festival showcasesliterary talent from Canada and beyond. When December sets in, Parliament Hill, Confederation Boulevard, and other signature points in Ottawa set off Christmas Lights Across Canada.

Each of these events has its own website, but two of the best online sources for dining and entertainment options are ottawakiosk.com and ottawa-festivals.com. There you can also fi nd out about the many institutions that make Ottawa’s cultural life truly distinctive.

Check Up on OHIP

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

When it comes to basic health care, Canada has you covered. Actually, it will be the province of Ontario that administers health care to Ottawa residents, as health is a provincial responsibility.

That being said, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) has its limits, and it’s good to know what those limits are before an emergency strikes. First of all, OHIP recommends newcomers to Ontario apply for coverage right away since it takes about three months for the paperwork to go through.

If you are moving from elsewhere in Canada, the health insurance of the province you’re leaving should cover you for the duration. However, some services might not be covered if you make a claim from Ontario. If you are coming from outside of Canada, you should consider purchasing some private insurance for this period. The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association can help you find the coverage you need. Go to clhia.ca or call 1-800-268-8099.

What OHIP Covers
OHIP covers any medically necessary services provided by physicians, such as annual checkups, usual vaccinations, and standard lab tests. Annual eye examinations for persons under 20 or over 65, emergency room visits, hospital stays, and the use of hospital clinics are also covered, as are dental procedures, chiropractic work or physiotherapy if carried out in a hospital.

However, OHIP does not pay for cosmetic surgery, ambulance transportation, laser eye surgery to correct vision, or routine eye exams for people aged 20-65. Doctors may charge you for missed appointments, physicals required for employment purposes, or offi ce services such as transferring files.

To learn more, contact the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Its office, in Ottawa’s City Hall at 110 Laurier Avenue West, is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the INFO line at 1-800-664-8988 or go to health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ohip/ohip_mn.html.

What OHIP Costs
Under the terms of the Canada Health Act, OHIP coverage is based on residency, rather than employment. However, the province is now taxing incomes to cover rising medical costs – from $60 annually for taxable incomes starting at $21,000 to $900 for those over $200,000 (less than $20,000 is exempt). Employers make payroll deductions, while the self-employed make payments directly to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Getting an OHIP Card
With few exceptions, permanent Ontario residents are entitled to OHIP coverage. To obtain a number and card, you must apply in person at an office of the Ministry. You must show three original documents that prove identity, citizenship or immigration status and residency. You can register your children aged 15-1/2 or younger.

In order to maintain your eligibility for OHIP, you must be physically present in Ontario for 153 days in any 12-month period.

Finding a Doctor
The College of Physicians and Surgeons in Ontario maintains a website with doctors who are accepting new clients. Go to cpso.on.ca and click on “Doctor Search”. You can also call 1-800-268-7096, x. 626.

Immediate Medical Services
For round-the-clock health advice or information, you can call Telehealth Ontario, a free, confidential telephone service, and speak to a Registered Nurse. This health professional will assess your situation and help you decide your next step, be it caring for yourself, making an appointment with your doctor or going to a hospital. Call 1-866-797-0000, or learn more at www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/telehealth/telehealth_mn.html. MTO

Hitting the Pavement

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Although a couple of rivers and a canal run right through the centre of town, the best way of getting around this city is on hard pavement. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for doing so. A spiderweb of bicycle paths criss-cross rural and urban locations, and there’s always the Transitway bus network if you need to get where you’re going a bit faster. Whether you travel by plane, train or automobile, remember to carry a map with you to keep your directions straight.

Getting Licensed
Licensed drivers moving to Ottawa from out of province must apply for a driver’s license within 60 days. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) recognizes and exchanges licenses from other Canadian provinces and most U.S. states.

For a list of other jurisdictions with recognized licenses, go to: www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/exchange.htm. If the jurisdiction isn’t on this list, obtain a letter – on official letterhead – from the licensing authority in that jurisdiction, or from its Canadian representative, confirming you’re licensed and outlining your driving experience. This letter becomes part of your application to the MTO.

An already-licensed vehicle brought into Ontario must be registered at an MTO offi ce within 30 days. You’ll need the original registration in your name, your Ontario insurance company’s name and policy number, a Safety Standards Certifi cate (SSC) deeming the vehicle roadworthy, and a Drive Clean Vehicle Emissions Pass Report.
For details, call 1-800-387-3445 or visit www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv.

