Britannia Village

Britannia is bounded by the Ottawa River to the north, Richmond Road/Carling Avenue to the south, the Sir John A. MacDonald Parkway to the east, and Greenview Avenue to the west. The area has long enjoyed a reputation in the city for its excellent river access, parklands, proximity to the Mud Lake bird sanctuary, and recreation opportunities. Proximity to the multi-use pathway, enables easy access to summer and winter activities such as swimming, boating, walking, cycling and cross-country skiing.

Britannia has the characteristics of a 15-minute neighborhood.  This neighbourhood includes several smaller communities and shops, services and a major transit station within walking or cycling distance.

Britannia Village

Britannia Village is a unique community within Britannia which is largely defined by natural boundaries: the Ottawa River to the North and West, Mud Lake Conservation area to the east, and the old CPR line (now the Trans-Canada Trail) to the south.  It has a rich history, diverse housing with unique architectural character and easy access to local businesses, amenities and all-season recreational activities.  This community is adjacent to city-owned Britannia park and beach and is home to the Britannia Yacht Club (est. 1887), a private social, yachting, and tennis club located on an extension of land at the East end of Lac Deschênes near the Deschênes Rapids on the Ottawa River.

Initially, this community grew around property developed by Capt. John Lebreton in the early 1820s; a grist mill, sawmill and a house that he called Britannia. By the early 1900s, Britannia Village benefited from its location on Lac Deschênes, across from Aylmer QC as people sought out the area for pleasure activities; the Ottawa Electric Railway (OER) completed its streetcar line to a new park on Britannia Bay, a 1000-foot pier, auditorium, bathing houses, and pavilions, attracted up to 6000 visitors each day. Britannia Village remained a predominantly summer cottage community until after WWII, when large numbers of returning veterans moved to the area in search of affordable housing. Currently, the area has a rich mix of architectural housing styles including several designated heritage properties.

Loma Park

This community extends north from Carling Avenue to Howe Street, between Lincoln Heights to the east and Britannia Park to the west and is the gateway to Britannia Village.

A variety of housing options are available in this community including single family homes, high-rise condos, townhouses and social housing rental units.  The Olde Forge Community Resource Centre, a non-profit organization located in a historic building in the area offers programs and services to seniors and adults with disabilities.  Several businesses and amenities are within walking distance including grocery stores, banks, pet supplies, restaurants and convenience stores.

Lincoln Heights

Lincoln Heights (also known as Lincoln Heights – Parkway) is a community in the Britannia area bounded to the south by the north side of Regina Lane (now Starflower Lane), to the north by the Ottawa River, to the west by the east side of Croydon Avenue, and to the east by the Sir John A. MacDonald Parkway.  The greater Lincoln Heights area can be defined as extending as far west as Greenview Avenue and as far south as Carling Avenue although, historically this area has been referred to as Loma Park.

Construction plans for the neighbourhood were announced in 1958 by Assaly Construction Limited, with plans for a $20,000,000 “luxury sub-division” on the site of the Magee farm. The neighbourhood began to be built c. 1960 on Regina Street.  Following the removal of the Canadian Pacific Railway line (where today’s Plover Lane is), the neighbourhood expanded further north in the early 1970s with the construction of Lincoln Heights Road.

There are many high-rise condominiums and apartments in the neighbourhood. The area is notable for its proximity to the Ottawa River, Mud Lake bird sanctuary and Lincoln Fields LRT Station.

View Map

Community Associations & Organizations

Britannia Community Gardens https://sites.google.com/site/britanniacg/about-us
Britannia Village Community Association https://bvcaottawa.wordpress.com/
Britannia Woods Community House http://www.britanniawoods.com/
Lincoln Heights Parkway Community Association https://lhpca.wordpress.com/
The Olde Forge Community Resource Centre http://oldeforge.ca/the-olde-forge-catchment-area/
Winthrop Court Community House https://www.facebook.com/Winthrop-Court-Community-House-PQCHC-764437190355950/?fref=nf
YMCA/YWCA National Capital Region in Carlingwood http://www.ymcaywca.ca/locations/carlingwood+y/

View Photos

Trolley Station, Britannia Park

Britannia Beach

Transit Station, Lincoln Fields