Although it is the fourth largest city in Canada and considered to be a political and technological center, what is perhaps most appealing is it’s high ranking  on the quality of life index.  Wikipedia says Ottawa…”ranks 2^nd out of 150 in the Numbeo quality of life index, and 14^th out of 221 in the Mercer Quality of Living Survey.” (Numbeo is a database which provides information on world living conditions.  The Mercer survey measures the quality of life in a total of 221 cities.)

The factors considered in determining the quality of life of a city include the cost of living, housing indicators, health care, traffic, crime and pollution.

In 2013  the Police Services Board reported Ottawa was considered to be one of the safest cities in Canada, and it also has a healthcare system that is one of the most highly regarded in the world, because of quality institutions such as The Ottawa Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Queensway-Carleton Hospital, and Montfort Hospital.  The Royal Ottawa Hospital provides specialty mental care.

In addition to that the North American Sustainable Cities Scoreboard ranks Ottawa No. 1 for Environmental Quality. It’s a city where you can connect with green-minded people through organizations like “Green Ottawa”, which calls itself the gateway to a green, sustainable Ottawa.

 February 2015 stats indicate you can get a Big Mac Meal for $8.00, 2 liters of CocaCola for  $2.26, one month of utilities for $126.00, 4 rolls of toilet paper for $3.18, a tube of toothpaste for $2.56, and a cappuccino for $3.60.

Ottawa is also known for having top notch academic institutions, world class research centers, major international companies, and the city and the countryside are considered to be beautiful.

Academic institutions include Algonquin College, Carleton University, La Cite Collegiale, University of Ottawa, Dominican University College, and Saint Paul University.

Major employers include the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Royal Canadian Mint, (which produces coins and coinage for 57 countries), MDS Nordion, Inc., a health care company, Lockheed Martin Canada, and General Dynamics Canada, the country’s largest defense contractor.

Ottawa also boasts the CHEO Research Institute, which sponsored a $60 million national research network for innovative cancer treatment, and the Human Rights Research and Education Center, which has developed international research and education programs  for such countries as Zimbabwe, Brazil, Sri Lanka, China, Thailand, El Salvador, Kosovo, India and Indonesia.

The city is also becoming more and more diverse.  It boasts Chinatown, Little Italy, and where once it was known for occupants speaking English and French, it now includes Arabic, Chinese, Spanish and Italian.

No wonder Ottawa is  developing a great reputation for attracting newcomers.

The post WHAT MAY SURPRISE YOU ABOUT OTTAWA appeared first on A Moms Review.

People of different walks of life congregate here and find persons of similar interests. The horizon is full of social places, quiet scenes and a few faces that will hopefully become familiar to you. So while you consider how to best spend some leisure time, it will benefit you to consider the below activities for fun and relaxation. It’s what we in Ottawa do best.

The National Gallery of Canada

At the National Gallery of Canada, visitors get an up close and personal look at original Tom Thomson wilderness sketches among renown contemporary artists. Inuit sculptures are available in what is the world most prestigious collection of Canadian art. The gallery currently has a collection of roughly 40,000 works of art that can be seen by visitors.

The visual and intellectual displays are great for all ages and interests. There is no limit to who will enjoy this experience. The Canadian and international scenes are captured at the National Gallery of Canada with its impressive Contemporary Collection of over 3,000 items. Throughout an entire year, over 300 individual pieces will be purchased or given as gifts to the gallery. This is a memorable place sure to bring about unforgettable moments of a lifetime.

The Peace Tower

What stands today as the Peace Tower was once the 55 metre Victoria Tower. That older structure was burnt to the ground in 1916 with the majority of neighboring buildings, and the only survivor was the Library of Parliament. Today, the Peace Tower is a clock tower with a bell inside and is surrounded by the Canadian Parliament buildings.

Ottawa is truly a place of culture. The tower, designed by Jean Omer Marchand and John A. Pearson, includes stone carvings of roughly 370 different gargoyles. These figurines are in theme with the Victorian High Gothic appearance of the building’s architectural complex.

Ottawa’s ByWard Market

Imagine craft merchants, artisans and farmers hosting a fun public market in none other than Ottawa. These participants will be selling specialities you’re not likely to find elsewhere. It is all a walk from Parliament Hill. The market was started by Lieutenant-Colonel John By during the year of 1826 and has been running since.

Warms days at the market are great for lounging in chairs and enjoying café while the world moves around you in a lively manner. Exciting annual events occurs at the market and include the ByWard Market Mardi Gras, Tastes of ByWard or even the Winterlude Stew Cook-Off. So come join in on the fun of Ottawa city, Canada.

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