History of Ottawa

Ottawa has a long history as a home for many different peoples. Because it is situated on the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers and has rich soils, it is a perfect situation for settlement.

Family of European settlers

Ottawa’s First Peoples and European Explorers

There are archaeological signs of settlements in Ottawa from the last ice age. Native peoples with complex societies and distinctive ways of life made their homes in the area, living off the land.

By the 1600s, French explorers started to arrive from Europe. The most famous of these European explorers are Etienne Brulé and Samuel de Champlain. They came to the Ottawa region seeking a route to reach Asia. Though no route to Asia was found, many European explorers, fur traders and settlers eventually followed over the course of Ottawa’s history, creating the place we know now. The Ottawa area was significant because the Ottawa River is the most important tributary river of the St. Lawrence River system; it was the route used to access the interior of the continent. While the Ottawa River remained important, settlement around Ottawa faded after the initial exploration. The native people of the area suffered greatly from small pox brought by the Europeans and also from warfare over the fur trade.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is a vibrant and exciting place in which to learn more about the history of Canada’s First Nations, the explorers and the fur traders.

Sun setting on the Rideau Canal locks

Canal Construction

Permanent European settlement came to Ottawa in 1826. Lieutenant-Colonel John By, RE, arrived in the Ottawa area to supervise the construction of the Rideau Canal, which was to connect a series of natural waterways between Kingston and the Ottawa River. This new waterway would form a useful, military supply route between Ottawa and Kingston in case of an attack from the United States. In order to support the soldiers, engineers, builders and all those working on the canal, a large settlement grew in Ottawa around the building works. Sponsored immigration from the British government brought many Irish immigrants (both Catholic and Protestant) to Ottawa, as well as many French Canadians, who came from Quebec. It was these settlers who worked the Canal and provided services to the growing community. Originally laid out by Lieutenant-Colonel John By, the town was now established and took on the name of Bytown.

The Rideau Canal is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its historical importance. It is the best preserved example of North American canal building and still has many of the original structures in place. You can walk along the banks of the canal, watch the locks in action and take a boat ride on the water. You can learn more about the history of Bytown and the Canal at the Bytown Museum.

National War Memorial at Confederation Square

Bytown becomes Ottawa

Once the canal construction was finished in 1832, many of the people who had settled in Ottawa remained. There was a thriving and fast-growing timber trade in the Gatineau-Hull area, just across the Ottawa River, so many of the residents of Ottawa took on jobs supporting this important lumber industry. Because the community continued to grow, Bytown was incorporated as a town in 1850 and later became a city in 1855, when it was renamed ‘Ottawa’.

Peace tower at Parliament Hill

Canada’s Capital

In 1857 on February 10, the relatively young city of Ottawa was officially chosen to be the capital of the United Province of Canada, a new territory comprising Upper and Lower Canada, which in today’s terms represents the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

It was Queen Victoria who chose Ottawa as Canada’s capital city. Kingston, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City were also candidates, but Ottawa was chosen because it had the largest number of advantages, as stated in the official despatch that was sent to the Governor General of Canada on the December 31, 1857. These advantages included militarily defensible position, its distance from the American border, both for distance from influence and in case of attack; its position in case of the westward expansion of Canada; and its potential for economic growth.

Ottawa’s most important advantage was its ability to unite Upper and Lower Canada. Ottawa was seen as the compromise between the two provinces that had very different characters. Ottawa was on the border between Upper and Lower Canada and is connected to Montreal, Toronto and Kingston by water. At the time, its population was a mix of English, French and Irish peoples and it was hoped that Ottawa would balance between what were already the very multicultural regions of Canada. The choice of Ottawa reflected the very Canadian values of inclusiveness and compromise that are still so valued.

To provide infrastructure befitting a capital, building began on the Parliament buildings in 1859. The land that had once been Barrack Hill, housing Colonel John By’s soldiers, became Parliament Hill. The gothic buildings, which resemble Westminster Houses of Parliament in London, were finished in 1866. (Though the Library of Parliament was not completed until 1876.) The government of the Province of Canada sat for a single session only because, on July 1, 1867, Canada became a federation. Ottawa was confirmed as the country’s capital and the government convened on Parliament Hill.

Parliament Hill is still the seat of government and is also a major landmark in the Ottawa cityscape.

Fire in the Centre Block of the Parliament buildings.

The Great Fire

Ottawa continued to grow and evolve into its new role as Canada’s Capital, despite some set backs. In 1900, The Great Fire, which started in the chimney of a house in what is now Gatineau, quickly spread to the timber yards and across the river to Ottawa. Much of the city was destroyed.

In 1916, another fire burnt down the Centre Block of the Parliament buildings, leaving only the Library of Parliament, which visitors can still see. The main reconstruction was completed in 1922, while work on the Peace Tower continued until 1927.

Despite these tragedies, Ottawa continued to thrive and to become a place of importance for Canadians.

Men walking on the Rideau Canal walkways

Jacques Gréber’s Master Plan for Ottawa

After World War II, a new plan was created for Ottawa. As requested by then Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, French architect Jacques Gréber was hired to create a master plan for the city of Ottawa and also the city of Hull — together known as the National Capital Area. He recommended creating a beautiful city that incorporated a lot of greenery with scenic parks, drives and wooded areas. This plan, as well as many other contributions, has helped to form the Ottawa you see today. Visitors and residents now enjoy many parks and green spaces that are maintained beautifully throughout the city.

The parks, footpaths and green spaces are what make Ottawa such a beautiful and relaxing city to visit. Visitors and residents alike enjoy walks around its scenic areas.

The Diefenbunker.

Ottawa and the Cold War

During the Cold War era, the Canadian Government in Ottawa had to consider what would happen in case of a nuclear bomb attack and the resulting radiation. During the 1960s a top secret bunker that was designed to withstand radiation was built to protect the government and house top officials. It included living quarters, government rooms, radio broadcasting equipment, cryptographic areas and other essential services.

Visitors can now see this once-secret piece of Canada’s Cold War history. The Diefenbunker is now a museum open to the public and well worth a visit to experience cold war history.

Elgin Street and Confederation Square at night.

Ottawa Today

Today, Ottawa is a source of pride for Canadians and is a wonderful place for to visit. It is a multicultural and busy urban centre that still maintains the green and scenic character recommended by Jacques Gréber many years ago. It is an exciting and dynamic place for residents and visitors alike.

Additional Information

For more information about the history of Ottawa, please refer to the following websites:

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