How Ottawa Nearly Missed Its Capital Crown

Before Queen Victoria tapped it as the capital in 1857, more than a few Canadians could barely point to Ottawa, a city that sits pretty on the banks of its namesake river. Major cities like Toronto and Montreal were sure they'd win the honor, but fate had other plans. Read more now on canada capital

Parliament Hill, with its towering Gothic Revival architecture, hides a twist of fate. The architecture could easily pass for Canada's answer to Hogwarts. Its carillon bells ring out across downtown every fifteen minutes from the Peace Tower in the center.

Hidden behind those stone walls is a tale stranger than fiction. Believe it or not, Ottawa wasn't always a prime real estate pick. It started as a scrappy lumber town called "Bytown," named after Colonel John By of Rideau Canal fame.

The capital choice shocked everyone. Toronto was booming, Montreal was bustling, and Quebec City had the legacy. Yet Ottawa had a unique edge: it balanced right between English and French Canada.

Picture Parliament Hill back in the day—not the postcard-perfect scene you see now. A devastating fire in 1916 reduced the original buildings to ashes, claiming seven lives. The Centre Block was up in flames until the Library of Parliament was saved when staff took fast action and closed its iron doors.

Ottawa's weather is a character in its own right. Cold? Try bone-chilling. Winters here aren't for the faint of heart. Thermometers dive to a frosty minus 30 Celsius.

Government is the lifeblood of Ottawa's economy and culture. One in six workers draws a paycheck from the federal government. Around here, there are two constants: snow and construction zones.

Ottawa embodies the paradox of being a capital city. They praise it with one hand and cut budgets with the other. Tourists flock to Parliament Hill, but you won't find them in real neighborhoods.

If you stick around, Ottawa's hidden delights emerge. Across the river, Gatineau Park offers a playground of hiking trails. The Ottawa River hides secret beaches for those in the know.

Ottawa, picked for practicality, evolved into a graceful capital. Not quite as French as Montreal, not quite as English as Toronto, not quite as historic as Quebec City – but wholly, distinctly Canadian.