About Ottawa

Ottawa, Ontario — Canada’s capital city — is a beautiful, modern, bilingual, and safe city with national museums, an active musical and artistic scene, three universities (Carleton University, University of Ottawa, and Saint-Paul University), and excellent libraries.

Ottawa is located on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation. Its name “Ottawa” derives from the Algonquin word adawe, meaning “to trade.” Ottawa had its first European settlement in 1800 as a lumber town called Bytown; with the construction of the Rideau Canal, the city grew, and in 1854 Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the capital of Canada. 

Parliament Hill 

With a metro population of about 1.3 million, Ottawa is bustling all year round with many festivals, events, and cultural activities. A lively city, built around Parliament Hill, Ottawa has several pedestrian streets, many world-class restaurants, shopping areas, and markets such as the ByWard market.

Parliament Hill

The capital city is nestled in a beautiful landscape with many outdoor spaces, nearby countryside and forests, two majestic rivers, and the Rideau Canal — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Major museums and cultural institutions located in Ottawa or just across the river in Gatineau, Québec, are the Canadian Museum of History, National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canada Science and Technology Museum, Ottawa Art Gallery, National Arts Centre, and the new building hosting the Ottawa Public Library–Library and Archives Canada joint facility. 

Canadian Museum of History

The secure OC Transpo light rail and bus network are an efficient and affordable system. A station located at Carleton University links the venue with the downtown area, museums, and other surrounding areas.

Weather in Ottawa

August weather in Ottawa is typically warm with daytime highs of about 26 degrees Celsius and lows of about 16 degrees. It can be humid in Ottawa in August with average relative humidity in August is 81% with periods of light rain to be expected. 

Please reach out us at hi-bonjour@ibbycongress2026.org or to Ottawa Tourism with questions about visiting Ottawa.