Since I live right pretty well on the border of Rockcliffe Park, I often go walking there. It is…read morereally nice to walk by all the different residences of ambassadors. Not only are the houses huge, but they seem to have lots of character of the countries that they represent. People in the neighbourhood are always friendly and greet eachother when passing. There are always plenty of people out walking their dogs, cycling and jogging. The neighbourhood is really safe and I have gone walking at night on several occasions without any problems.

I am writing this review in regards to the cycling available along the rockcliffe parkway, which…read moreruns through the park. This is a wonderful route to follow, especially if you can find a time when it is not busy with cars. I went out on March 7th around 1pm, and it was lovely. The air was crisp, and there were no cars. The view along the river is breathtaking, and offers several opportunities to venture off the road and shore. The whole parkway is about 22km one-way, and there seemed to be a gentle slope. The actual parkway road is decent, however the surround streets you use to access it are ridden with potholes. I would suggest bringing your bike to one of the parking lots in the park and setting out from there. I am sure it can only get lovelier as the weather gets warmer, and the festivals and tourists dots the landscape. From my understanding the parkway is heavily used by cyclists in the summer, this is comforting. Also, I found drivers passing me on the road gave me a lot of room. I will definitely keep riding this route, and return once the snow clears to explore the park! The only downside to cycling, is the actual parkway is not very long. You could do the stretch multiple times but your passing the same scenery which is boring. Once the parkway ends the roads get considerably more busy.

I went at 3:30 on a Thursday afternoon and was in and out in a half hour so that was good. You just…read morehave to walk up to the counter at 1 or 2 to get a number. This isn't clear so I asked the security guard and as I was waiting almost everyone else who walked in asked also.

Nice place overall. Not a welcoming entrance, but once you're past that it's very welcoming. Very…read moremuch a "find it for yourself" feel, rather than help you find what you need. However I'm sure if you ask, you'll be helped. Incredibly quiet, especially for the number of people in the building. Every floor is silent. There's big open seating areas as well as many computers and chromebooks to loan (in library only).

This library is huge! I used to love coming here as a child for storytelling in the children's…read moresection. Now, as an adult, it's kind of like a candy store for those that love to read. They have 3 levels of pretty much any kind of reading and research materials that you would need, including maps, academic journals, public records, dictionaries, encyclopedias, historical/special collections, fiction/non-fiction, children's books, comics, and audio tapes/CDs and videos. There is plenty of tables and seating for reading and studying, computer stations for Internet browsing and catalogue searching, and even a small coffee and tea shop with very reasonable prices. The library is fully accessible and easy to navigate around, and they have the most helpful staff. The 24-hour book drop and the fact that they take Interac are extremely convenient. The only problem I ran into was trying to get a library card. They have separate desks just to sign up for a library card, but they wouldn't let me because my ID didn't have an Ottawa address on it. I had just moved here and they were asking me for utility bills or a tenant's agreement, which, of course, I didn't have on-hand. So I decided to just sit and read inside the library, and before I knew it, I ended up spending hours there!

I didn't even know this library was here until I moved into the community. I love it because it is…read moreso quaint and almost hidden among the trees. Though this small library obviously doesn't have the ample selection that other branches in Ottawa do, you can easily order in books. But the vibe of this library more than makes up for that fact. Here you feel like you are in a small town library, where you can get individual attention and bring your kids to stay for a while. There is a meeting room here too and there are often activities or meetings going on. Because of it's size, there are often stacks of books on the front desk or a line up to check out books, but that is all part of this library's charm. The hours vary to allow those who work, or those who stay at home to have time to stop by. I'm proud to call this my home branch!

The purpose of Library and Archives Canada is to preserve and display various pieces of Canadian…read moreheritage, such as art, music, archival records and books. There are many interesting events constantly being offered at this building, often for very cheap. However, the reason I'm reviewing this government building is to reveal one of my favourite offerings that perhaps more people could benefit from. The Library and Archives often runs film festivals, usually focusing on films from specific countries. It's even less known that even when they don't have a festival running, the LAC often screens foreign and Canadian films and docs. Admission is almost always cheap. Keep an eye on their event listings through the above website link.

I came here for a Architecture lecture in the library. The place itself is beautiful and…read morewell-maintained, with a lot of white as part of the décor. Washrooms are clean, there is always security on site, and the models and art on the walls are beautiful as well.

