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A good number of Ottawa’s attractions are located close to the hotels being used for the Civitan Convention, so it’s not difficult to walk from one to another. The main Host hotel is the Westin: http://www.starwood.com/westin and search for Ottawa
But first we’re going to S-T-R-E-T-C-H! your U.S. $$$. Your ONE U.S. dollar will expand to $1.52 in Canadian currency (as of 17 Feb 2003) $100.00 US = $152.10 CDN. To check this and other currency conversions go to: http://www.ex.com/convert.cgi
Many of the attractions and places to visit in Ottawa are within a ‘stones-throw’ of the Civitan Convention Centre. The pitter-patter of little feet will take you to:
PARLIAMENT HILL
http://www.tourottawa.org (this site also describes many other attractions in the  Ottawa area). Parliament Hill is the seat of Canadian Government, the House of Commons and the Senate. Construction began in 1860 and was completed in time for the inaugural session of the first Parliament in 1867. Tours are available and within the Hill area can be seen; the Centennial Flame, the Peace Tower, the National Library to list a few. You may also take in: the Sound and Light Show, two performances nightly, one English, one French; or the Changing of the Guard, one of Canada’s most outstanding attractions, this colorful half-hour ceremony is performed daily at 10:00 am
(http://www.ottawakiosk.com/changing_guard.html)
On September 14, 2001 over 100,000 people gathered on the Hill in a day of remembrance after the terrorist attacks in New York three days earlier.
RIDEAU CENTRE: is directly connected to the Westin Hotel and features over 200 stores, restaurants and cinemas. Also close by is the Sparks Street Mall.
BYWARD MARKET: the best place in Ottawa for people watching and bar hopping; is located one block north of the hotel. This traditional farmers market sells all manner of foods, flowers, plants and produce, and there are also many indoor shops and boutiques. While there it is a MUST to sample the ‘World Famous’ Beavertails (http://www.beavertailsinc.com). Also here you will find the Ontario liquor (LCBO) and Beer Stores
NATIONAL GALLERY of CANADA: (about three blocks north of the hotels) houses many of the finest examples of Canadian and European art.
The ROYAL CANADIAN MINT: http://www.rcmint.ca is located just around the corner from the National Gallery, past the War Museum.
The RIDEAU CANAL: http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/attraction.html The Pride of Ottawa, this 123-mile long, 24-lock canal joins Ottawa to Kingston, Ontario. Boating, walking, cycling, jogging, canoeing and wintertime skating are only some of the activities you may want to enjoy in the 7.8 kl, 5 mile section of the Canal. A nice walk would be from the hotel along one side of the canal to Pretoria Bridge and back the other side of the canal to the hotel. Bicycle rentals are available near the hotel, and you may also book a boat tour of the canal and Dow’s Lake
 NEW U. S. EMBASSY:
http://www.ottawakiosk.com/us_embassy.html located just up the street, Sussex Drive, north from the Weston hotel this impressive new building houses the offices of the US Government in Ottawa.
NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE: http://www.nac-can.ca check the web site for performances and entertainment. The Centre is located just across the Rideau Canal from the Weston Hotel.
For a listing of many outdoor patios, bars, pubs see: http://www.ottawaplus.ca/roundup/8282
A little further away are:
RIDEAU HALL:
http://www.gg.ca/visitus/index_e.asp Rideau Hall is the Governor General’s Residence, home of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson. Tours are available, reservations recommended, and the grounds are open to visitors from 8:00 am daily. Be sure to see the Heritage Gardens. Near Rideau Hall, at 24 Sussex Drive is the Prime Minister’s Residence, you can glimpse it through the trees but it is not open to the public. For a ver scenic drive continue on Sussex Drive past Rideau Hall and along the Rockcliffe Driveway.
CENTRAL CANADA EXPERIMENTAL FARM:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/cef-fec/consultation/cef.html A short distance away the farm boasts beautiful gardens. Some areas overlook Dows Lake part of the Rideau Canal. Children will love visiting with all the animals at the farm. You may also take a horse-drawn wagon ride.
RCMP MUSICAL RIDE:
http://www.rcmp-gcr.gc.ca/musicalride/home.html the famous Musical Ride mounted drill team first performed in Regina, SK in 1878. Horses and riders practice at the Canadian Police College 8900 St. Laurent Blvd. and the public is welcome. Check before you go because the Ride is often on tour, especially during the summer
CASINO-DU-LAC-LEMAY: http://www.casinodehull .com/langue_ch_fla.html (click Passer Intro & then le casino, then English) Formally called Casino de Hull, the name changed in 2002 to casino du lac Lemay when the city of Hull, Quebec changed its name to Gatineau. Perhaps you’ll be able to extend your US dollars even further here. The casino has many different gaming tables and hundreds of slot machines, And it is 65% Smoke Free!
