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| The
Ottawa River and Pont Alexandra Bridge 1 |
|
Colourful, lush garden parks
combine with chic, European-style urban flair in Gatineau,
the city that, by its own proclamation, acts as La porte d'entrée du Québec
(the gateway to Quebec).
Gatineau is perhaps best
known as the city across the river from Ottawa,
Canada's capital city, but what many may not realize is that Gatineau is a destination
worth visiting in its own right, not merely as a minor distraction for visitors
to Ottawa.
Known commonly by its former
name, Hull, this vibrant community has everything necessary for a good visit,
including a wide range of accommodations
choices, dozens of fascinating attractions,
a good selection of shops
and restaurants,
and activities
to suit every member of the family.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
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Outdated
Sign Leading to Gatineau |
Gatineau is the collective
name assumed on January 1, 2002 by five adjacent municipalities: Hull, Gatineau,
Aylmer, Buckingham and Masson-Angers. Up until recently, Hull was known as the
predominant community among these, though Gatineau was technically larger in
terms of population, and therefore the new city was named Gatineau, as that
name represented the bulk of the city's population.
Because of their proximity
to one another, Gatineau and Ottawa are often grouped together and referred
to collectively as Canada's National Capital Region.
HISTORY AND ECONOMY
Before it was known as Gatineau,
and even before it was known as Hull, the settlement north of the Ottawa River
was known as Wright's Town, while Ottawa had taken on the name Bytown. The region's
importance was established in the early 1800's, when, following the War of 1812,
Canadian troops decided they needed quicker access between Montreal
and Kingston
(Canada's original capital city) and began construction on the Rideau
Canal, which would link the Ottawa River to Lake Ontario at Kingston.
Ottawa and Gatineau, conveniently located at the convergence of the Rideau Canal
and the Ottawa River, were henceforth considered an important trading and military
hub for early Canada.
Gatineau is situated in
the Outaouais
region of Quebec, a region that is known for its vast supplies of lumber, and
in its early days, Hull/Gatineau was largely run by wealthy lumber barons that
exploited and profited from the land. Too frugal to purchase a water pump or
support a fire department, many lumber magnates watched in horror as massive
fires consumed vast amounts of processed dry lumber in 1900 and went on to burn
many homes and buildings in the surrounding region. Les Grands Incendies (The
Great Fires) as they are called today are remembered by citizens of Gatineau
through archives found at the National
Library of Canada.
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| A
View of Parliament from Gatineau |
|
Former Prime Minister Mackenzie
King, who spent an incredible 21 years in the top office, showed particular
fondness for the Gatineau region. In 1936, he embarked on a mission to clean
up the former industrial town while preserving the natural habitat and beauty
of the area. This mission lasted well into the 1970s and saw the formation of
several parks
and gardens that stand beside waterways, government buildings and streets
throughout the region. King's favourite spot, Gatineau
Hills, is now a beautiful park offering 363 km² (140 mi²) of natural
riverside landscape.
Over the past few decades,
the government has taken steps to further mould the Ottawa/Gatineau region into
a city that positively represents Canada on an international stage through further
development of the tourism industry, including the restoration and creation
of attractions, activities and festivals.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Visitors to the city of
Gatineau will find that accommodations are mainly limited to hotels
and motels, although a few B&Bs
are also available in the region. Hotel accommodations in Gatineau vary from
basic to deluxe. The amount of accommodations
available in Ottawa is more than triple that of Gatineau, so finding
a place to stay in the National Capital Region is rarely a problem.
ARTS & CULTURE
The municipal government
of Gatineau is committed to both supporting and promoting its thriving arts
community, and subsequently, Gatineau is home to a number of galleries and theatres,
particularly the Montcalm
Gallery and Theatre
de l'Île (the Theatre of the Island).
| |
|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Precip. |
|
Min |
Max |
| Jan
|
-5ºC
(23ºF) |
-15ºC
(5ºF) |
58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb |
-4ºC
(25ºF) |
-13ºC
(9ºF) |
59
mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar
|
2ºC
(36ºF) |
-6ºC
(21ºF) |
65
mm (2.6 in) |
| Apr |
11ºC
(52ºF) |
0ºC
(32ºF) |
69
mm (2.7 in) |
| May
|
19ºC
(66ºF) |
7ºC
(45ºF) |
76
mm (3.0 in) |
| Jun
|
24ºC
(75ºF) |
12ºC
(54ºF) |
77
mm (3.0 in) |
| Jul |
26ºC
(79ºF) |
15ºC
(59ºF) |
88
mm (3.5 in) |
|
Aug |
25ºC
(77ºF) |
14ºC
(57ºF) |
92
mm (3.6 in) |
|
Sep |
20ºC
(68ºF) |
9ºC
(48ºF) |
83
mm (3.3 in) |
|
Oct |
13ºC
(55ºF) |
3ºC
(37ºF) |
75
mm (3.0 in) |
|
Nov |
5ºC
(41ºF) |
-2ºC
(28ºF) |
86
mm (3.4 in) |
|
Dec |
-3ºC
(28ºF) |
-11ºC
(12ºF) |
83
mm (3.3 in) |
|
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Climate
data from the Weather Network Canada |
Preservation of the Quebecois
and Aboriginal cultures is of particular importance to the government, so visitors
can expect to see these themes highlighted in art shows and productions throughout
the National Capital Region.
