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Press Kit
Ottawa Valley Fast Facts
Location
The Ottawa Valley contains over 7645km of coursing waterways, rolling woodlands and dramatic landmasses, It cradles the historic Ottawa River along an ancient fault that runs between the 300m heights of the Laurentian Mountains in the southeast, from the national capital region of Ottawa, to the highlands of the Algonquin Dome, the lower portion of Algonquin Park in the southwest, In terms of area, it is in the largest county in Ontario (Renfrew County),
Approximately 95,000 people (Ontario Property Assessment Corporation) make the Ottawa Valley their home, These residents enjoy a high quality of life, rich cultural history and a rich diversity of natural features,
Driving Distances
(to western point of the Ottawa Valley)
|
ORIGIN |
HOURS |
|
ORIGIN |
HOURS |
|
Buffalo, NY |
6,5 hrs, |
|
Rochester, NY |
6 hrs, |
|
Chicago, IL |
13 hrs, |
|
North Bay, ON |
5 hrs, |
|
Cleveland, OH |
10 hrs, |
|
Kingston, ON |
2 hrs, |
|
Detroit, MI |
8,5 hrs, |
|
Niagara Falls, ON |
6 hrs, |
|
Philadelphia, PA |
12,25 hrs, |
|
Sault St, Marie, ON |
10,75 hrs, |
|
Milwaukee, WI |
14,5 hrs, |
|
Thunder Bay, ON |
20,5 hrs, |
|
Minneapolis, MN |
20,5 hrs, |
|
Toronto, ON |
4,5 hrs, |
|
New York, NY |
9,5 hrs, |
|
Windsor, ON |
8,5 hrs, |
|
Pittsburgh, PA |
10,75 hrs, |
|
Ottawa (Downtown) |
45 min, |
Largest City
Pembroke:
population:15,000
Airports
Served
by two local airports--the Pembroke and Area Airport and the South Renfrew
Municipal Airport,
Ottawa International Airport (45 minutes from the western point of the Ottawa Valley)
Waters
Over 900 lakes and four major river systems (Ottawa, Petawawa, Madawaska and Bonnechere) provide unlimited recreational and leisure opportunities,
Wildlfe
Over 400 species make their home in the Ottawa Valley’s mixed stands, swamps, fields, shrub lands and hedgerows, Includes beavers, moose, deer, bluebirds, thrushes, wrens, sparrows, owls, red-shouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk, bald eagles, swallows, phoebes, frogs and toads, woodpeckers, kestrels, ducks, raccoons, chipmunks, squirrels and wolves,
Fishing
Over 20 species of fish including Book Trout, Lake Trout, Splake, Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Bass and Channel Catfish,
Area Notables
- Canada’s only clock museum
- Towns and villages where the frontier spirit still prevails and "Valley" hospitality is legendary
- Historic waterways surrounded by cultural heritage points of interest
- Rolling hills that give way to vast hardwood forests set amidst the rugged beauty of the Canadian Shield with more than half the region is untouched wilderness
- Provincial parks as well as conservation areas feature abundant wildlife, roadside and interior campsites
- Eastern Gateway to Algonquin Park
- Wide range of angling opportunities
- Extensive four season trail network
- Ride the rough-and-tumble rapids of the Ottawa River on thrilling whitewater adventures that vary from half-day trips to multi-day excursions - considered the best whitewater east of the Rockies, Gentle rafting trips available for families,
- Scores of canoe and kayak routes on pristine waters
- Explore a labyrinth of strange twisting passages, stalactites and fossils of sea creatures that lived long before the dinosaurs at 500 million year old caves
- Celebrate country living surrounded by glorious fall colours on the "Rural Ramble" - a fascinating self-guided tour of the farms in the Ottawa Valley,
- Backroad driving and cycling tours during the spectacular fall foliage
