Ottawa-Gatineau

Linguistically diverse

June 1, 2024 By Julie Summers Walker

Canada, we Americans think, is just like us. No language barrier, no reason to brush up on another language.

Restaurant L'Aviateur.

That is until you go into a Tim Horton’s (Canada’s answer to Dunkin’) in Gatineau and try to order. Gatineau, the Quebec side of Ottawa-Gatineau, the country’s capital, is fiercely French. Café we could handle, the French translation for sausage muffin we could not. Both English and French are official languages in this twin city area where the Ottawa River bisects Ontario and Quebec. Both sides of the river are charming, downtown Ottawa a bit more lively although the Gatineau side offers innovative restaurants and artscapes too. Poutine can be found in either place for those of you who like that sort of thing. Aviation is strong in the area. The Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport (CYND) is a welcoming GA airport with a great restaurant (try the Aviator’s omelet) and nearby is the Canada Aviation and Space Museum near the prime minister’s mansion where 130 aircraft are on display including a World War II Avro Lancaster bomber.

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