This library is attached to the Greenboro Community Centre. It's extremely convenient for children,…read morestudents, and all members of the community. It has both an automated express check-out and a book-drop outside of the building. The library is two floors, with stairs, elevators, and numerous exits. They have private "quiet" rooms for reading or tutoring, meeting rooms, tables for studying and group work, little desks and chairs for individual reading, and even computer labs on both floors for Internet browsing and looking up book locations. Like other libraries, it has sections for books, videos, CDS and audio, and even a childrens section for group readings. The selection of books is actually quite large, especially considering the size of the library is no where near that of the Ottawa Public Library downtown. It's also very modernly designed, but still carpeted and not cold or stuffy in any way. If you're in the South Keys/Hunt Club area, it would definitely be a great resource for you and your children.

I was looking for a new place to study near me and decided to check out the Greenboro District…read moreLibrary. The library is attached to the Community Centre so there were quite a few people there. Despite the foot traffic, the library was pretty quiet, which I really appreciated. The space is actually pretty big and had nice big desks on the second floor. They also have designated quiet rooms and lots of computers. I will most likely come back here to study!!

The Glebe Community Centre is a unique structure in the heart of the Glebe. It offers a multitude…read moreof programs for every age group and interest, including painting, theatre, yoga, pottery, sports, dance, baking and cooking classes, dog obedience classes and even random classes like soap and bath-bomb making. Their prices are usually reasonable, but the classes fill up very quickly, so make sure to register well before the first class begins. If you live in the area, you'll receive a calendar for the upcoming season with a grace period to plan your next class. The centre also has many day or weekend long events, such as plays, craft fairs, jewelry shows and food shows. If you're in the area on weekdays between 11:30am-3pm, stop by The Pantry Vegetarian Tea Room for some food. The prices are a bit high and there's not much selection, but the food is fairly wholesome and usually organic. They don't accept debit or credit card, so bring cash!

This is an amazing community feature right in the heart of one of the loveliest spots in the city…read more I've recently had the opportunity to drop by with two little ones to bring them to playgroup and their toddler music class, and I was blown away. I would never have suspected from the relatively boring outside of this building that the inside is alive with great programming. You're greeted by a lovely staircase that leads up to Scotton Hall - the "gym" that Reviewer R mentioned. This is a stunning room with huge vaulted ceilings, stained glass, a kitchen and tons of room for the little ones to run around during playgroup (which is what I was there for!). It would also be amazing for an event. The playgroup was amazing. The facilitator Andrew, was great with the kids and there's even snacktime for kids and parents. The music class is similarly well-run and all the staff I have interacted with her are sweet and friendly. There' a whiteboard in the front lobby that details all the happenings going on that day and it's always packed! They have tons of classes (I even say mention of a "mother-daughter glee group" - unreal!) for all ages and the prices aren't bad at all. There's a great play structure outside for the little ones, as well as a sweet Thomas the Tank Engine table under the stairs. Be sure to ask the lovely lady at the front desk for the trains - clearly these have gone missing in the past, haha! If you're in the area, this is a great option for activities for kids and adults alike. Pop in and see the space - you won't be disappointed!

The Short Version: Pretty park in downtown Ottawa. Has many…read moretrees, open greenspace, flags, plaques, a fountain and a monument. The Long Version: Large federally-owned park in downtown Ottawa. Lots of trees and open greenspace. It was created in 1962 and was originally called the Garden of the Provinces but renamed in 2005 to Garden of the Provinces and Territories. It has flags of the provinces and territories of Canada, as well as floral emblems and plaques of each province/territory. It also has a metal fountain that resembles a tree. It has several park benches and a few tables with built-in chess/checkers boards. It is also the site of the Memorial to the Victims of Communism - Canada, a Land of Refuge, a monument that pays tribute to people who have suffered under communist regimes and highlights Canada's role as a place of refuge for people fleeing persecution by communist regimes. It's an honourable concept but unfortunately the project has been embroiled in controversy, details of which are beyond the scope of this review. Visually, it's a beautiful park. It is a good place to have lunch, read a book, play some chess, or just to contemplate on life. Interested in reviews of more parks in and around Ottawa? Check out my Park Series here on Yelp: https://www.yelp.ca/collection/fhwH7F0hdh8_PpmaXsHSmw?utm_content=Collections&utm_source=ashare Review #185 (2025)