Driving
To the south, Ottawa is connected to Highway 401, one of the world’s busiest highways, by Highway 416. The Trans-Canada Highway (#17; Hwy #417 on a map) runs through Ottawa, where it’s known locally as The Queensway; it begins west of the city and stretches eastward to the Quebec border near Montreal, where it becomes Autoroute 40. These four-lane highways are congested during rush hour, around 8 or 9 a.m., and 4 or 5 p.m. Likewise, the Ottawa River between Ontario and Quebec – and its six bridges – challenge commuters living and working on opposite sides of the river.

Public Transit
Ottawa’s public transit is provided by OC Transpo, which operates over a hundred bus routes between Gatineau, Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans and the city centre. Routes connect with the O-Train, a light-rail service linking South Keys Mall, Carleton University and LeBreton Flats, and the Société de transport de l’Outaouais, which serves Gatineau. The best service is along the Transitway, a network of bus-only corridors providing rapid transit 22 hours a day. Go to octranspo.com or call (613) 741-4390 for fares, schedules and routes.

Air Travel
Thanks to recent upgrades, Ottawa International Airport now offers direct flights to and from many destinations in North America and beyond, without need for connections in Montreal or Toronto. Direct flights to major North American hubs provide easy connections to major destinations worldwide. OC Transpo Route 97 connects directly to the airport. Go to ottawa-airport.ca or call (613) 248-2000.

Rail Service
Just four kilometres from downtown, Ottawa’s VIA Rail station allows you to connect with major destinations across Canada. The Transitway links to the train station, which is just one stop east of major interchange Hurdman Station. Go to viarail.ca or call 1-888-842-7245.

Travelling by Bus
Ottawa’s inter-city bus station at Catherine and Kent streets downtown provides economical access to most Canadian cities through private operator Greyhound. Some OC Transpo routes run right by the station, making it easy to transfer from one bus system to another. Greyhound trips to Montreal run hourly, and there are also several express buses daily to Toronto. Go to greyhound.ca, call 1-800-661-8747, or call the station at (613) 238-5900. MTO

From Glass to Grass

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

hink of Ottawa as butter on a slice of bread – the population and neighbourhoods are quite spread out, with hardly any pockets of density. Downtown is so small you can walk across it in an hour. But it can take hours to drive from one end of the amalgamated city to the other.

Ottawa consists of a pastiche of remarkable neighbourhoods – some old, some new, some large, some small, each one part of the city’s character. Nepean, formed when the region was fi rst settled in the 19th century, remains a suburban anchor for the region. Kanata, which grew up quickly during the high-tech boom of the ‘80s and ‘90s, still has parcels of land waiting to be zoned.

Meanwhile, densely populated sections of the downtown have developed their own unique personalities in response to nearby rivers and the canal, or the presence of businesses that have long since moved on. And many of these older neighbourhoods are evolving to attract a new generation of condominium and apartment dwellers.

This colourful patchwork came under a single municipal administration almost a decade ago, but Ottawa’s diversity still persists. It’s well worth getting to know the different sides of a city that is every bit as multifaceted as the nation it represents.

Alta Vista

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

One of Ottawa’s oldest communities, Alta Vista features open spaces, quiet streets, playing fields and pathways meandering through forests. Close to key arteries such as Riverside Drive, St. Laurent Boulevard, and the Queensway, it contains the main campus of the Ottawa Hospital and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and parts of the University of Ottawa. Alta Vista remainedlargely rural until the 1950s, when the city annexed it and young couples moved into single-family dwellings. Large apartment complexes run along the nearby Transitway line.

Centretown

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Just south of the core is where colonial history and recent immigration meet. New condominiums and apartment buildings are making their way into this area, close to elegant homes that have stood on tree-lined streets for generations. Among the key arteries is Somerset Street, which leads west to Somerset Heights, with its concentration of distinctive ethnic grocery stores and restaurants serving the Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indian communities. An equally outstanding array of Italian businesses can be found just to the west on Preston Street, which is dubbed “Via Marconi” because of its strong ties to this community. And to the east lies the “golden triangle,” bounded by the canal and Elgin Street, and home to a large number of trendy shops and distinctive lofts.

Cumberland

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Perched on the edge of a rural landscape that extends all the way to the Ottawa River and the Quebec border, Cumberland now has more access to urban services and easy transportation into downtown Ottawa. Not surprisingly, its undeveloped character can be seen in such amenities as bicycle paths, walkways and nature trails, including a charming waterfall and unspoiled natural setting tucked in behind one of the main streets. Yet local residents can also take advantage of the Ray Friel Recreation Complex, with a pool, three NHL size hockey rinks, and space for a wide range of other physical activities, as well as a terraced restaurant overlooking the ice, a Sports Therapy Clinic and Sport Shop, along with close to 6,000 square feet of children’s programming and conference room space.

Downtown Core