Old Ottawa South, Ottawa: 43 questions about living and buying here, answered | oldottawasouth.homes

Question 1

Is Old Ottawa South a good place to live?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

Where is Old Ottawa South in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

How far is Old Ottawa South from downtown Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Old Ottawa South is about 3.7 km from downtown Ottawa, measured in a straight line to Parliament Hill. Actual travel distance by road, bike or transit will be longer.

Question 4

What schools serve Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

City of Ottawa data lists 10 schools near Old Ottawa South: five OCDSB schools, one OCSB school and four independent schools. The closest is Hopewell Avenue Public School (OCDSB), about 0.2 km away in a straight line. Families must confirm the school for a specific address with each board's school locator.

Question 5

Are there French-language schools in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

The City of Ottawa school data used for this guide lists no French-language board schools among the 10 nearest to Old Ottawa South; the board schools listed are recorded as English. The independent Lycée Claudel is listed about 2.3 km away in a straight line, but the data does not record its language of instruction.

Question 6

Which high schools are near Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

The nearest secondary schools to Old Ottawa South are Blyth Academy The Glebe (independent, about 0.7 km), The Element (independent, about 1.0 km) and Glebe Collegiate Institute (OCDSB, about 1.5 km). All distances are straight-line from the neighbourhood's centre point.

Question 7

What are homes like in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

How much do homes cost in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

This guide does not publish a neighbourhood sale price for Old Ottawa South. The 2021 census median owner-estimated value of owned dwellings there was $900,000, which is what owners estimated their homes were worth in 2021, not a sale price. Citywide, OREB reported a single-family benchmark price of $705,100 and an average sale price of $685,640 for all homes in September 2026.

Question 9

Is Old Ottawa South on the O-Train?

Accepted Answer

Old Ottawa South is close to the O-Train's Line 2 but not on it. Carleton station is about 1.2 km from the neighbourhood centre and Mooney's Bay station about 1.7 km, both in a straight line.

Question 10

What is the nearest O-Train station to Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

The nearest O-Train station to Old Ottawa South is Carleton station on Line 2, about 1.2 km away in a straight line. Mooney's Bay station, also on Line 2, is about 1.7 km away.

Question 11

How do people in Old Ottawa South get to work?

Accepted Answer

In the 2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, 60.6% of workers in Old Ottawa South commuted by car, truck or van, 18.6% walked, 9.3% used public transit and 8.6% cycled. The study also reports that 58.4% of workers worked at home.

Question 12

What parks and trails are in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

City of Ottawa data lists nine parks in and around Old Ottawa South, including Brewer Park, Windsor Park Ottawa, Linda Thom Park, Brighton Beach Park, Osborne Park and Percy Taverner Park. Bellwood Parkette and Osborne Park are each about 0.3 km away in a straight line. Wikipedia notes the canal and river setting gives access to waterfront pathways.

Question 13

Where do people in Old Ottawa South buy groceries?

Accepted Answer

The nearest supermarket to Old Ottawa South in the mapping data is Cedars & Co. Food Market, about 0.4 km away in a straight line. Whole Foods Market and Walmart Supercentre are each about 0.8 km away, and Your Independent Grocer and Bulk Barn are also listed nearby.

Question 14

Is Old Ottawa South walkable?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 15

Is Old Ottawa South good for families?

Accepted Answer

Old Ottawa South has features many families look for. In the 2021 census, 16.3% of residents were aged 0-14 and the average household size was 2.6. Hopewell Avenue Public School is about 0.2 km away in a straight line, and several parks are within about 0.3-0.4 km.

Question 16

Do more people rent or own in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 17

Which city ward is Old Ottawa South in?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 18

What is the nearest hospital to Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

The nearest hospital to Old Ottawa South in City of Ottawa data is the Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus, about 1.4 km away in a straight line.

Question 19

What is the history of Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Old Ottawa South was settled around 1814 and grew rapidly after the turn of the 20th century. It was incorporated as the police village of Rideauville in 1905 and annexed to Ottawa in 1907. Streetcar service reached the area around 1910, and the neighbourhood developed as a streetcar suburb.

Question 20

Is Old Ottawa South French-speaking?

Accepted Answer

Old Ottawa South is mostly not a French-speaking area by home language. In the 2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, French was the language most spoken at home for 6.0% of residents.

Question 21

What is Old Ottawa South like?

Accepted Answer

Old Ottawa South is a compact, mostly low-rise neighbourhood between the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River. It had 6,480 residents in the 2021 census, with 72.5% owner households and a median age of 41.6. Bank Street is its local commercial corridor, and its early-1900s houses reflect its streetcar-suburb origins.

Question 22

Are there rinks in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

City of Ottawa data used for this guide counts four rinks in or near Old Ottawa South. Brewer Park Arena is the nearest recreation facility of that kind listed, about 0.6 km away in a straight line.

Question 23

Is there a pool or rec centre near Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Yes. City of Ottawa data lists the Ottawa South Community Centre about 0.4 km from Old Ottawa South, Brewer Park Arena about 0.6 km away, and a pool at Brewer Park, all straight-line distances.

