City Introduction

Ottawa is the capital of Canada and the fourth largest city in Canada. With an area of 4,662 km2, Ottawa stands on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, 400 km away from Toronto in the east, and 190 km away from Montreal in the west. Different from USA and Australia, the capital city is not directly administered by the Federal Government in Canada. There are many Chinese living in Ottawa, which is called “Wojing” by local Chinese.

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

Ottawa was the home to Algonquin people, the aboriginal inhabitants of Canada. The Algoquins called the Ottawa River Kichi Sibi or Kichissippi meaning “Great River”. Following the War of 1812, Ottawa received a surge of military settlements. The government encouraged poor Irish people to move to Ottawa. In the following decades, Irish migrants flocked in. In 1832, the Rideau Canal supervised by Lieutenant Colonel John By was completed, connected the city of Ottawa to the city of Kingston on Lake Ontario, making Ottawa become an important town in the region. Upper Town and Lower Town is centered around the canal. Upper Town is situated to the west of the canal and in Parliament Hill, while the Lower Town is on the east side of the canal between the canal and the Rideau River. Ottawa is Canada’s science and cultural center, with many national, municipal and corporate large research institutes are stationed there. Among them, the National Research Council of Canada and Canada North American Society are the most influential research institutes in natural science and social science. These two research institutions gather the most renowned scholars in natural science and social science in Canada. They publish plenty of academic results each year. Northern Ottawa is a high-tech cluster, nicknamed Silicon Valley North.

 

 

 

 

Natural Environment

Ottawa is located in the southeast of Ontario and bordered Quebec. A population of over 1.23 million (in 2011) (including Ottawa of Ontario, Gatineau of Quebec and surrounding towns) makes the Ottawa region the 63th largest metropolis in North America. Ottawa is located in the low land, at 109m above sea level on average, surrounded by Canadian shield rocks.

 

 

 

 

Climate Change

Ottawa has a continental climate, with a humid summer and winter, and some oceanic climate characteristics. Cold air from the Arctic sweeps the whole Ottawa in winter because no maintain obstruction in the north. The average temperature is -11 ℃ in January and the lowest temperature even reaches -39℃. It is one of the coldest capital cities in the world. In Spring, Ottawa blooms with a dazzling display of colourful tulips, known as City of Tulip. According to the meteorological data, Ottawa has 8 months below zero Celsius degree at night, nicknamed “the City of Cold”. As one of the coldest city in the world, Ottawa has similar latitude with Harbin. The average temperature is -11℃ in January, and the lowest temperature reaches -39℃, with an average temperature of 6℃ in all year. In Ottawa, four seasons are distinctive, with cold snowy winter and warm summer.

Information of Embassy and Consulate

Working time: Monday to Friday (except holidays in China and Canada), 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Not open in the afternoon.

Office Address: 515 St. Patrick Street, Ottawa, K1N 5H3

Tel: 613-7893434-ext 232 (15:30-17:30 manual service)

Fax: 613-789 1414

Website: ca.china-embassy.org

 

 

 

 

Visa Information

Visa materials to be prepared All applicants must submit the following documents: Completed and signed visa application form, correct visa application content and visa fees, passport with six-month valid period and enough blank pages (double-sided), old passport (if any); and photo specifications - Two recent color photos (of the frame size at least 35 mm x45 mm, and taken within six months, with white background)

 

 

 

 

Currency Exchange

Canada's currency system is similar to the US in calculation of dollars and cents as a unit. There are six denominations of Canadian circulation coinage: one-cent coin, five-cent coin, ten-cent coin, 25-cent coin, one-dollar coin and two-dollar coin. The symbolic images are printed on the side of coins. For example： One-dollar coin bears image of a common loon, while one-cent coin bears image of two maple leave. The penny has been abolished. However, the product price still includes cents less than five cents. Thus, if you pay in cash, two cents will be wiped off, 3-7 cents are charged five cents, and 8-9 cents are charged ten cents. If you swipe bank cards, you will pay exact price. Please exchange currency before your departure. You could also exchange currency in financial institutions, banks, trust companies or currency exchange counters when after arrive Canada. Currency exchange services are also available in some shops, restaurants and hotels. The exchange rate at large hotels are similar to banks. You could also pay US dollars in some shops, in particular in city center, but extra fee is charged.

 

 

 

 

Tourism Service Number

911 is emergency number in Canada.

 

 

 

 

Notes

Canadian Customs prohibits or restricts the entry of some goods; Canadian law provides that all passengers must declare all agricultural products carried with them to the customs officials upon arrival in Canada whether by land, by sea or by plane. All plants except indoor potted plants from the United States, must be subject to the approval before entering Canada. Pistols, maces, pepper spray and other weapons are prohibited from entering Canada. In addition, some fruits, vegetables, honey, eggs, meat, dairy products and plants from other countries, can not enter Canada.

For pets, all animals should be subject to veterinary quarantine before their entry into Canada. Visitors can enjoy tariff or tax-free treatment for gifts at the unit price of 60 Canadian dollars or less when carrying them into Canada. Tariff shall be imposed on excess amounts of gifts priced at above 60 Canadian dollars. Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and promotional materials don’t belong to the gift category.

For alcohol and tobacco, visitors in conformity with the age requirements in Canadian provinces or regions (see below) can carry a limited amount of alcoholic beverages into the country of Canada. However, visitors must arrive there together with alcoholic beverages carried by them. Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec provinces provide that any visitor carrying alcoholic beverages must reach the minimum age of 18, while the minimum age is stipulated to be 19 in the Yukon, Northwest, Nunavut, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador.

You are only be allowed to bring one of the following specified amounts of alcoholic products before the entry: 53 ounces of wine, 40 ounces of hard liquor, a total of 40 ounces of wine and hard liquor, or 24 × 12 ounces canned or bottled beer or ale. You can enjoy duty-free treatment for the following items before entry into Canada: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos, 7 ounces manufactured tobacco or 200 tobacco stems.

Special Remarks

1. China's outbound tourists per person can carry 20,000 yuan and 5000 US dollars(or other foreign currency amounts equivalent of USD 5,000), and must declare valuables to customs;

2. You must declare to the customs laptops, cameras, zoom cameras and other electronic equipment if carry any of them;

3. You should make a few copies of your passports, tickets and travel arrangements, of which you can carry one copy with you, and put another copy at home for unexpected query;

4. After the 9.11 terrorist attacks in the United States, all countries are very strict with security checks, and the testing strength of X-ray equipment is also increased. So please do not put films in checked baggage, otherwise the films will be exposed.

 

 

 

 

Festivals(Important/Historical/Folks Ones)

National Day of Canada: July 1st

Each year, people will gather at Mel Lastman Square to celebrate Canadian diversified cultures with a free fun-filled evening of live music and dance performances, family activities and a spectacular fireworks show choreographed to music.

Date of Christmas: December 25

December is full of holiday atmosphere with various activities to celebrate Christmas and New Year. Santa’s Parade held in downtown Vancouver in the beginning of December each year is to kick off Christmas holiday celebration. The companies, government agencies and charitable organizations will design their floats and walk through West Gerogia Street. The Parade will last for more than one hour. People will dance with the float music. Lollipops and candies will be tossed out from the floats. The whole downtown will be full of joyful people. Festival of Lights will take place in the last three weeks of December. Van Duesen Botanical Garden is decorated with Christmas lights. Visitors could enjoy the dancing lights show and greet with Saint Clauses. Visitors will immerse in Christmas joy and it will be an unforgeable experience for kids.