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Neighbourhood 01 of 01 · Ottawa

Sandy Hill

A central neighbourhood next to the University of Ottawa, with a long history and a mostly rental housing stock.

University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario (29775014520)
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario (29775014520). Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
13,840Population (2021 census) · source
9,065Private dwellings (2021) · source
29.8Median age (2021) · source
2Schools inside
16Parks & places inside
0Homes for sale here

Sandy Hill is a neighbourhood just east of downtown Ottawa, bordered by the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River. Population: 13,840 (2021).

Updated · Facts on this page link to their sources

The neighbourhood

About Sandy Hill

Sandy Hill is a neighbourhood just east of downtown Ottawa, bordered by the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River. The 2021 census counted 13,840 residents in 9,065 private dwellings, with a median age of 29.8. Most households (75.1%) rented, and apartments make up most of the housing. Historically the home of lumber barons and prime ministers, it now includes embassies, student housing and co-operatives.

Boundaries

Ottawa Neighbourhood Study area "Sandy Hill", described by Wikipedia as running from the Rideau Canal to the Rideau River and from Rideau Street to the Queensway and Nicholas Street. ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca

Homes

In the 2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, Sandy Hill had 9,065 private dwellings. Apartments in buildings of five or more storeys made up 45.7% and apartments in buildings under five storeys 37.5%, while single-detached houses were 6.3%, row houses 5.7% and semi-detached houses 3.4%. Renter households were 75.1% and owner households 24.9%. ons-sqo.ca

Highlights
  • Population of 13,840 in the 2021 census, with a median age of 29.8
  • University of Ottawa station on O-Train Line 1 about 0.6 km away (straight-line)
  • About 1.8 km (straight-line) from Parliament Hill
  • Ten parks in the City of Ottawa inventory, plus the Sandy Hill Community Centre and Sandy Hill Arena
  • French most spoken at home for 17.7% of residents (2021)
  • Embassies in former lumber-baron mansions, plus student housing and co-operatives

Community

History

How Sandy Hill came to be

Halloween decorations, Sandy Hill, Ottawa
Halloween decorations, Sandy Hill, Ottawa. Photo: Dmitri Lytov, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  1. 1960s

    The neighbourhood was predominantly francophone, and the 1960s Radio-Canada drama "La Côte de Sable" was set there. en.wikipedia.org

  2. Population grew after the Second World War, and many of the grand mansions became embassies. Wikipedia reports that the population dropped by 30% in the 1960s and 1970s. en.wikipedia.org

  3. The Strathcona Heights area in the far south, mostly low-rise subsidised and co-operative apartments, was completely redeveloped in the early 1990s. en.wikipedia.org

  4. The land was originally the estate of Louis-Théodore Besserer, who donated part of it to the University of Ottawa. It was subdivided and became home to most of Ottawa's lumber barons. en.wikipedia.org

  5. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Sandy Hill was Ottawa's wealthiest neighbourhood. After Ottawa became the capital it housed senior public servants and a Prime Minister, who lived at Stadacona Hall and later at what is now Laurier House. en.wikipedia.org

  6. Bridges over the canal, automobiles and streetcars made the area more accessible to downtown. The very wealthy began moving to Rockcliffe Park, and the neighbourhood became denser and more middle class. en.wikipedia.org

People & landmarks

Local names worth knowing

  • Wilfrid Laurier

    Prime Minister, listed on Wikipedia among past residents of Sandy Hill. en.wikipedia.org

  • William Lyon Mackenzie King

    Prime Minister, listed on Wikipedia among past residents of Sandy Hill. en.wikipedia.org

  • Lester B. Pearson

    Prime Minister, listed on Wikipedia among past residents of Sandy Hill. en.wikipedia.org

  • Elizabeth Smart

    Author, listed on Wikipedia among past residents of Sandy Hill. en.wikipedia.org

  • Ed Broadbent

    NDP Leader, listed on Wikipedia among past residents of Sandy Hill. en.wikipedia.org

  • Louis-Théodore Besserer

    Original owner of the estate that became Sandy Hill; he donated part of the land to the University of Ottawa. en.wikipedia.org

Map

Around Sandy Hill

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

Schools

10 nearby

Straight-line distances from the Sandy Hill 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

