Hee-Haws’ Ottawa: “There are things to do, you just have to search for them.”

Also, it’s frozen, treacherous, and out of service for most of its history
The 7.8-kilometre skateway perhaps perfectly encapsulates Canada’s capital: It’s a family-friendly outdoor activity run by a government entity known as the National Capital Commission.
— Emily Haws, “Canada’s Most Liveable Cities,” Globe and Mail, Jan. 29, 2026.

Or, as it’s known locally, homelessness
Many skaters told The Globe and Mail that easy access to the outdoors is one of the best parts of Ottawa. With just over a million people, it has been named this year’s most livable major city in Canada.
— Ibid.

Exactly what Cartoon University means by “Ours the Task Eternal”
Lili El-Tawil – who was out skating with co-workers – agreed, but noted it is not as lively for young people as Toronto or Montreal.
Her children are now young adults, “so, they like to go party in Gatineau and in Montreal and so on,” she said.
While many people consider the city “slept-on” and want to move elsewhere, Rebecca Leslie disagrees. The Ottawa native now plays for its Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) team, the Charge.
“I think that the best part about Ottawa is how there [are] things to do, you just have to search for them,” Ms. Leslie said.
— Ibid.

Almost made #3, but the Wine Rack in the Byward Market went out of business
Ottawa ranked as Canada’s fourth most livable city in 2025, making it the top major city on the list of the 454 examined. Despite low rankings in areas such as safety (296), housing (387) and climate (408), Ottawa’s overall distribution across all categories propelled it to the top. It ranked 12th for education, 18th for amenities, 27th for demographics, 35th for health care and 48th for transportation.
— Ibid.

Not even Ottawa’s worst pick-up line, thanks to “Good evening! My name is Michael Cooper”
Ottawa’s large geographic size means that your experience of it largely depends on where you live. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said that size gives residents choice on whether they want an urban, suburban or rural lifestyle. “We’re not too big and we’re not too small,” he said, noting Ottawa comes with many of the amenities but not the challenges of a major metropolis.
— Ibid.

My post asking why the local economy sucks just got 38 likes!
The city also ranked highly on the connection its residents feel with their community – something Rideau Canal skater Sonia Desharnais appreciates. She said she met a lot of people in her neighbourhood thanks to a buy-nothing group on Facebook.
— Ibid.

Sutcliffe ’22 is still loading. Would you like to upgrade to Sutcliffe ’26 while you wait?
Though there are many positives of living here, residents don’t shy away from complaints. OC Transpo, the city’s beleaguered transit system, continues to frustrate commuters. Other people, meanwhile, voice concerns about the downtown because of issues related to drug use and homelessness. Housing affordability is also an issue.
Mr. Sutcliffe, who intends to seek re-election in the fall, acknowledges the complaints. He said that public transit is a work in progress.
— Ibid.