Old Ottawa South
Old Ottawa South is a relatively small, compact neighbourhood in Capital Ward, between the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River. The area was first settled around 1814 and was tentatively called Rideauville after a bridge over the canal was built shortly after Confederation. Rideauville became a police village in 1905 and was annexed to Ottawa in 1907, and streetcar service reached the area around 1910. The 2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, counted 6,480 residents. The name 'Old' Ottawa South came into use in the 1990s to distinguish it from newer suburbs to the south.
The Old Ottawa South area has 1 neighbourhoods: and Old Ottawa South.
Updated · Facts on this page link to their sources
Patty’s Pub (49765818963). Photo: Ross Dunn, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 01Old Ottawa South
A compact neighbourhood between the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River, in Capital Ward.
Ottawa Neighbourhood Study area 'Old Ottawa South'; Wikipedia describes it as lying between the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River, from Bronson Avenue to Avenue Road.
Quick answers
Short answers first; each links to the full answer and its sources.
Is Old Ottawa South a good place to live?
Old Ottawa South suits people who want a compact, low-rise neighbourhood close to downtown. It sits about 3.7 km in a straight line from Parliament Hill, with a Bike Score of 96 and 72.5% owner households in the 2021 census. Whether it is right for you depends on your priorities, so check the facts on schools, transit and housing.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca en.wikipedia.org
Where is Old Ottawa South in Ottawa?
Old Ottawa South is an older urban neighbourhood in Capital Ward, between the Rideau Canal to the north and the Rideau River to the south. It is about 3.7 km in a straight line from Parliament Hill. Avenue Road is its eastern boundary and Bronson Avenue forms the western border of the residential area.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
What are homes like in Old Ottawa South?
Homes in Old Ottawa South are mostly low-rise. In the 2021 census, 51.1% of dwellings were single-detached, 12.7% semi-detached, 11.1% row houses and 17.4% apartments in buildings under five storeys. Wikipedia describes the architecture as mostly Craftsman, with many American Foursquare houses.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca en.wikipedia.org
Is Old Ottawa South walkable?
Old Ottawa South has an ONS neighbourhood-average Walk Score of 42 and a Bike Score of 96. In the 2021 census, 18.6% of workers walked to work, and the average resident has 12.4 transit stops within a 600 m walk.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Do more people rent or own in Old Ottawa South?
More households own than rent in Old Ottawa South. In the 2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, 72.5% of households were owners and 27.3% were renters.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
Which city ward is Old Ottawa South in?
Per City of Ottawa ward data, October 2026, Old Ottawa South is in Ward 17 (Capital), and the councillor is Shawn Menard. Wikipedia notes the neighbourhood is in the federal and provincial constituencies of Ottawa Centre.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca ottawa.ca