Use this glossary when an official website or guide assumes local knowledge.
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Bytown
The settlement name used before Ottawa was incorporated under its current name.
Capital Region
The Ottawa–Gatineau region, which includes federal lands and attractions on both sides of the Ottawa River.
Centre Block
The central Parliament building, currently closed for a major rehabilitation project.
NCC
National Capital Commission, a federal Crown corporation responsible for many capital-region lands and programs.
OC Transpo
Ottawa’s public transit service, including buses and the O-Train.
O-Train
Ottawa’s light-rail network.
STO
Société de transport de l’Outaouais, the public transit service on the Gatineau side.
Ottawa Locks
The flight of Rideau Canal locks at the canal’s northern entrance below Parliament Hill.
Rideau Canal Skateway
The weather-dependent winter skating surface managed by the NCC on part of the Rideau Canal.
ByWard Market
A historic central neighbourhood and market district east of Parliament Hill.
Lansdowne
An event, sports and public-space district beside the Glebe and Rideau Canal.
Gatineau Park
A large conservation park in Quebec north of central Ottawa–Gatineau.
Timed admission
A reservation that permits entry during a specified period.
Transfer window
The period during which a transit fare permits connecting rides under current rules.
O-Payment
OC Transpo contactless fare payment using an accepted bank card or mobile wallet.
Presto
A reloadable fare card used on OC Transpo and other Ontario transit systems.
National museum
A federally designated museum with a national mandate; several are located in Ottawa and Gatineau.
Shoulder season
A travel period between the busiest high season and the quietest low season.
Winterlude
A major winter festival held in the National Capital Region.
Tulip Festival
Ottawa’s annual spring festival associated with large public tulip displays.
Canada Day
July 1 national celebrations, which create special programming and access changes in the capital.
Unceded territory
Land not surrendered through treaty; Ottawa is on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.
Multi-use pathway
A route shared by people walking, cycling and using other permitted forms of mobility.
Para Transpo
Ottawa’s book-ahead shared-ride transit service for eligible customers unable to use conventional transit.
Visit Ottawa Pass
A tourism pass product whose current attractions, price and conditions must be checked with Ottawa Tourism.
Ottawa Museums Pass
A pass for participating museums and galleries, offered in current one-day and three-day forms as of 2026.
Major’s Hill Park
A central NCC park between the Parliament/locks area and ByWard Market.
Sparks Street
A pedestrian-oriented downtown street near Parliament.
Dow’s Lake
A widened part of the Rideau Canal associated with pathways, recreation and nearby gardens.
Dominion Arboretum
A public collection of trees and plants at the Central Experimental Farm near the canal.
West Block
The Parliament building currently housing the House of Commons chamber during Centre Block rehabilitation.
Senate of Canada Building
The temporary home of the Senate during Centre Block rehabilitation.
Ottawa Visitor Centre
The in-destination visitor information centre at 54 Elgin Street, with an accessible entrance at 52 Elgin Street.
YOW
The airport code for Ottawa International Airport.
Line 4
The O-Train airport line connecting YOW with South Keys.
South Keys
A transit interchange used for airport rail connections.
Wellington Street
The street along the front of Parliament Hill and several national institutions.
Rideau Hall
The official residence of the Governor General, with grounds and visitor programming subject to current access rules.
Ottawa River
The river separating central Ottawa, Ontario, from Gatineau, Quebec.
Outaouais
The Quebec region across the Ottawa River that includes Gatineau and surrounding destinations.