MARKET OVERVIEW

Nestled on the banks of the Ottawa River, approximately 200 kilometres west of Montreal and 400 kilometres northeast of Toronto, Ottawa is rich in culture and heritage. Ottawa is best known as Canada's capital, but over the past 50 years, Ottawa has successfully transformed itself into a global technology centre.

Ottawa, the 4th largest metropolitan region in Canada, is a vibrant and growing community that prides itself on its exceptional quality of life. Ottawa is home to 1.2 million people and is considered the most educated regions in Canada, as more than 45% of the population holds a university degree/diploma.

Ottawa is home to various industry clusters including software and communications services, telecommunications equipment, microelectronics, photonics, life sciences, professional services, tourism and government. Ottawa is home to more than 120 international embassies, 1000 advanced technology companies, 17 venture capital firms, and more than 75,000 federal government employees.

Ottawa is serviced by three major highways, which provide direct connections to other Canadian cities and major US border crossings. Ottawa enjoys rail access to other Canadian cities and, indeed, the entire continent by way of connecting lines in the US. As the 5th busiest passenger airport in Canada, the Ottawa International Airport connects Ottawa to the world. There are 30 direct daily flights from Ottawa to major US centers as well as 10 non-stop weekly flights to Europe.