The Ottawa Region: Top Ten Must-See Heritage Attractions | Timeless Travels Magazine

The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. 

(Photo: Garry Shaw)

This year Canadians celebrate the 150th anniversary of confederation – when the various colonies of Canada came together on July 1st, 1867, to unite as a single nation. At the time, this included the Province of Canada (effectively Quebec and Ontario), Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. A new nation needs a capital, and this honour fell to the city of Ottawa.

Today, Ottawa is a vibrant city, though often overlooked in favour of the more popular tourist destinations of Toronto, Quebec City and Montreal. But perhaps this will all change in 2017. The biggest celebrations for Canada's birthday will be held in Ottawa, and the annual Canada Day celebrations on 1st July – when Parliament Hill becomes a concert venue, packed with revellers, and many of the city's streets, closed to traffic for the day, transform into outdoor parties – will surely be the most exuberant and impressive in the country.

So, get ready to dress in red, stick maple leaf stickers to your face, wave some flags, and break out the Tim Hortons' coffee. It's time to celebrate. And while you're in Ottawa, why not check out our top ten must-see heritage attractions in the region.

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