What are the most family-friendly neighbourhoods in Ottawa?

There are plenty of neighbourhoods in Ottawa, and each has their own unique charm.

Some of them are much better for raising a family than others, but each has its own pros and cons. There is no perfect neighbourhood for children - and it is also highly dependent on how you want to raise yours!

Let’s get into some of the top-rated family neighbourhoods and what they have to offer - but please remember, any neighbourhood can be great for kids with the right boundaries in place! 

The Glebe

If you have a downtown job, commute by bus, or like the business of the city, The Glebe is a great middle-ground for raising your kids. 

The Glebe is a tight-knit community - they even have their own newspaper and website!

That being said, this neighbourhood is focused around Bank Street - a busy area with restaurants, nightclubs, and plenty of shopping. On the evenings and weekends, this can be a busy area that isn’t safe for children to roam around alone. But during the days and especially the summer, it can also be filled with fun festivals and activities for children!

The area has plenty of schools, large family homes, daycares, and parks. The parks are most often large green spaces, and not generally kid-centric, but they feature a ton of space for kids to run around and just be kids. 

Barrhaven

If you’ve asked anyone from Ottawa the best place to raise a family, you’ve surely heard Barrhaven come up. This highly residential neighbourhood is essentially all houses, shopping, and schools. There are tons of walking trails, parks, cycling trails, and more. 

This is a great neighbourhood for a family-friendly atmosphere that doesn’t entice a lot of students or busy weekend nights. 

It is quite far from downtown but well makes up for that with all the available options for your children to participate in organized activities and meet friends. Some of the community centres include the Minto Recreation Complex, which has been highlighted for having one of the top 10 best indoor pools in Canada! It has two NHL-sized ice rinks, a gym, dance classes, HIIT classes, and more!

Orleans

Orleans is a family-focused area surrounded by large green spaces. It is about 30 minutes from downtown. It has a ton of schools in all boards, as well as a large number of community centres for your child’s entertainment and programming! You can visit pools (including an indoor wave pool!), gyms, soccer, ice rinks, and plenty of parks. The community centre features a great amount of programming including camps, exercise, and learning opportunities. Orleans is also a highly French area if your family speaks French, or if you are interested in learning it!

Kanata

Kanata is another suburb relatively close to the city - right off the highway, making commuting easy. Public transit to and from the city is also readily available, although there are plenty of places to work in Kanata if you are looking to work close to home! A lot of Kanata is newly built, and in some places, still under construction, and the new builds are primarily family homes. There are more than 40 parks in Kanata, as well as amazing schools and daycares all across the neighbourhood. The community centre offers camps and programming, as well as drop-in activities, sports, and more. Most people who live in Kanata are families, so there will be plenty of kids in the neighbourhood to befriend your children!

Alta Vista

Alta Vista is another family-focused neighbourhood that was built to be just that. It has a ton of schools, churches, parks, and community centres. It’s typical here to know your neighbours, and basically everyone on your street! If you’re looking for a close-knit community focused on family - this is the place for you!

Hunt Club

Hunt Club is filled with large family homes, parks, and more. It is set farther back from downtown, and you will most likely need a car if you want to commute into the city or visit with your children.

Hunt Club is right near the airport and is a diverse neighbourhood that houses all types of families - from cooperative housing to luxurious homes. There is something for everyone here!

Stittsville

Stittsville is another amazing suburb filled with families. Stittsville has two amazing recreation complexes. CARDELREC offers swimming, pickleball, badminton, a weight room, dance classes, and yoga, a well as an indoor arena! This neighbourhood is especially great if you have children interested in hockey, as it is super close to the Canadian Tire Centre where exciting games are always taking place, and there are multiple rinks for practice in the area!

Rockcliffe Park

Rockcliffe Park is a higher-income family neighbourhood just steps from downtown. There are two highly rated private schools in the area and plenty of large family homes. Rockcliffe Park has a community centre with amazing amenities. The community also has a residents association and community council to advocate for the community and organize events for the residents as well as rules and regulations to keep the community safe. It borders onto the Ottawa River with plenty of parks along the water to enjoy the scenic views and for your children to spend time outdoors.