Five Remarkable Ottawa Differences in Real Estate

Posted on February 20, 2008 
Filed Under Moving to Ottawa, Valerie Zinger

Here are five things that people moving here have noticed as different.

Brick Houses.   Especially if you come from Newfoundland and the west, you will notice that Ottawa builders have made liberal use of bricks in construction.  Oh, you will find stucco somewhere and you will find clapboard and siding but brick has been the historical material of choice.  When you live here you will learn never to paint exterior brick and to expect to have to re-point brick every few decades.

2 Licence Plates - The Ministry of Transport did not issue you a plate and a spare.  You, by law, are expected to install both - one on the front and the other on the back of the car.  It was a bit of surprise, when my front plate went missing (okay, I snapped it right off the car when I scraped the curb while parking), that I was expected to go to the Motor Vehicle Branch and get another plate - at a cost.   It is now $20.00.  If you have vanity plates, it is $94.20.

Brown Paper Bags - For the first week I was in Ottawa, I noticed several people walking around the streets holding small brown paper bags.  My experience in Winnipeg led me to think that these held a mickey of some type of booze.  I first suspected an error in judgement when I noticed that there were more and better dressed drunks in Ottawa than in Winnipeg.  Surprise!  Those bags held hot, greasy, wonderful french fries from one of several Ottawa Chip Wagons.  Here is a photo from Flickr of my favourite chip wagon at the corner of Bank and Lisgar. 

Taking the Bus.  While there is public transportation in all the major cities, the use of public transportation by the government sector is impressive.  Buses coming to the downtown area are full of public servants, from Assistant Deputy Ministers on through the various organizations.  I have never seen a Deputy Minister on the bus - they have cars and drivers.  In the west, it is a sign of hitting upon economic hard times if you take the bus.  The people in Toronto and Montreal sneer at our public transportation system but Ottawa users find it reasonably good.  Certainly, reading your BB mail or briefing materials on the trip out to Kanata is better than driving your car on the 417 in rush hour traffic.

Canada Day.  Ottawa is the nation’s capital and Canada Day is wonderful.  Everyone goes to Parliament Hill at least once for Canada Day.  It is a long day of events, a recognition of our great country and a display of our pride.  If you don’t go to “The Hill” then you will find street parties, community parties and other private events happening all over the region.  It is wonderful. 

These are just five things that you may notice as differences. 

Let me help you find a home that can really make a difference for you. 

Photo Credit: Lisgar Street - Kent to Bank 6, by http://www.flickr.com/photos/dugspr/731314680/

Valerie Zinger ~ Ph. 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

 

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