- Artisans Tours
- Home of Zurakowski Park – tribute to Avro Arrow’s test pilot Janusz Zurakowski
- Over 100km of groomed cross country ski trails
- 2400kms of groomed TOP (Trans Ontario Provinical) Snowmobile Trails
- Winter Festivals and Ice Fishing Derbys
- Ontario’s highest vertical ski hill
- Home to Canada’s first polish settlement
- Heritage Farms
Wide choice of accommodations
- Hotel/motel
- Full service resorts
- Cottage/cabin rentals
- Bed & breakfasts
- Historic country inns
- Provincial and Private Campgrounds
Valuable Information Sources
(fact-checking, photos, etc)
Ottawa Valley Tourist Association,
Media Inquiries: Judy Hugli: jhugli@countyofrenfrew,on,ca
www,ottawavalley,org
(800)
757-6580
Ontario Parks (provincial parks),
www,OntarioParks,com
(800)
668-7275
Ontario Tourism,
www,ontariotravel,net
(800)
668-2746
Tourism Statistics
From 1999 to 2002, tourism has increased dramatically in the Ottawa Valley,
854,000 tourists travelled from 80km or more to the Ottawa Valley in 1999, They spent over 59 million dollars during that tourism season,
By 2002, visitors to the Valley increased by over 250,000
and their spending increased by over 42,4 million dollars,
(See chart below
for further details,)
|
Category |
Number of People |
Dollars Spent |
||||
|
|
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Province of Origin |
1,106,000 |
953,000 |
949,000 |
$101,568,00 |
$91,873,000 |
$76,416,000 |
|
NEWFOUNDLAND |
1,000 |
3,000 |
1,000 |
$381,000 |
$844,000 |
$219,000 |
|
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND |
1,000 |
0 |
0 |
$278,000 |
$42,000 |
$12,000 |
|
NOVA SCOTIA |
2,000 |
1,000 |
2,000 |
$960,000 |
$143,000 |
$418,000 |
|
NEW BRUNSWICK |
1,000 |
4,000 |
0 |
$108,000 |
$774,000 |
$25,000 |
|
QUÉBEC |
62,000 |
33,000 |
49,000 |
$5,221,000 |
$1,691,000 |
$2,475,000 |
|
ONTARIO |
1,022,000 |
898,000 |
891,000 |
$91,589,000 |
$83,207,000 |
$71,164,000 |
|
MANITOBA |
3,000 |
8,000 |
1,000 |
$1,179,000 |
$4,249,000 |
$323,000 |
|
SASKATCHEWAN |
- |
0 |
- |
- |
$284,000 |
- |
|
ALBERTA |
11,000 |
- |
- |
$1,474,000 |
- |
$1,781,000 |
| BRITISH COLUMBIA |
2,000 |
5,000 |
4,000 |
$379,000 |
$639,000 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Age Groups |
1,106,000 |
953,000 |
949,000 |
$101,568,00 |
$91,873,000 |
$76,416,000 |
|
UNDER 15 |
166,000 |
149,000 |
140,000 |
- |
- |
|
|
15 - 19 YEARS |
90,000 |
31,000 |
27,000 |
$5,012,000 |
$3,333,000 |
$1,357,000 |
|
20 - 24 |
52,000 |
85,000 |
100,000 |
$7,359,000 |
$20,463,000 |
$11,420,000 |
|
25 - 34 |
164,000 |
174,000 |
111,000 |
$11,561,000 |
$13,829,000 |
$8,311,000 |
|
35 - 44 |
179,000 |
175,000 |
119,000 |
$26,670,000 |
$19,337,000 |
$20,106,000 |
|
45 - 54 |
234,000 |
111,000 |
179,000 |
$34,762,000 |
$16,492,000 |
$12,787,000 |
|
55 - 64 |
91,000 |
152,000 |
194,000 |
$8,764,000 |
$11,535,000 |
$17,851,000 |
|
65 - 69 |
42,000 |
38,000 |
34,000 |
$2,081,000 |
$4,967,000 |
$1,471,000 |
|
70 YEARS & OVER |
88,000 |
38,000 |
44,000 |
$5,360,000 |
$1,916,000 |
$3,112,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One Way Trip Distance |
1,106,000 |
953,000 |
949,000 |
$101,568,00 |
$91,873,000 |
$76,416,000 |
|
80 - 159 KILOMETERS |
531,000 |
365,000 |
463,000 |
$20,878,000 |
$21,859,000 |
$27,652,000 |
|
160 - 319 KILOMETERS |
316,000 |
356,000 |
221,000 |
$30,337,000 |
$33,515,000 |
$14,543,000 |
|
320 - 799 KILOMETERS |
216,000 |
204,000 |
234,000 |
$39,995,000 |
$28,076,000 |
$29,787,000 |
|
800 - 1599 KILOMETERS |
22,000 |
14,000 |
17,000 |
$5,978,000 |
$5,425,000 |
