Ottawa. Chapter taken from Ulysses guide. Extrait de la publication

Transcription

1 Ottawa Chapter taken from Ulysses guide

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3 The Rideau Canal Upper Town Lower Town Along Sussex Drive Gatineau (Québec) Ottawa Getting There and Getting Around 5 Useful Information 6 Exploring 7 The Rideau Canal 7 Upper Town 9 Lower Town 16 Along Sussex Drive 19 Other Ottawa Attractions 20 Gatineau (Québec) 22 Outdoor Activities 24 Accommodations 26 Restaurants 31 Entertainment 37 Shopping 39 Index 43 ulyssesguides.com

4 Who would have thought, less than 200 years ago, that at the confluence of the Ottawa and Rideau rivers, in the heart of a dense forest, a city would develop that would one day become the capital of Canada? The history of Ottawa goes back to the days after the War of 1812, in which British forces in Canada were pitted against American troops. The war proved beneficial to the development of the Ottawa region, for it was during these difficult years that the English authorities recognized the importance of protecting the navigable waters of the St. Lawrence River between the newly built towns along the river, in particular between Montréal and Kingston. The St. Lawrence had become essential for troop transportation, defending the boats that used the river, however, was not a simple matter since much of the river straddled the Canadian-American border. A canal between the Ottawa River and Kingston that would bypass the St. Lawrence between the present-day cities of Ottawa and Kingston was proposed as a solution. In 1826, Colonel By was charged with carrying out the project. An early agricultural settlement established by Philemon Right had begun on the site of what is now Gatineau, on the Québec side of the Ontario-Québec border, at the beginning of the 19th century. The first settlers in the Ottawa region, on the Ontario side, were mostly Irish workers who built the canal. It took seven years to complete the canal; in 1832, a little village was built at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal. It was named Bytown, in honour of Colonel By. In 1855, Bytown was renamed Ottawa after a native tribe who had been decimated by the Iroquois in the 17th century. This same name had been given to the river that forms much of the boundary between Québec and Ontario. The town flourished, mostly because of the dense forest surrounding it; wood-cutting provided work for many people. Two very distinct areas developed on each side of the canal: the upper town, on the west side, where the more affluent inhabitants had sumptuous dwellings built, and the lower town, on the east side, which became home to the town s poorer residents, mostly French and Irish, both predominantly Catholic. After the War of 1812, the threat of an American attack disappeared, and contrary to the original plans for the canal, it never served in wartime. The waterway was instead used by pleasure-boaters enjoying fine summer days. In the middle of the 19th century, Kingston was named capital of Upper and Lower Canada, but its proximity to the United States worried the authorities, who feared eventual attacks on this important yet vulnerable colonial administrative centre. They sought another site for the capital, with Toronto, Québec City, Montréal and Ottawa all vying for the title. It was Queen Victoria who decided in favour of Ottawa in 1857 because of its location at the boundary between Upper and Lower Canada. Some observers at the time derided this choice, for they judged the site, set deep in the woods, to be inappropriate for a capital. But Ottawa became capital nevertheless; the British North America Act was signed in 1867, and the city has kept its title ever since. Ottawa ulyssesguides.com Forestry allowed the town and the surrounding region to prosper, but this industry fell into decline during the 20th century. At the same time, however, Ottawa s status as national capital attracted the burgeoning federal civil service, which became the principal local employer. A city plan was adopted at the turn of the 20th century to beautify the area. But it wasn t until 1937, when French architect and town planner Jacques Greber was appointed to develop a new layout for the city centre, that Ottawa was transformed and took on its current grand appearance. Today, the elegant buildings of Parliament Hill and the broad avenues lined with splendid Victorian dwellings bear witness to the success of this plan, which put Ottawa among the ranks of Canada s most beautiful cities.

5 The Odawa Ottawa was named after the Algonquians who used to live in the Ottawa Valley. The name apparently means to trade. This First Nations people lived off farming, hunting, fishing and trade, and used the Ottawa River as a route inland. Their economy, closely linked to that of the Huron people who lived on the shores of Georgian Bay, was greatly disrupted by the arrival of the first Europeans. When the Iroquois destroyed Huronia in 1649, the Odawa were forced to flee westward. They did not return to Ontario until about 20 years later, when they settled on Manitoulin Island and around the Great Lakes. Getting There and Getting Around By Plane Flights from major Canadian cities to Ottawa are frequent and reliable, but often expensive. Travellers leaving from Montréal might consider taking the train or the bus, which is sometimes faster (about a 2hr journey). From Europe, direct flights to Ottawa are rare; most stop first in either Montréal or Toronto. For information on the Ottawa Macdonald- Cartier International Airport, refer to page 35 in the Practical Information chapter. By Car An excellent system of highways and expressways makes Ottawa easy to reach from many points in Ontario and Québec. From Toronto, follow Highway 7, which crosses Peterborough and goes directly to Ottawa. It is also possible to drive along the St. Lawrence, taking Highway 401 to Prescott and, from there, Highway 16 to Ottawa. From Montréal, take Highway 40 and then Highway 417, and get off at the Nicholas Street exit to reach the downtown area. Car Rentals Many travel agencies have agreements with the major car rental companies (Avis, Budget, Hertz, etc.) and offer good value; contracts often include added bonuses (reduced ticket prices for shows, for example). Car Rental Companies: Avis 938 St. Laurent Blvd. p Budget 1551 Laperrière Ave. p Discount 1749 Bank St. p By Bus Extensive bus routes link most points in Canada, with various companies providing service throughout the country. Bus service to Ottawa from Montréal and Toronto is both rapid and punctual, and departures are frequent. Bus stations Ottawa 265 Catherine St. p Ottawa - Getting There and Getting Around ulyssesguides.com

6 Ottawa, ISBN (PDF version), is a chapter taken from Ulysses guide Ontario, ISBN (printed version), published and legally deposited in June Author: Pascale Couture Production Director: André Duchesne Copy Editing: Matthew McLauchlin Translator: Cindy Garayt Computer Graphics: Marie-France Denis, Pierre Ledoux Cartographer: Bradley Fenton This work was produced under the direction of Olivier Gougeon. Acknowledgements The author would like to thank Benoit Prieur for his assistance, as well as her children, Maxence and Alicia, for their patience and good cheer during the long trips. She would also like to thank Pierre David. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP) for our publishing activities. We would also like to thank the Government of Québec Tax credit for book publishing Administered by SODEC. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. 2009, Ulysses Travel Guides All rights reserved ISBN (PDF version)