Kar Discover: July 2025

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Canada Ottawa Is In My Heart

1.6 Arrival; Kanata Saturday July 26, 2025

1.6 Arrival

When I was studying computers at the University of Waterloo and working in Toronto, Ontario more than 40 years ago, I used to visit my relatives in Ottawa quite often. This time, I returned to Ottawa to pay a special visit to my cousin Him and his family there.

On Thursday 20 March 2025, I took Air Canada to fly directly from Vancouver at 9:15am to Toronto at 4:41pm. Upon arrival on time in Toronto, my best friend Andy picked me up for dinner together and then I took MEGABUS at Union Station Bus Terminal at 11:30pm to Ottawa at St Laurent Station at 5:05am next day. I arrived in Ottawa on time. Him and his son Abdullah picked me up at the bus station in Ottawa and drove me to their apartment in Kanata for staying.

❤ Home sweet home of My Cousin Him and his son Abdullah

Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core of the Ottawa–Gatineau census metropolitan area (CMA) and the National Capital Region (NCR). As of 2021, Ottawa had a city population of 1,017,449 and a metropolitan population of 1,488,307, making it the fourth-largest city and fourth-largest metropolitan area in Canada.

Ottawa is the political centre of Canada and the headquarters of the federal government. The city houses numerous foreign embassies, key buildings, organizations, and institutions of Canada's government; these include the Parliament of Canada, the Supreme Court, the residence of Canada's viceroy, and Office of the Prime Minister.

The city name Ottawa was chosen in 1855 in reference to the Ottawa River, whose name is itself derived from the Algonquin adawe, meaning "to trade." In modern Algonquin, the city is known as Odàwàg.

Neighbourhoods

Ottawa is divided into 14 neighbourhoods:

Kanata, Stittsville, Ottawa West, Nepean, Barrhaven, Ottawa West Centretown, Ottawa South, Ottawa East, Ottawa Central, Ottawa West, Orleans, Rural Ottawa East and Rural Ottawa West, Rural Ottawa South and Rural Ottawa South West.

This trip, I visited only 7 major neighbourhoods:

1. Kanata

2. Ottawa West

3. Ottawa West Centretown

4. Ottawa East

5. Ottawa Central

6. Ottawa South

7. Orleans

Rapid Transit Network

OC Transpo’s transit network

OC Transpo’s transit network spans 420 km², includes three O-Train lines, 59 transit stations, over 100 bus routes, 28 Park & Ride lots, and nearly 5,800 bus stops.

1.6 Kanata

Kanata remained mainly agricultural until the 1960s when it became the site of heavy development. The community grew rapidly due to the influx of hi-tech workers looking to capitalize on the new economic opportunities. The Province of Ontario incorporated Kanata as a city in 1978. The new city's area was formed out of March Township as well as portions of Goulbourn Township and Nepean. The name "Kanata" was chosen in a referendum, defeating "Hazeldean", "March" and "Kairnwood". Kanata remained a city until 2001, when the province created a new (amalgamated) City of Ottawa that included the City of Kanata (pop. 59,700).

Kanata is a large, fast-growing suburb known for its high-tech business parks and the Canadian Tire Centre arena, where the Ottawa Senators pro hockey team plays. There are several big shopping complexes, including the Tanger Outlets mall and open-air Kanata Centrum Shopping Centre. Small parks and playgrounds dot the area, while vast South March Highlands Conservation Forest has walking and mountain biking trails.

Canadian Tire Centre arena
1000 Palladium Dr, Ottawa, ON K2V 1A4

https://www.canadiantirecentre.com/

Canadian Tire Centre is a multi-purpose arena in the suburb of Kanata in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It opened in January 1996 as the Palladium and was also known as Corel Centre from 1996 to 2006 and Scotiabank Place from 2006 to 2013.

Tanger Outlets mall
8555 Campeau Dr, Ottawa, ON K2T 0K5
https://www.tanger.com/ottawa

Shopping-mall chain featuring a variety of brand-name & designer outlet stores.

Kanata Entertainment Centrum
745 Kanata Ave., Kanata, ON K2T 1H8
http://entertainmentcentrumkanata.com/

Kanata Entertainment Centrum is eastern Ontario’s largest outdoor entertainment centre.
This amazing centre offers over 300,000 square feet of shopping, entertainment, dining and more!
With ample parking and over 60 stores to choose from, there is truly something fun for everyone at Kanata Entertainment Centrum. From family-style casual dining to romantic dinners, celebrate every occasion.