Hope this helped.

PS. I really hope the gentleman posting before was able to find a job. The budget stated was pretty slim and I could not see any way of reducing that budget. I guess the best thing would be to just go get a job doing ANYTHING.

Algonquin College, Ottawa University and Carleton University are the educational establishments here in Ottawa. Depending on what you want to do is mainly how you will probably be picking one. I would say Carleton is the best, but that is mainly because its the one I have the most experience with and heard the least complaints about.

As for suggestions on where to live, it depends on what you can afford. I currently live in Mooney’s Bay area, which is relatively nice, and inexpensive. It is a bit away from the downtown core but its only 5 minutes from Carleton U. and it is close to Mooney’s Bay beach. While the beach is not the greatest to swim in (due to bacteria and pollution concerns popping up often), there are some great events held there, including a few concerts.

You mention History and Politics, which makes me think you will want to go to Ottawa University. If you decide to go there, I would still recommend being somewhere on Riverside Dr., maybe closer to Ottawa U. There are many nice places along there if you don’t mind either a bit of traffic noise, or a bit of train noise. The good thing is that you’d be outside the downtown core, but not too far from it, which is a way better way to experience Ottawa, as living in the downtown core near Ottawa U. can be distracting, noisy, and crowded.

Ottawa is a great city, especially if you have money. If you have to live in the slums…well…

There are some bad areas, but I still feel much safer in this city than most of the ones I have lived in.

We are planning a visit in March and we plan to check out the places you have suggested.

Thanks again and I hope you have a great day!!

Stacey

The good thing about the South Keys area is that it is highly developed, but this also means that there is somewhat of an increase in problems. It has become an echo of downtown in its problems as much as its promise.

Depending on where you want to live on Hunt Club, as there are some newer developmental areas that are nice and far enough away from the main stretch (bank street) to be quiet and beautiful.

Both areas though are rather expensive, and the newer developments in Hunt Club have been fairly safe.

Honestly though, I would recommend moving a little further South out of Ottawa to both save money, and to get into a nicer area, or move towards the Nepean side of Ottawa, as there are some really nice communities hiding in certain areas. One of my favourite areas is over by Tunney’s Pasture (over on the north west side of Ottawa).

So the things to remember are:
The areas you have chosen are highly developed, and there are expensive and cheap areas almost right next door to eachother, some areas are a little rougher to live in and there is almost a downtown feel to some parts. It can be very loud in the South Keys area, but if you go east or west hunt club, away from Bank Street…you will have a far better Ottawa experience.

I don’t know if you have taken a look at Google Maps (maps.google.com) or if you have visited Ottawa yet, but the two areas I highly suggest you avoid are anywhere near the South Keys Mall, and anywhere near the Airport.

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy Ottawa. (My Uncle is serving in Manitoba, he’s Military).

My husband and I are planning a move to Ottawa in a few months (from Manitoba). Would you mind telling me if the South Keys or Hunt Club areas are fairly safe, cheaper places to live or would you say they are scummy and a bad area to settle in. Thanks so much! I hope things are going well for you!