What Ottawa is known for

The Clarence-Rockland Destination is composed of two of Canada’s provinces, Quebec in the northern half and Ontario in the southern half. The destination’s namesake, Clarence-Rockland, is a city that can be found in the eastern region of the destination just off the Ottawa River. Clarence-Rockland is part of Prescott and Russell County and occupies a total land area of 114.95 square miles.[1] As of 2020, it was reported that a total population of 26,680 people resides in Clarence-Rockland, and the city presently has a growth rate of 1.7%. Nearly 50.6% of the population as a whole is female, while the remaining 49.4% is male.[2]

Opportunities for recreation are fairly abundant in Clarence-Rockland as tourists can engage in various events and festivals, visit museums, and pursue outdoor activities. The city has three arenas, each containing an ice rink that is available to residents and visitors alike. Moreover, eight outdoor skating rinks can be found throughout Clarence-Rockland as well. Visitors also have the option to visit one of the twenty parks that dot the city, the majority of which are equipped with a playground and picnic areas. Aside from the aforementioned outdoor activities, Clarence-Rockland additionally has a museum known as the Clarence-Rockland Museum that draws a fair amount of tourists annually. The museum features a collection of over 5,000 photos, newspapers, documents, artifacts, and military medals that bear the historical significance of the city. Another attraction where visitors can learn more about Clarence-Rockland’s history is at a local heritage site which was the former Sainte-Famille School. This particular site played a role in the community’s education system years ago. Clarence-Rockland’s Heritage Tours showcases this building as well as other architecturally unique structures that were built between 1825 and 1950.[3]

Ottawa is a prominent city in the Clarence-Rockland Destination that serves as the capital city of Canada. The city is situated along the confluence of the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers, slightly east of the destination’s central region. Approximately 1,017,449 people reside in the city, and about 1,488,307 residents constitute Ottawa’s metropolitan population, making it the fourth-largest city and fourth-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Ottawa is home to 25 National Historic Sites of Canada, including Confederation Square, Château Laurier, Laurier House, and the former Ottawa Teachers’ College. As Ottawa is characteristic of traditional French-Canadian roots, numerous regional dishes are served throughout the city. Poutine is one popular food that can be purchased in the city, in addition to Ottawa-style pizza, Le Cordon Bleu, and shawarma which many people consider to be Ottawa’s official dish. It has been reported that Ottawa has more shawarma shops than any other place in the world outside of the Middle East.[10]

Geography

Coursing through the heart of the Clarence-Rockland Destination from the west to the southeast is the Ottawa River. The river itself serves as the border between Quebec and Ontario and stretches approximately 790 miles. Pembroke, Ottawa, and Hull are the primary riverine cities in the destination. Throughout its total length, the Ottawa River forms several lakes. Some of the largest lakes that were formed from the Ottawa River are Simard, Grand Victoria, Timiskaming, Chats, Allumette, and Deschenes. In the Laurentian Plateau (western Quebec), the Ottawa River rises and flows westward to Lake Timiskaming.[6] 

The Clarence-Rockland Destination’s northern region is relatively forested in contrast to the south, which is much more urban. An abundance of wildlife inhabits the north as a wildlife reserve called Réserve faunique de Papineau-Labelle occupies many acres of land in that region. Outdoor enthusiasts frequently visit this reserve to go fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, camping, and hunting, among other activities. Concerning wildlife, white-tailed deer, moose, and beavers are common species that live in Réserve faunique de Papineau-Labelle.[5]

Throughout the year, temperatures vary between 3 degrees Fahrenheit and 79 degrees Fahrenheit in Clarence-Rockland. Summers tend to last longer than winters as the warm season extends from May to September, and the cold season lasts from December to March, generally speaking. July is typically the hottest month of the year in Clarence-Rockland as temperatures reach around 78 degrees Fahrenheit on average. The coldest month, however, is January with the average high dropping to 22 degrees Fahrenheit and an average low of 5 degrees Fahrenheit.[4]

History

What is presently known as Clarence-Rockland was a small settlement in the early 1870s. In 1868, the founding of Rockland coincided with the establishment of a sawmill located at McCaul Point. The timber industry was one of the primary productions for the settlement at the time. As houses were being constructed along what was formerly referred to as Main Street (now called Laurier), two divisions were formed, Rockland-West and Rockland-East. The majority of businesses, stores, and services were all in Rockland-West from 1875 to 1895, more particularly the elementary school and the town hall. Rockland-East had a few houses, a cemetery, and a veterinary office established within. Due to the small size of Rockland at the time, the settlement was unable to have its own church; however, in 1887, a wooden church building was constructed in Rockland-West and was called Saint-Trinité. In 1890, the first catholic school was built in the area and it was established by Pierre-Siméon Hudon—the first resident priest who served at the Saint-Trinité church building for 45 years. This academy was eventually shut down in 1952 because children were working at sawmills and could not attend school under mandatory circumstances.[7]

In 1857, Ottawa was named the capital of Canada. Prior to the city becoming the national capital, Ottawa was called Bytown. In 1855, the city received its current name. Ottawa first began as a trading and lumbering community that gradually grew in regional significance over time. As a result of the city’s location along the border between English-speaking Ontario and French-speaking Quebec, many people consider Ottawa to be “one of the most bilingual cities in the country,” especially considering the city’s status as the national capital.[8]