  • Sandy Hill Community Centre

    Community Centre

    250 Somerset St Eastmaps.ottawa.ca ottawa.ca

    180 m2 min walk

  • Annie Pootoogook Park

    Active Recreation park

    250 Somerset Street, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca

    230 m3 min walk

  • Outdoor rink, Sandy Hill Park and Community Centre

    Outdoor rink (winter, weather permitting)

    250 Somerset St. E.maps.ottawa.ca ottawa.ca

    250 m3 min walk

  • St. Germain Park

    Active Recreation park

    86 A Templeton Street, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca

    380 m5 min walk

  • Cindy Mitchell Park

    Active Recreation park

    288 Chapel Street, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca

    390 m5 min walk

  • Splash pad, Cindy Mitchell Park

    Splash pad (summer only)

    288 Chapel Street, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca ottawa.ca

    390 m5 min walk

  • Strathcona Park

    Active Recreation park · waterfront access

    25 Range Road, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca

    520 m7 min walk

  • Sandy Hill Arena

    Arena

    60 Mann Avemaps.ottawa.ca ottawa.ca

    580 m7 min walk

  • Sandy Hill Arena

    Active Recreation park

    60 Mann Avenue, Ottawamaps.ottawa.ca

    610 m8 min walk

  • Ottawa Public Library Rideau Branch

    Public Library

    377 Rideau Stmaps.ottawa.ca biblioottawalibrary.ca

    790 m10 min walk

The full parks & trails guide.

Shops & dining

10 nearby

The full shops & dining guide.

Getting around

Transit

  • Campus station

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

    openmaps.ottawa.ca

    560 m7 min walk

  • uOttawa station

    O-Train Line 1

    openwikidata.org en.wikipedia.org

    580 m7 min walk

  • Laurier South station

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

    openmaps.ottawa.ca

    730 m9 min walk

  • Laurier North station

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

    openmaps.ottawa.ca

    730 m9 min walk

  • O-Train

    uOttawa station is about 0.6 km away in a straight line (open; Line 1).

    wikidata.org

  • O-Train

    Lees station is about 1.0 km away in a straight line (open; Line 1).

    wikidata.org

  • Transitway / bus

    Campus station is about 0.6 km away in a straight line (open).

    maps.ottawa.ca

  • Downtown

    Parliament Hill is about 1.8 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 41 questions

    1. Is Sandy Hill a good place to live?

      That depends on what you want from a home. Sandy Hill is a central Ottawa neighbourhood about 1.8 km (straight-line) from Parliament Hill, with an O-Train station about 0.6 km away, 10 parks and a mostly apartment-based housing stock. In the 2021 census, 75.1% of households rented and the median age was 29.8.

      As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca en.wikipedia.org

    2. Where is Sandy Hill in Ottawa?

      Sandy Hill is a neighbourhood just east of downtown Ottawa. It is bordered on the west by the Rideau Canal and on the east by the Rideau River, according to Wikipedia. Its French name is Côte-de-Sable.

      As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org

    3. How far is Sandy Hill from downtown Ottawa?

      Sandy Hill's centre is about 1.8 km from Parliament Hill, measured in a straight line. Wikipedia describes the neighbourhood as located just east of downtown.

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

    4. What schools serve Sandy Hill?

      Nearby schools include Viscount Alexander Public School (OCDSB, about 0.5 km), Francojeunesse Public Elementary School (CÉPEO, about 0.3 km) and Sainte-Anne Catholic Elementary School (CECCE, about 0.9 km), all straight-line. Which school serves a given address depends on the board's catchment, so families must confirm with each board's school locator.

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

    5. Are there French-language schools in Sandy Hill?

      Yes. Francojeunesse Public Elementary School (CÉPEO) is about 0.3 km from Sandy Hill's centre in a straight line, and Sainte-Anne Catholic Elementary School (CECCE) is about 0.9 km. Public Elementary School Mauril Bélanger (CÉPEO) is about 1.2 km away, and De la Salle Public High School (CÉPEO) about 1.3 km.

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

    6. Which high schools are near Sandy Hill?

      The nearest secondary school to Sandy Hill is Lisgar Collegiate Institute (OCDSB), about 0.9 km away in a straight line. De la Salle Public High School (CÉPEO, French) is about 1.3 km away, and Immaculata High School (OCSB) is about 1.4 km from the neighbourhood centre.

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

    Sources for this page (48)
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