Transportation/Around Town
How to get to campus
Carleton University is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, alongside the historic Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The campus is a 15-20 minute cab ride from the airport (depending on traffic) and a 20-30 minute bus ride from downtown by bus.
The cost of parking is $9.00 per day or $35 per week. Passes can be purchased in Residence Commons (weekly or daily) as well as Parking Services. Daily parking can also be purchased on a daily basis from the Pay and Display machines in the parking lots.
Airport Commuter:
Tickets for the commuter service between hotels/residences and the Ottawa International Airport are available for purchase upon arrival at the Airport Desk located in the Arrivals terminal, opposite the baggage carousels at the airport.
Taxis:
A number of licensed taxi companies operate in Ottawa. The following are a few of the companies that provide this service:
- Blue Line: 613-238-1111
- Capital Taxi: 613-744-3333
- DJs Taxi: 613-829-9900; 613-829-9011
Public Transit:
Carleton’s main bus terminal is located beside the Minto CASE Building. The O-Train station is located between Campus Avenue and
University Drive.
OC-Transpo buses stop at four locations on campus:
- The campus entrance, at Bronson and Sunnyside
- Campus Avenue, in front of the Residence Commons
- Campus Avenue, in front of the Minto CASE Building
- University Drive, in front of the Recreation and Athletic Centre
On campus
Food is available on campus, however, there are also a number of restaurant options a short 15 minute walk from the university in Old Ottawa South.
Attendees interested in exploring downtown (e.g. Parliament Hill, The Byward Market, and Elgin Street.) can choose to take a #4 or #7 bus from the centre of campus in the direction of downtown or can take the O-Train in the direction of Bayview and then transfer on the Transitway to one of a number of eastbound buses. Check the OC Transpo website for more information and try their interactive Trip Planner.
If the weather is nice, a walk in the Arboretum might also be pleasant. The Arboretum is part of the Experimental Farm and is located 5 minutes walk from campus on the other side of the Canal (cross at Hartwell Locks). The eastern edge of the Arboretum is Dow's Lake. Pedal boats, canoes and kayaks are available for rent at Dow's Lake Pavilion where one can also find several restaurants with patios overlooking the lake. On the other side of the park is Preston Street also known as the Corso Italia, the heart of Ottawa's Little Italy.
Athletic facilities are available on campus and are open to the public. Check the web for information on pricing and schedules.
About the University
Founded in 1942, the university has a student population of 19,207 full-time students (undergraduate and graduate degrees) and more than 65 programs of study.
About the City
Ottawa is the Canada's capital and is situated along the shores of the Ottawa River which forms the border between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. With a population of more than 800,000, Ottawa is the sixth largest city in Canada.
June is a beautiful month in the city and, while you will have missed out on ice skating on the Rideau Canal and on watching the Ottawa Senators hockey team, if you choose to stay an extra two days you will have the opportunity to take part in Canada Day (July 1) festivities on Parliament Hill.
In addition to the Parliament Buildings, Ottawa and region offer many other landmarks to explore as well as a number of excellent museums. Also, not to be missed is the Sound and Light Show nightly through the summer.
For more on events in Ottawa during the week of 25 June, 2012:
- Canadian Museum of Civilization
- Carleton University Art Gallery
- Ottawa Fringe Festival
- Ottawa Xpress (free weekly event news)
- TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival
- Unisong
- Van Gogh Up Close Exhibit