When in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, there's a feeling that you're surrounded by ambitious professionals who’ve moved to Ottawa to focus on their professional growth. If you're excited to build your coding portfolio, you'll be in good company here in Ottawa.

Known for being a government city, Ottawa is quickly becoming known as a tech hub, too. It’s not uncommon for newcomers to find themselves surrounded by talented people from all over the world looking to network and build their coding portfolio.

Location

The Lighthouse Labs office and classrooms are conveniently located in downtown Ottawa just steps away from Parliament Hill at Spaces on 66 Slater Street.

Transportation

Our space is a five-minute walk from the Parliament Light Rail Transportation (LRT) stop, or a 15-minute walk from the Rideau center where many bus lines connect. Parking downtown is an option but considerably more expensive, and it can be challenging to find a space.

For public transit, a monthly unlimited LRT pass is $119.50. You can pay for individual rides for $3.60 each or $3.55 when you use a Presto card. A popular option is to purchase a Presto card and link it to a credit card to automatically reload when your balance runs low. For more information on public transportation in Ottawa, visit OC Transpo.

Alternatives to public transit include Uber, Lyft, and regular taxi. Please note that if you are commuting from the province of neighboring Quebec, Uber and Lyft do not operate there.

Housing & Accommodation

For short-term housing, Airbnb or Vrbo are your best bet. Community boards such as Craigslist and Kijiji are also good resources.

The average rent for a one bedroom in Ottawa is $1,597 a month, according to the Rentals.ca December 2019 Rent Report. If you decide to rent a room within an apartment and have a roommate, you can expect to pay around $700 a month. Neighborhoods that are within walking distance of the Lighthouse Labs office include the predominantly University of Ottawa student area Sandy Hill, Centertown, Golden Triangle and Lower Town. Just a short walk across the Ottawa River is the town Hull in the province of Quebec. Hull is a popular area where rents are known to be even more affordable than downtown Ottawa.

Where to Eat/Drink

There are many places around Lighthouse Labs Ottawa where you can find something quick to eat or drink. Local favorite The Scone Witch just a few blocks away offers breakfast and coffee, and there are multiple Starbucks and Tim Hortons within a few blocks of the LHL space for a quick caffeine fix. If you're looking for several lunch options in just one place, try Queen St. Fare for everything from burgers to Mexican food.

Nearby Lunch Restaurants

Fitness Centre/Gyms

To stay healthy and strong during bootcamp, you have your pick of nearby gyms and fitness centers. These options are a close walk to and from Lighthouse Labs Ottawa: * UVU Fitness offers 45-minute full body conditioning classes * Spinco is just a block away and offers heart pounding spin classes * GoodLife Fitness has several convenient full gym locations within walking distance

Fun

Our office is steps away from the Rideau Center and the Byward Market where students can be found socializing and window shopping. Other popular hangout spots include Level One Game Pub on Rideau Street and the National Arts Centre. In addition to excellent music and theater programs, the NAC has a sleek coffee bar ideal for people-watching and getting caught up on your LHL projects.

If you find some time outside of the classroom, other Ottawa activities include hiking, cross-country skiing in the nearby Gatineau Hills, ice skating the Rideau Canal and enjoying a Beavertail while on the ice. If bootcamp has you craving some rest and relaxation, you can treat yourself to a thermal spa experience at the world-class Nordik Spa, just a 20-minute drive from downtown Ottawa.

Check out the nearby neighborhood of Hintonburg for an abundance of local cafes, artisanal pastry shops, and the Feline Cafe where you can cuddle rescue cats while enjoying a latte. A short walk away is the picturesque Westboro neighborhood, ideal for exploring.

For a fun night out, look out for the latest Nature Nocturne event at the Canadian Museum of Nature or grab a drink at the hip Charlotte lounge on Elgin Street. If hockey is your game, it's only a 45-minute drive outside of Ottawa to catch a Senators game, or you can stay downtown to see the major junior league team the Ottawa 67's play.

We can't wait to host you in our new Ottawa space!

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