Boundaries
Hemlock Avenue and Beechwood Avenue on the north, the Queensway on the south, the Rideau River on the west, and St. Laurent Boulevard on the east.
History
European settlement of what is now Vanier began in the 1820s and took off after Charles Cummings built a bridge across the Rideau River in the late 1830s. Several communities — including Janeville, Clandeboye and Clarkstown — merged in 1909 to become Eastview, and the community was renamed Vanier in 1969.
Religious orders played a large role in Vanier’s development: a community of missionaries was based in what is now Richelieu Park, the Montfortian Fathers built several churches, and the Daughters of Wisdom built a boarding school and convent.
Vanier was traditionally francophone, but today, a slight majority of residents speak English at home. To the south, English is the primary language in Overbrook. However, the mother tongue of about 33 per cent of residents in that ethno-culturally diverse community is neither English nor French.
Overbrook was settled later than Vanier, although a house built by Nicholas Sparks in 1865 still stands on North River Road. Both communities once boasted a range of industries, partly because the Bytown and Prescott Railway ran right through the area; today’s Vanier Parkway follows part of its route.
Claims to fame
Vanier is home to Ottawa’s only urban sugar bush. Located in Richelieu Park, it runs a maple syrup festival each spring. In Vanier, you’ll also find a striking, curvilinear building housing the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, designed by Indigenous architect Douglas Cardinal.
Vanier–Overbrook neighbourhoods
The community is just east of downtown, across the Rideau River from Sandy Hill and Lower Town. McArthur Avenue and Grant Toole Way divide Vanier to the north from Overbrook to the south.
Subsections of these neighbourhoods include Kingsview Park and Castle Heights.
Who’s building where
- St. Charles Market: ModBox
New-build rentals
- 460 St. Laurent: Brigil
- Coventry: Richcraft Rentals
- The Spark: Longwood Building Corporation
In the area
A majority of the homes were built before 1980 and many are still relatively inexpensive. The neighbourhood has several subsidized housing developments and many social services offices, and the Salvation Army wants to build a large community hub on Montreal Road. However, Vanier–Overbrook is also slowly being gentrified, and sleek apartment blocks are springing up along the Vanier Parkway. Streets close to the Rideau River have some of the area’s most expensive single-family houses.
Schools
Vanier–Overbrook has a full range of English and French elementary schools, as well as Ottawa Technical Secondary School; other high schools are more distant.
- English public: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
- English Catholic: Ottawa Catholic School Board
- French public: Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
- French Catholic: Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est
Vanier-Overbrook is also home to the Ahlul-Bayt Islamic School, the Rockcliffe Montessori Pre-School and the VINCI School (which combines Montessori and Reggio elements).
Businesses
Vanier–Overbrook’s retailers and restaurants are clustered along Montreal Road, St. Laurent Boulevard and, to a lesser extent, McArthur Avenue and Donald Street. The neighbourhood is home to several government offices — notably, a major Royal Canadian Mounted Police facility. Other businesses include:
- FreshCo McArthur
- Loblaws
- Metro
- Moussa Mini-Market and Meat Shop
- Ola Cocina Taqueria
- Vanier Grill
- Bobby’s Table
- Finnegan’s Pub
- Creole Sensations
- LCBO
- Beer Store
- Louis Pizza
- Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa East
- Hampton Inn by Hilton Ottawa
- Best Buy
- Toys R Us
- Canadian Tire
Amenities
Attractions in the Vanier–Overbrook area include:
- St. Laurent Shopping Centre
- Vanier Museopark
- Bernard Grandmaître Arena
- Rideau Sports Centre
- Richelieu–Vanier Community Centre
- Overbrook Community Centre
- Genest Outdoor Pool
- Ottawa Public Library (St. Laurent and Vanier branches)
- Odawa Native Friendship Centre
- St-Laurent Complex (indoor pool, arena, fitness centre)
- Ottawa Stadium (RCGT Park)
- Ottawa Train Station
- Green and recreational space, including the Rideau River, recreational trails, pedestrian/cycling routes, parks and the lush grounds of Beechwood Cemetery
Services
Services in Vanier–Overbrook include medical offices, churches, salons, banks, gas stations, retirement homes and daycare centres.
Transit options
The community is served by multiple public transit routes: octranspo.com. Highway 417 is also nearby and there are bike paths.