$1,834,000 |
|
1600 - 3199 KILOMETERS |
14,000 |
7,000 |
6,000 |
$3,536,000 |
$2,183,000 |
$2,242,000 |
|
3200 KILOMETERS OR MORE |
8,000 |
8,000 |
8,000 |
$845,000 |
$816,000 |
$357,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Visit Duration |
1,106,000 |
953,000 |
949,000 |
$101,568,00 |
$91,873,000 |
$76,416,000 |
|
0 NIGHTS |
402,000 |
290,000 |
349,000 |
$12,573,000 |
$9,336,000 |
$12,303,000 |
|
1 NIGHT |
161,000 |
174,000 |
197,000 |
$12,376,000 |
$12,578,000 |
$11,594,000 |
|
2 NIGHTS |
232,000 |
191,000 |
200,000 |
$26,917,000 |
$15,677,000 |
$18,279,000 |
|
3 NIGHTS |
205,000 |
130,000 |
89,000 |
$17,469,000 |
$23,321,000 |
$11,984,000 |
|
4 NIGHTS |
23,000 |
74,000 |
56,000 |
$7,769,000 |
$6,957,000 |
$12,727,000 |
|
5 - 9 NIGHTS |
71,000 |
70,000 |
40,000 |
$20,977,000 |
$18,667,000 |
$7,395,000 |
|
10 - 16 NIGHTS |
1,000 |
22,000 |
14,000 |
$499,000 |
$4,931,000 |
$1,914,000 |
|
17 - 30 NIGHTS |
11,000 |
3,000 |
2,000 |
$2,988,000 |
$406,000 |
$82,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trip Activities |
1,106,000 |
953,000 |
949,000 |
$101,568,00 |
$91,873,000 |
$76,416,000 |
|
VISITING FRIENDS |
450,000 |
288,000 |
389,000 |
$52,076,000 |
$40,530,000 |
$36,807,000 |
|
VISITING RELATIVES |
528,000 |
546,000 |
529,000 |
$43,810,000 |
$46,701,000 |
$32,610,000 |
|
SHOPPING |
346,000 |
325,000 |
339,000 |
$38,193,000 |
$42,965,000 |
$34,769,000 |
|
SIGHTSEEING |
254,000 |
164,000 |
189,000 |
$27,014,000 |
$20,945,000 |
$19,708,000 |
|
ATTEND A FESTIVAL, FAIR OR EXHIBITION |
67,000 |
46,000 |
20,000 |
$7,479,000 |
$5,848,000 |
$2,980,000 |
|
ATTEND CULTURAL EVENTS (PLAYS, CONCERTS) |
24,000 |
29,000 |
31,000 |
$2,346,000 |
$2,475,000 |
$3,461,000 |
|
ATTEND ABORIGINAL /NATIVE CULTURAL EVENT |
- |
25,000 |
20,000 |
- |
$2,014,000 |
$1,412,000 |
|
ATTEND SPORTS EVENT |
66,000 |
42,000 |
88,000 |
$8,481,000 |
$3,754,000 |
$3,659,000 |
|
VISIT A MUSEUM OR ART GALLERY |
35,000 |
13,000 |
19,000 |
$2,142,000 |
$2,699,000 |
$2,575,000 |
|
VISIT A ZOO, AQUARIUM, BOTANICAL GARDEN |
11,000 |
3,000 |
8,000 |
$811,000 |
$489,000 |
$277,000 |
|
VISIT A THEME OR AMUSEMENT PARK |
19,000 |
58,000 |
9,000 |
$3,047,000 |
$2,958,000 |
$1,547,000 |
|
VISIT A NATIONAL OR PROVINCIAL PARK |
105,000 |
32,000 |
108,000 |
$15,348,000 |
$5,428,00 |
$10,914,000 |
|
VISIT AN HISTORIC SITE |
55,000 |
45,000 |
29,000 |
$11,554,000 |
$5,360,000 |
$4,241,000 |
|
WENT TO A BAR OR NIGHTCLUB |
50,000 |
66,000 |
68,000 |
$12,348,000 |
$9,910,000 |
$13,642,000 |
|
WENT TO A CASINO |
9,000 |
2,000 |
2,000 |
$2,593,000 |
$225,000 |
$404,000 |
|
TOOK A CRUISE OR BOAT TRIP |
64,000 |
28,000 |
26,000 |
$1,727,000 |
$4,554,000 |
$3,158,000 |
|
PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS /OUTDOOR ACTIVITY |
601,000 |
317,000 |
309,000 |
$60,936,000 |
$45,026,000 |
$32,399,000 |
|
SWIMMING |
215,000 |
96,000 |
119,000 |
$29,710,000 |
$16,144,000 |
$16,029,000 |
|
BOATING |
243,000 |
88,000 |
83,000 |
$31,890,000 |
$15,567,000 |
$14,475,000 |
|
OTHER WATER-BASED ACTIVITIES |
57,000 |
20,000 |
17,000 |
$10,716,000 |
$6,242,000 |
$1,808,000 |
|
GOLFING |
116,000 |
37,000 |
87,000 |
$15,300,000 |
$4,593,000 |
$14,021,000 |
|
HUNTING |
2,000 |
9,000 |
2,000 |
$450,000 |
$1,209,000 |
$1,229,000 |
|
FISHING |
90,000 |
59,000 |
71,000 |
$18,945,000 |
$7,328,000 |
$3,839,000 |
|
BIRD OR WILDLIFE VIEWING |
85,000 |
52,000 |
23,000 |
$13,680,000 |
$9,255,000 |
$4,098,000 |
|
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING |
6,000 |
- |
|
$1,355,000 |
- |
- |
|
DOWNHILL SKIING |
24,000 |
42,000 |
||||