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Alta Vista

A mostly residential, single-detached area on high ground in east-end Ottawa.

Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa
Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa. Photo: Earl Andrew, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
7,765Population (2021 census) · source
3,190Private dwellings (2021) · source
43.6Median age (2021) · source
1Schools inside
18Parks & places inside
0Homes for sale here

Alta Vista had 7,765 residents and 3,190 private dwellings in the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study). Population: 7,765 (2021).

Updated · Facts on this page link to their sources

The neighbourhood

About Alta Vista

Alta Vista had 7,765 residents and 3,190 private dwellings in the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study). About 79.9% of dwellings are single-detached houses, and 78.6% of households own their home. The median age is 43.6, and the average household has 2.5 people. Tree canopy covered 33.9% of the area in 2024. The City of Ottawa places it in Ward 18 (Alta Vista).

Boundaries

Ottawa Neighbourhood Study area 'Alta Vista'; the Alta Vista Community Association uses a wider boundary. ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca

Homes

In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), 79.9% of Alta Vista dwellings were single-detached houses, 4.6% semi-detached and 0.8% row houses. Apartments in buildings of under five storeys made up 5.7%, apartments in buildings of five or more storeys 6.2% and flats in a duplex 2.6%. Owner households were 78.6% and renter households 21.1%. ons-sqo.ca

Highlights
  • 7,765 residents and 3,190 private dwellings (2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study)
  • 79.9% of dwellings are single-detached houses (2021 census)
  • Tree canopy covered 33.9% of the area in 2024
  • Pleasant Park and Riverside Transitway stations are within about 1.1 km, straight-line
  • Ottawa Hospital Riverside Campus is about 1.0 km away, straight-line
  • Median owner-estimated dwelling value was $800,000 in the 2021 census

Community

History

How Alta Vista came to be

Altavistadrive
Altavistadrive. Photo: Earl Andrew at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  1. 1874

    Gateville, an early subdivision in the area, was established in 1874. It had disappeared by the 1920s. en.wikipedia.org

  2. 1892

    The first subdivision in the area, Rideau Park, was built in 1892. The land was part of the Billings Estate and was used by market gardeners. en.wikipedia.org

  3. 1939

    The Alta Vista name dates back to at least 1939, as a subdivision separate from Rideau Park. The area was then part of Gloucester Township. en.wikipedia.org

  4. 1950

    The area was annexed by Ottawa in 1950. Suburbanization followed in the 1950s, with Rideau Park expanding and new subdivisions including Faircrest Heights and Applewood Acres in the north, Ridgemont in the south and Elmvale Acres in the east. en.wikipedia.org

  5. 1960s

    In the 1960s, the subdivision of Urbandale Acres was built between Elmvale Acres and the rest of Alta Vista. en.wikipedia.org

Map

Around Alta Vista

Walking rings at 5, 10 and 15 minutes from the neighbourhood centre.

Schools

8 nearby

Straight-line distances from the Alta Vista centre. Living near a school does not guarantee a place: confirm the designated school for an address with each board. All schools and board locators.

Parks & places

10 nearby

  • Cunningham Woods

    Passive Recreation park

    319 Marshall Court, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca

    220 m3 min walk

  • Tess Dent Park

    Passive Recreation park

    2238 Reeves Crescent, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca

    420 m5 min walk

  • Applewood Park

    Active Recreation park

    134 Begonia Avenue, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca

    630 m8 min walk

  • Outdoor rink, Applewood Park

    Outdoor rink (winter, weather permitting)

    134 Begonia Ave.maps.ottawa.ca ottawa.ca

    650 m8 min walk

  • Outdoor rink, Alta Vista Park

    Outdoor rink (winter, weather permitting)

    1309 Randall Ave.maps.ottawa.ca ottawa.ca

    720 m9 min walk

  • Alta Vista Park

    Active Recreation park

    1309 Randall Avenue, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca

    720 m9 min walk

  • Grasshopper Hill/Kilborn Park

    Active Recreation park

    1609 Kilborn Avenuemaps.ottawa.ca

    760 m10 min walk

  • WRENS Way

    Active Recreation park

    1612 Kilborn Avenue, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca

    760 m10 min walk

  • John Murphy Park

    Active Recreation park

    120 Rodney Crescent, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca

    770 m10 min walk

  • Orlando Park Annex

    Active Recreation park

    2347 Orlando Avenue, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca

    830 m10 min walk

The full parks & trails guide.

