Boundaries
Roughly Hwy. 417 to the north, to the east Huntmar Drive to Maple Grove, then east along Maple Grove to about the Carp River. The rest of the eastern boundary approximately follows the Carp River. The southern boundary is loosely along Flewellyn Road and the western boundary is around Munster Road.
History
Stittsville, which was named after the first postmaster, Jackson Stitt, was originally settled about 1820 around Hazeldean and Carp roads. But after much of the settlement was destroyed by fire in 1870, it was moved further south and closer to the railway. Today, the heart of the community remains the intersection of Abbott and Stittsville Main. It wasn’t until municipal sewer and water arrived in the mid-’80s that development really took off: in the 1970s, the population was about 3,000; by the year 2000 that had quadrupled to about 12,000.
Claim to fame
Stittsville is home to Canada’s first Energy Star community — Jackson Trails. It was built by Tartan Homes and Tamarack Homes in 2005. For many years, Stittsville was also home to the Stittsville Flea Market, which was hugely popular in its day and touted as one of the largest around but closed in 2004. Part of the flea market site has since been redeveloped.
Stittsville neighbourhoods
There are several, including:
- Amberwood Village
- Crossing Bridge
- Deer Run
- Fringewood
- Fairwinds
- Granite Ridge
- Jackson Trails
- Old Stittsville (the original village)
- Timbermere
- West Ridge
- Wyldewood
Who’s building where
- Abbott’s Run, Stittsville/Kanata: Minto Communities
- Blackstone, Kanata South/Stittsville: Cardel Homes
- Bradley Commons: Richcraft Homes, Urbandale Construction
- EdenWylde: Cardel Homes, Tamarack Homes, Tartan Homes
- Fairwinds South: Mattamy Homes
- Idylea: Tamarack Homes, Tartan Homes
- Shea Village: Patten Homes , Valecraft Homes
- Succession Court: Glenview Homes
- Traditions II: Mattamy Homes
- Westwood: Claridge Homes, Richcraft Homes, Tamarack Homes
In the area
Much like neighbouring Kanata, Stittsville is blessed by having a complete suite of amenities, services and well-developed infrastructure. Being outside the greenbelt, it is conveniently close to popular rural destinations such as Richmond, Almonte and Carp as well as having abundant natural attractions itself.
Schools
All four major school boards are represented with both elementary and secondary schools found throughout the community:
- English public: Ottawa Carleton District School Board school locator
- English Catholic: Ottawa Catholic School Board school locator
- French public: Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario school locator
- French Catholic: Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est school locator
There is also the Frederick Banting Alternative High School.
Businesses
In recent years, development has marched along Hazeldean Road to bring a selection of big box stores to the smaller boutique shops and services already in the area. Some of the area businesses include:
- Palladium Auto Park
- Tanger Outlets in neighbouring Kanata
- A trio of chain groceries (Independent, Sobeys and Food Basics, along with Farm Boy)
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- A trio of popular Italian restaurants: Cabotto’s, Napoli’s and Pocopazzo
- Jask spa
- Habitat ReStore
- Pretty Pots Flower Shop
Amenities
There are plenty, including:
- Trans Canada Trail, now called The Great Trail
- Cardelrec Recreation Complex Goulbourn
- Canadian Tire Centre in neighbouring Kanata
- Several sports fields
- Library
- Amberwood Village Golf & Country Club
- Off-leash dog park
- Multiple outdoor rinks
- Goulbourn Soccer Club
Services
As a well-established and robust community, Stittsville has a variety of services, with the exception of its own hospital. There are churches of various denominations. Other services include:
- Stittsville Village Association
- Stittsville Lions Club
- Stittsville Friendship Club
- Main Street Community Services
- Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre
Transit options
There is OC Transpo bus service to Stittsville, although it’s not as robust as more urban centres. Express commuter buses will go to downtown Ottawa in the morning and back in the afternoon and there is all-day bus service to major shopping centres in the urban core. There is also a Park & Ride on Carp Road just south of the Queensway. The Transitway is now extended to Moodie Drive and Light Rapid Transit is coming to nearby Kanata, but it is not expected before 2031.
The Queensway is a primary route to and from Stittsville, with secondary east-west routes on Hazeldean/Robertson Road through Bells Corners and West Hunt Club Road.