A Guide to South Ottawa Living

You don’t need to live in the downtown core to experience all the good things Ottawa has to offer. South of where the Rideau River turns to join up the Rideau Canal, you’ll find a wide mix of everything you’d expect from a big city – lots of shopping, museums, and plenty of greenspace. Whether you’re living on Hunt Club or Prince of Wales, near South Keys or Mooney’s Bay, South Ottawa is a great place to live.

Paramount Properties has four apartment complexes in South Ottawa – Prince of Wales Complex, Riverbank Apartments, Windsor Park Village and Villa Vista Apartments.

Transportation

Looking at the map, it might seem like getting downtown from South Ottawa might be a bit of a chore. However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth! OC Transpo provides several direct links to from the south end to the rest of the city. Route 97, which goes along the Transitway from Bayshore in the west end, through downtown and finally all the way to the Ottawa International Airport in the south, runs until well past 2 a.m. every night. As well, the O-Train can take you from Greenboro station all the way to Bayview station in about 10 minutes, or to Carleton University in about five minutes!

Major Shopping Centres

South Keys Shopping Centre is one of the largest in Ottawa, with a vast selection of retail stores (including Wal-Mart, Chapters, Future Shop and Staples) and restaurants (such as Denny’s, Outback, Montana’s and Kelsey’s). When you’re done shopping, you can also catch a movie at the 12-screen South Keys Cineplex Odeon.

Billings Bridge Plaza is Ottawa’s oldest shopping centre. Shop at the wide variety of stores  (including LCBO, Zellers, Reitmans and Grand & Toy), then stop for lunch at the food court.

Both South Keys and Billings Bridge are conveniently located along the Transitway, providing for easy access from any part of the city. As well, other major retail outlets can be found all along Bank Street South.

Schools

Paramount’s apartments in South Ottawa are perfect for students going to Carleton University, as our Prince of Wales Complex and Riverbank Apartments are just a short walk from campus. For those with young families, South Ottawa also has 19 public elementary schools, 12 Catholic elementary schools, 3 public high schools and 2 Catholic high schools.

Museums and Art Centres

If you’re looking for some culture, you can’t beat the Billings Estate Museum (2100 Cabot Street). A National Historic Site and Ottawa’s oldest wood-framed house, Billings Estate lets you trace the story of Ottawa’s beginnings.

The Canadian Agriculture Museum, located on Prince of Wales Drive, showcases Canada’s – and Ottawa’s – unique agriculture heritage (Ottawa is the only world capital that has a working farm at its heart!)

For art lovers, be sure to check out the Carleton University Art Gallery (1125 Colonel By Drive).

Other Attractions

Mooney’s Bay has something for everybody, all year round. Enjoy swimming, playing volleyball and lounging on the beach in the summer. In the winter, the Terry Fox Athletic Facility has 5 km of groomed trails for cross-country skiing.

Or, if the sights and sounds of the casino are more up your alley, head down to the slots at the Rideau Carleton Raceway (4837 Albion Road).

These are just some of the perks to living in South Ottawa. Explore your neighbourhood today and discover everything Ottawa has to offer!