Shops & dining

10 nearby

The full shops & dining guide.

Getting around

Transit

  • Pleasant Park station

    Transitway / transit station (City of Ottawa transit stations layer)

    openmaps.ottawa.ca

    790 m10 min walk

  • Riverside station

    Transitway / transit station (City of Ottawa transit stations layer)

    openmaps.ottawa.ca

    1.1 km14 min walk

  • Billings Bridge station

    Transitway / transit station (City of Ottawa transit stations layer)

    openmaps.ottawa.ca

    1.3 km17 min walk

  • Smyth station

    Transitway / transit station (City of Ottawa transit stations layer)

    openmaps.ottawa.ca

    1.4 km18 min walk

  • O-Train

    Walkley station is about 2.3 km away in a straight line (open; Line 2).

    wikidata.org

  • O-Train

    Mooney's Bay station is about 2.3 km away in a straight line (open; Line 2).

    wikidata.org

  • Transitway / bus

    Pleasant Park station is about 0.8 km away in a straight line (open).

    maps.ottawa.ca

  • Downtown

    Parliament Hill is about 5.0 km away in a straight line.

    en.wikipedia.org

The full transit guide.

Homes

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Next door

Neighbouring areas

    Questions people ask

    Quick answers

    Short answers first; each links to the full answer and its sources.

    All 40 questions

    1. Is Alta Vista a good place to live?

      Alta Vista is a mostly residential Ottawa neighbourhood where 79.9% of dwellings are single-detached houses and 78.6% of households own their home (2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study). It has 33.9% tree canopy (2024), 15 parks in the area data and schools from several boards nearby. Most workers commute by car (75.6%, 2021), and the average Walk Score is 37, so whether it fits depends on how you like to get around.

      As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca maps.ottawa.ca

    2. Where is Alta Vista in Ottawa?

      Alta Vista is a residential neighbourhood in east-end Ottawa, about 5.0 km in a straight line from Parliament Hill. Per the Alta Vista Community Association's boundaries, it lies south of Smyth Road, north of Walkley Road, east of the Rideau River (and Bank Street) and west of the greenspace under Haig Drive. The City of Ottawa places it in Ward 18 (Alta Vista).

      As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

    3. How far is Alta Vista from downtown Ottawa?

      Alta Vista is about 5.0 km from downtown Ottawa, measured in a straight line to Parliament Hill. Real driving, cycling or transit distances will be longer and depend on the route.

      As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org maps.ottawa.ca

    4. What schools serve Alta Vista?

      The City of Ottawa schools layer lists 26 schools within about 2.7 km (straight-line) of the Alta Vista centre: 11 OCDSB, 3 OCSB, 5 CECCE, 1 CÉPEO and 6 independent. Nearby elementary schools include Alta Vista Public School, St. Gemma School and Pleasant Park Public School. Families must confirm which school serves a given address with each board's school locator.

      As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca en.wikipedia.org

    5. Are there French-language schools in Alta Vista?

      Yes, French-language schools are close to Alta Vista. Marie-Curie Public Elementary School (CÉPEO) is about 0.9 km from the neighbourhood centre, and the CECCE runs several French Catholic schools within about 2.7 km, all in a straight line.

      As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca

    6. Which high schools are near Alta Vista?

      The closest high schools to Alta Vista are St. Patrick's High School (OCSB, about 1.0 km from the centre) and Ridgemont High School (OCDSB, about 1.2 km), straight-line. Hillcrest High School (OCDSB) and the French-language Franco-Cité Catholic Secondary School (CECCE) are each about 2.2 km away.

      As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca

    Sources for this page (42)
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