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Distinguished by an abundance of recreational and cultural activities, today Ottawa is being recognized for its dynamic and energetic atmosphere. A renowned international Swiss study has ranked Ottawa as the sixth best city in the world in terms of its quality of life. Population Ottawa-Hull region has a rapidly growing population of about 1.17 million people. Ottawa is the fourth largest metropolitan area in Canada. It is ethnically and lingually well-diverse. More than 25% of the region's residents consider French as their mother tongue, although a significant portion of them also speaks English. Arabic is third most spoken language in Ottawa, after English and French, followed by Chinese, Italian, Spanish, German, and Polish, respectively. Ottawa is one of the most popular destination for the highly-educated immigrants who are engineers, scientists or computer professionals, attracted to the abundance of employment opportunities in the hi-tech sector, prosperous economy and reasonable cost of living. Climate Ottawa has distinct seasons with relatively cold winters and hot summers, especially in July and August. Weather in Ottawa: please click here Business and Economy Due to its position as the capital of Canada and seat of the federal government, Ottawa has traditionally enjoyed a stable economy and significant growth. This, in turn, has fostered a supportive business environment for the region's commercial, industrial, retail, hospitality and government-related industries. Over the years, the region's economy has become more diversified to include a thriving and dynamic community of private-sector firms. The Ottawa area serves as headquarters for many national corporations, especially in the field of advanced technology. Widely known as "Silicon Valley North", the Ottawa area is home to more than 1000 companies specializing in advanced technology, with the new start-ups swelling by 20 per cent a year, employing over 70,000 advanced-technology professionals. In particular, Ottawa is a centre for advanced research and development in the fields of telecommunications, software, space science and environmental technology. In fact, 75 per cent of all telecommunications research and development in Canada is conducted in Ottawa, making this one of the world's top five sites for this type of highly specialized work. Moreover, more than 18,000 residents work in the health and life-sciences fields, boosting the region's national and international stature in this area. Tourism also plays a significant role, contributing annually in excess of $1 billion into Ottawa's economy and employing 20,000 people. Almost six million people, including business travellers, visit Ottawa region annually, spending more than $840 million per year. In terms of national associations, more than 1,000 of them operate in this region, with some 350 of them headquartered there. The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper, has ranked the Ottawa area as one of the top five business centres in Canada. And with a regional economy worth $32 billion, the National Capital -- only a day's drive from a market of 100 million people -- has clearly thrived as a vibrant place for business. Today, Ottawa boasts over 25,000 business firms (Canada's highest percentage increase in the number of top 500 companies) and several national and international venture capital firms. The number of publicly-traded companies with head offices in Ottawa has doubled in the past five years. Half of the patents issued in Ontario go to Ottawa area firms. The Ottawa Region has one of the most highly educated and skilled workforces in Canada, with a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, Ottawa prides itself for having the highest percentage of university educated people among Canadian cities. Furthermore, more than four in 10 workers in Ottawa occupy managerial and professional positions. Educational Institutions Due to the bilingual nature of the region, Ottawa offers numerous educational options. The University of Ottawa is Canada's largest bilingual university in Canada, where students have the option of attending classes taught in either English or French. While Carleton University, Saint Paul University and the University of Quebec (Hull) excel in many academic fields. Two colleges are located in Ontario side of the region, Algonquin College and La Cite Collegiale. Similarly, another 2 colleges lie in Quebec's side, College de l'Outaouais and Heritage College. Income & Cost of living In 1998, the average household (family) income in Ottawa-Hull Region was C$61,930, the highest among Canadian cities, surpassing even Toronto. The average selling price of houses/condominiums in Ontario`s side of Ottawa Region was approximately C$147,295 in 1999, compared to only C$82,802 in Quebec's side. Apartment rents in Ontario`s side are as follows: (a) Bachelor apartments: C$500-$750, (b) One-bedroom apartments: C$600-$900, (c) Two-bedroom apartments: C$700-$1000, (d) Three-bedroom apartments: C$ 800- $1100. Apartment rents in Quebec`s side are significantly lower. Be aware that the vacancy rate of Ottawa apartments is currently 0.7% , one of the lowest in Canada.
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