Question 24

Is there a library near Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Ottawa Public Library Sunnyside Branch is about 0.4 km from Old Ottawa South, measured in a straight line.

Question 25

How much tree canopy does Old Ottawa South have?

Accepted Answer

Tree canopy covered 30.2% of Old Ottawa South in 2024, according to the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.

Question 26

What is the age profile of Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

In the 2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, the median age in Old Ottawa South was 41.6. Children aged 0-14 made up 16.3% of residents and seniors aged 65 and over made up 15.5%.

Question 27

How many people live in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Old Ottawa South had 6,480 residents and 2,650 private dwellings in the 2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study. Wikipedia cites a 2016 census population of 6,348.

Question 28

Is Old Ottawa South bikeable?

Accepted Answer

Old Ottawa South has an ONS neighbourhood-average Bike Score of 96. In the 2021 census, 8.6% of workers there commuted by bike.

Question 29

What bus and Transitway stations are near Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Transitway stations near Old Ottawa South include Billings Bridge (about 1.0 km), Pleasant Park (about 1.1 km), Riverside (about 1.3 km), Heron (about 1.5 km) and Smyth (about 1.7 km), all in a straight line from the neighbourhood centre. ONS reports an average of 12.4 transit stops within a 600 m walk.

Question 30

How many people in Old Ottawa South work from home?

Accepted Answer

In the 2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, 58.4% of workers aged 15 and over in Old Ottawa South worked at home.

Question 31

What elementary schools are near Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

The nearest elementary schools to Old Ottawa South are Hopewell Avenue Public School (OCDSB, about 0.2 km), Mutchmor Public School (OCDSB, 1.1 km), Corpus Christi School (OCSB, 1.2 km), Glebe Montessori School (independent, 1.4 km) and First Avenue Public School (OCDSB, 1.6 km). All distances are straight-line.

Question 32

Are there independent schools near Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Yes. City of Ottawa data lists four independent schools near Old Ottawa South: Blyth Academy The Glebe (about 0.7 km), The Element (about 1.0 km), Glebe Montessori School (about 1.4 km) and Lycée Claudel (about 2.3 km), all in a straight line.

Question 33

Why is it called Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Old Ottawa South used to be known simply as Ottawa South. The 'Old' came into use in the 1990s to distinguish the community from newer suburban developments in the south of Ottawa.

Question 34

What is the Mayfair Theatre in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

The Mayfair Theatre is a cinema on Bank Street in Old Ottawa South. It opened in 1932 and is a notable example of Spanish Revival atmospheric cinema architecture. It was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 2008.

Question 35

What shops are on Bank Street in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Bank Street is Old Ottawa South's local commercial corridor, with independent businesses and cultural venues such as the Mayfair Theatre. According to Wikipedia, this section of Bank Street is well known for its antique stores, and there are some Lebanese stores towards the southern end.

Question 36

Are there apartment buildings in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Old Ottawa South has some low-rise apartments but no high-rise buildings in the census data. In 2021, 17.4% of dwellings were apartments in buildings under five storeys and 0.0% were in buildings of five or more storeys.

Question 37

Are there heritage buildings in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Around 300 residences and institutional buildings in Old Ottawa South are on Ottawa's heritage reference list, an inventory of sites potentially considered for legal protection. Notable buildings include Hopewell Avenue Public School, the Mayfair Theatre and Southminster Church.

Question 38

Who has lived in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Notable past residents of Old Ottawa South named by Wikipedia include former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson, who lived there for nearly two decades before moving away in 2004, and politician Paul Hellyer, who lived near Brighton Beach. Public servant Samuel T. Bastedo lived at 692 Echo Drive from 1913 until his death in 1927.

Question 39

What is the Ottawa housing market doing right now?

Accepted Answer

OREB's report for September 2026 shows a softer citywide market. The single-family benchmark price was $705,100, nearly unchanged from September 2025, and 1,010 homes sold, down 6.6% from a year earlier. These figures cover all of Ottawa, not Old Ottawa South.

Question 40

How long do homes take to sell in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

In September 2026, the median days on market for Ottawa homes was 27, up from 22 days in September 2025, according to OREB. The sale-to-list price ratio was 97.5%, compared with 98.1% a year earlier.

Question 41

What are the boundaries of Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Wikipedia describes Old Ottawa South as lying between the Rideau Canal to the north and the Rideau River to the south. Avenue Road is the eastern boundary and Bronson Avenue forms the western border of the residential neighbourhood.

Question 42

Is Carleton University in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

Carleton University lies on the western side of Bronson Avenue, outside the residential part of Old Ottawa South. Wikipedia says the campus can be considered geographically within the neighbourhood, since it is also between the river and the canal.

Question 43

What is The OSCAR in Old Ottawa South?

Accepted Answer

The OSCAR is the community newspaper of Old Ottawa South; the name stands for Ottawa South Community Association Review. The Ottawa South History Project, an amateur-run historical society founded in 2007, regularly publishes in it.

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