Are you looking for things to do in Ottawa? A walk along the Rideau River is an opportunity to learn about the importance of the city and discover some of its attractions. You will have to solve challenges at each step to discover your next destination.
Walk from Rideau Falls Park to Green Island to Rideau Hall and the residence of the Prime Minister of Canada, passing some parks, mansions. You will have fun completing challenges.
Scavenger Hunt information :
- 24 Sussex Dr.
- Rideau Hall
- Rideau Falls
- Green Island
- Old City Hall
- Stanley Park
- a few embassies
- and several monuments
- Starting point: in the parking of the Rideau Falls park at 50 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1M 2K1
- Distance: 3.9 km / 2.4 mi
- Duration: 2 hours
- Method: walking
- Required: Fully charged smartphone with internet access (data plan) – Wifi will not be enough.
- Suggested:
- Water bottle
- Local map
History
Ottawa was founded in 1826 along the Rideau River for the construction of the Rideau Canal. In 1857, the site was chosen by Queen Victoria to host the new capital of the province of Canada (province of the British Empire at the time).
It is mainly because it resides on the border of Upper and Lower Canada, and resolves the conflict between the cities of Montreal, Toronto, Quebec, and Kingston that are vying for the permanent title.
In 1959, Ottawa became the capital of the Canadian Confederation, under the British Parliament and Monarchy. On July 1st, 1867, it became the capital of the sovereign country of Canada, which only has links to the British Monarchy, but no longer to the British Government. All of its principal federal institutions, including Parliament, the residences of the Governor-General (British Crown’s representative), and the Prime Minister of Canada is located there.
In 1916, a major fire burned down most of the parliament, except for the library which is located at the back. Reconstruction was completed in 1920.
Ottawa now has more than 900,000 inhabitants and is the fourth largest city in Canada. Its metropolitan area has more than 1.2 million inhabitants, spread over Ontario and Quebec. 34% of the population is bilingual (French and English) in Ottawa.
