October 6th, 2022 | Westboro Village

Westboro – The Urban Village with a Beach

Westboro is one of Ottawa’s newest neighbourhoods; its first residents in the late nineteenth century were attracted to the area by the promise of ‘views of the Laurentian mountains’, which we now call the Gatineau Hills. Locals often refer to the area as Westboro Village, as it has a welcoming feel that the local community association and residents work hard to cultivate and retain. The main street of Richmond Road is filled with incredible restaurants, cafes, shopping and features many businesses that cater to the outdoor enthusiast.

Incredible amenities less than 15 minutes from all homes

This neighbourhood attracts young professionals, families, and downsizers due to the number of amenities near your doorstep. Wherever you live, you are 600m from a public transport point, half a kilometre to three restaurants and less than a 15-minute walk to the other 24 (at last count). All residents are also 800m from at least three grocery stores, which are interspersed with specialty food stores, cafes, shops, and boutiques. Add in fantastic schools, neighbourhood events, a beach, and a friendly and welcoming community and you can see why Westboro is an outstanding and sought-after neighbourhood in Ottawa.

Interested in learning about more fantastic Ottawa neighbourhoods? Read our comprehensive guide to moving to Ottawa right here.

The homes of Westboro

Westboro went through a fast period of gentrification in the early 2000s which can be seen in the many elegant and thoughtfully renovated homes, the majority of which were built between 1900 and 1960. They offer real curb appeal as neighbours keep their gardens well-tended and all trees and shrubs are well established. Most homes are detached, on good sized lots, offering the opportunity to create a pleasant outdoor oasis.

Due to the amenities, green space and amazing schools, there has been extensive development in Westboro over the last 10 years; stunning infills that win awards sit among the older homes, and modern condo towers have been added to accommodate demand.

Learn more about some of our favourite Ottawa neighbourhoods here:

Some of Ottawa’s finest dining, drinking, and shopping

The neighbourhood offers a retail and dining experience that rivals other neighbourhoods in Ottawa; perfect if you like to walk to everything and enjoy the buzz of a thriving community.

There are many dining guides on the area, some specifically pertaining to the many patios for summer fun, but you can really find everything here; French cuisine, fine curries, tapas, and if you have a sweet tooth, macarons, gourmet donuts and cupcakes can all be enjoyed within a few blocks. For fresh local produce, Westboro also has a farmers market every Saturday from spring to fall.

If you like to shop outdoors rather than in a mall, you can easily spend a day along Richmond Road browsing the local stores that feature high-end fashion, unique jewelry, wellness centres and artwork. Westboro is also a destination for outdoor enthusiasts with shopping at Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), Bushtukah, Westend Kids and Lululemon Athletica.

Beaches, bike trails and the Ottawa River

After a hard day of work or shopping, you can head to the sandy beach and enjoy a cocktail and watch the sunset at Westboro Beach. The beach has its own community association that arranges fun activities and water sports throughout the summer. Imagine being able to enjoy a swim or paddleboard all summer long, just a short walk from your home!

If you want more of a workout, you can hop onto the Trans Canada Trail along with the other runners, cyclists, walkers, roller bladers and pole walkers. Once the snow arrives, you can switch to fat biking or snowshoeing.

Westboro also has five parks where you can enjoy the wading pools, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, sports fields, volleyball and outdoor skating rink. At the west end of Westboro is Maplelawn Garden, a designated national historical site, dating back to 1831. The Keg Manor restaurant is beside the garden, a lovely place to walk after a delicious steak dinner.

Events and activities throughout the year

The active community association and festival creators make sure there is something to do all year round. In May there is Shop the Village where you will be able to enter competitions and sample products while stilt walkers and other entertainers line the streets. In June the community hosts the Richmond Road Night Market, the Wild, Wild Westboro Garage Sale, and in October the Wickedly Westboro Scavenger Hunt where you will search for ghosts and goblins in the store windows to win prizes.

Ottawa has a ton of incredible events and activities. Learn more about various annual events in Ottawa here.

Schools and health care

There are five great schools in the Westboro area, Broadview Public School, Westboro Montessori, Hilson Public School, Churchill Alternative School, Nepean High School, Notre Dame Catholic High School, in addition to others in the neighbouring communities of Wellington Village and Hintonburg.

For family and individual healthcare, there are several pharmacies, dentists, optometrists, and two medical centres in Westboro Village. It is very hard to find something that this vibrant neighbourhood does not have.

The Chell Team is just a phone call or email away. Contact us to arrange a meeting with Susan Chell, Patti Brown or Sarah Toll to book your Home Buyer’s Consultation , your free home market evaluation, or check out the Chell Team real estate listings.

We acknowledge

We acknowledge that Westboro, Ottawa, was built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinaabe Territory. To learn more about the Algonquin peoples and their history, go to Algonquins of Ontario website.