RIDEAU CARLETON RACEWAY SLOTS: http://www.rcr.net Here you will find horse racing on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays and over 1250 Slot Machines ranging from nickels to $5.00 The Slots are open from 9:00 am to 3:00 am daily and 24 hours a day from Fridays at 9:00 am to Mondays at 3:00 am. This facility is Completely Smoke Free! RCR is located in the south of the city near the airport. http://www.midwestcasinoguide.com/ontario/rideau_carleton_raceway.html
Outside the city, but not great distances away are:
FOR KIDS:
The CANADIAN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: is located just across the Ottawa River in Gatineau, (formally Hull) Quebec, and is part of the Canadian Museum of Civilization; http://www.civilization.ca Also located here are the Canadian Postal Museum and the IMAX Theatre.
PARC OMEGA: http://www.parc-omega.com At this wildlife park the animals will come right up to your car as you take the 10 kl. drive through the park.
BASEBALL: http://www.ottawalynx.com The OTTAWA LYNX team plays in the AAA International League at Lynx Stadium. During the Civitan Convention they play home games each evening at 7:05 PM, from Monday 21 July to Thursday 24 July. Their opponents for all four games are the Durham Bulls, from Durham, North Carolina.
GOLF: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/features/attractions/pages/att_citygolf.html The Ottawa metro region has over 60 golf courses. Some of these include: one at Chateau Montebello, next to Parc-Omega; Emerald Links Golf and Country Club; Canadian Golf and Country Club; Le Dome Golf Club and Manderley on the Green. Green fees for  these run from $25 to $40 CDN or $17 to $27 US.
WAKEFIELD STEAM TRAIN: http://www.steamtrain.ca/english.asp ALL ABOARD for an unforgettable journey. The Hull-Chelsa-Wakefield Steam Train takes you from Hull (now Gatineau) to the picturesque village of Wakefield, Quebec on one of eastern Canada’s most scenic railways. The trip takes five hours with a two-hour stop at Wakefield, and covers 64 kilometres.
CAMPING: http://www.ottawakiosk.com/camping.html if you are planning to make the Civitan Convention part of a longer holiday you may be considering a camping holiday. There are a number of campgrounds in the Ottawa area that can accommodate tents and/or RV’s. These sites detail some of those available http://www.discoverottawa.ca/campgrounds/.
SHOPPING: (See Rideau Centre above) Other shopping centres/malls in the area include: St. Laurent Shopping Centre, Orleans Shopping Centre (east of Ottawa in Orleans), Bayshore Shopping Centre (west end of Ottawa), South Keys Centre (Ottawa south), Carlingwood Mall (central west Ottawa)
OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL: July 18 to 27, 2003 One of Ottawa’s premier music events features many of the finest musicians from around the world. Held is Confederation Park, which is within walking distance of the Westin Hotel. Check the site often for a listing of performers.
http://www.ottawajazzfestival.com
Other attractions which may be of interest:
Dows Lake Pavilion http://www.ottawaplus.ca/profile/45714/
rent paddle boats & canoes
1000 Island & Seaway Cruises http://www.1000islandscruises.com
Canada Agriculture Museum http://www.agriculture.nmstc.ca
Canada Aviation Museum FOR KIDS http://www.aviation.nmstc.ca
Canada Science & Technology Museum http://www.science-tech.nmstc.ca
Diefenbunker, Canada’s Cold War Museum http://www.diefenbunker,ca
The Enchanted Gardens (at Renfrew, ON) http://www.enchantedgardens.on.ca
The Ottawa Riverboat Company http://www.ottawariverboat.ca/index.htn
(Ottawa River tours)
Gatineau Park http://www.capcan.ca/gatineau/
Paul’s Boat Lines http://2hwy.com/on/p/pauboali.htm
(Rideau Canal tours 1hr 15 min. long)
Bytown Museum http://collections.ic.gc.ca/bytown/ located by the Rideau Canal locks near the Weston Hotel. Ottawa was originally called Bytown after Lt. Col By, the Canal’s builder.
Canadian Museum of Nature http://www.nature.ca
Ottawa Average Temperatures for July:
High 23.2oC / 73.8oF However 30oC is always possible.
Low 16.7oC / 62.1oF
Celsuis to Fahrenheit http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wtempcf.htm
Tc = (5/9) * Tf-32
OR Celsuis = five-ninths times (fahrenheit-32) eg. 98.6F –32 = 66.6 times 5/9 = 37C
Miles to Kilometres 1 mile is 1.609 kilometres; 62 MPH is 100 kl/hr
multiply kilometres by .6214 to get miles
TAXES (in Ontario) GST (Government Services Tax) is %7 & PST (Provincial Sales Tax) is %8
Non Canadians may get a GST refund: http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/visitors/tax_e.html
TIPS in restaurants and the like the normal tip is %15; thus all you have to do is look at the taxes on your receipt and you will know haw much to leave for the gratuity
Submitted by Civitan Rick Libbey, Past Governor, Canadian District East
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