CLIMATE
Summers in Gatineau are
hot and often humid. A fair amount of rain falls during July and August, leading
to lush vegetation. In fall, the leaves turn amazingly vivid shades of yellow,
orange and red and the temperatures are mild, and sometimes even quite warm.
Large amounts of rain in November turn to snow in December, but the snowfall
usually drops off in January. Winter in Gatineau can be bitterly cold, sometimes
with freezing rain. However, the region warms up in late March and the flowers
that Gatineau is famous for start to bloom. Spring is often touted as the time
to visit the National Capital Region, as temperatures are mild and the brightly
coloured flowers are simply amazing.
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| Autumn
Colours at Gatineau's Pink Lake 2 |
|
TRANSPORATION
In and out of Gatineau
Gatineau has a small
municipal airport, but it is typically only visited by small charter
jets. Subsequently, most flyers head to Ottawa's
Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. Ottawa also offers passenger
train service to and from Toronto
and Montreal.
The region surrounding Gatineau
is plagued by the lack of a major highway system, and with only one small highway
connecting Gatineau with Montreal, many people head to Ottawa and hit Ontario's
modern highway system to reach eastern and central Quebec.
Around Gatineau
Gatineau has a decent
road system with several major roads connecting the communities within the region.
Several bridges also connect Gatineau to the city of Ottawa, although once in
Ottawa, traffic can sometimes be heavy. Parking in Gatineau is rarely a problem,
and if spots on the street can't be found, a reasonably-priced parking garage
is usually located nearby.
Gatineau and Ottawa each
offer public transportation networks which together can provide access to all
points in the region. However, each city's public transit system is separate
and has its own fare schedule and connection points, sometimes making it difficult
to navigate the region. Gatineau's public transit system is called Societe
de Transport de L'Outaouais (STO) and Ottawa's is OC
Transpo.
FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
Situated on the shores of the Ottawa River and divided down the middle by the
Gatineau River, the city of Gatineau is covered by rolling hills, lush vegetation
and cool, refreshing lakes. A city of parks, Gatineau has several recreation
areas that should not be missed, including Jacques
Cartier Park, which offers terrific views of downtown Gatineau and the
Rideau Canal, and the Leamy
Lake Park, which offers windsurfing and swimming opportunities.
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The
Canadian Museum of Civilization 3 |
Gatineau is the home of
the celebrated Canadian
Museum of Civilization, which honours Canada's human history, from the
early days of the First Nations people to the present-day population. The museum
offers fascinating ever-changing exhibits that delve into the history of civilizations
throughout the world. The museum also has several sub-museums located within
its walls, including the Canadian Children's museum, the Canadian Postal Museum,
the Canadian War Museum and the Virtual Museum of New France.
Few loved Gatineau as much
as Canada's longest-running Prime Minister, Mackenzie King, and it was here
that he chose to establish the sprawling estate which he would spend a large
portion of his life in. The
Mackenzie King Estate, which now lies within the boundaries of Gatineau
Park, is the place in which he lived and died, and visitors today are welcome
to tour the extensive grounds, complete with walking trails and stone ruins.
Situated on the shore of
a picturesque lake, the Casino
Du Lac Leamy is a world-class facility that attracts people who come
with dollar signs in their eyes and leave with dollar bills in their hands,
if they're lucky. The casino has all the makings for a classy night out—exciting
gaming opportunities, fine dining establishments, live entertainment venues
and posh hotel accommodations.
Gatineau's signature event
is the world-famous Gatineau
Hot Air Balloon Festival. Balloons of all shapes and sizes head to La
Baie Park to compete among the best of the best of the hot air balloon
world. This unique festival is one of the most popular celebrations in the National
Capital Region and so it should be—where else can one see a giant beagle, bumblebee
or Vincent Van Gogh likening cruising through the summer sky?
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Jason Kipfer; The
Ottawa River and Pont Alexandra Bridge; Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
- Jason Kipfer; Autumn
Colours at Gatineau's Pink Lake; Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
- Jason Kipfer; The
Canadian Museum of Civilization; Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
