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Neighbourhood 02 of 06 · Ottawa

Westboro Beach

The riverside streets between the Transitway and the Kichi Zibi Mikan, built around one of Ottawa's oldest swimming beaches.

Summer evening on the Ottawa River shoreline
Summer evening on the Ottawa River shoreline. Photo: Guapitomark, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
12,280Population (2021)* · source
6,790Private dwellings (2021)* · source
42.8Median age (2021)* · source
1Schools inside
4Parks & places inside
0Homes for sale here

* Ottawa Neighbourhood Study figures for its “Westboro (includes Westboro Beach)” area, which is larger than Westboro Beach alone.

Westboro Beach is the riverside part of Westboro, north of the Transitway, and the only part of the area with direct public access to the Ottawa River. From the Westboro Beach centre it is about 10 minutes to Churchill Alternative School (OCDSB), 10 to Natural Food Pantry and 7 to the future Westboro O-Train station (under construction, opening listed for 2027) on foot (OSRM estimates). The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study's 'Westboro (includes Westboro Beach)' area had 12,280 residents in the 2021 census.

Updated · Facts on this page link to their sources

Walk times

From the Westboro Beach centre

Walking and driving times to the nearest schools, O-Train stations and grocery stores.

Download the data
ToNearestWalkRouteDrive
Elementary schoolChurchill Alternative School (OCDSB)10 min780 m1 min
Elementary schoolSt. George School (OCSB, grades JK–6)19 min1.5 km3 min
Secondary schoolNepean High School (OCDSB, grades 9–12)25 min1.9 km4 min
Secondary schoolNotre Dame High School (OCSB, grades 7–12)33 min2.5 km6 min
O-Train (open)Tunney's Pasture28 min2.1 km4 min
O-Train (under construction)Westboro (opening listed for 2027, provisional)7 min510 m1 min
Grocery storeNatural Food Pantry10 min730 m2 min
Grocery storeFarm Boy10 min770 m2 min

Estimates from OSRM on OpenStreetMap data: walking at about 5 km/h on streets and paths (no waits at crossings), driving in free-flowing traffic. Calculated 2026-10-30. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

The neighbourhood

About Westboro Beach

Westboro Beach is the riverside part of Westboro, north of the Transitway, and the only part of the area with direct public access to the Ottawa River. Several transportation corridors run through it: the Transitway, the Trans Canada Trail, the Kichi Zibi Mikan, the NCC pathway system and the river itself. The NCC's Westboro Beach reopened on June 1, 2025 after a $21 million redevelopment that added a zero-carbon pavilion with a restaurant and cafe. Westboro's cottage-like houses survive mostly in this area north of Scott Street, and the community association says the area's growing popularity has brought new housing development. Richmond Road's shops are a few minutes' walk south.

Boundaries

Bounded by the Kichi Zibi Mikan (formerly the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway) and the Ottawa River to the north and west, the Transitway/LRT corridor along Scott Street to the south, and Island Park Drive to the east (Westboro Beach Community Association map). It is the part of greater Westboro north of the Transitway; the NCC beach itself sits just west of the residential area on the river. westborobeach.ca google.com

Homes

Small residential streets (e.g. Ferndale, Selby, Lanark, Clearview, Remic) between the Transitway and the parkway. Cottage-like houses survive here from the area's cottage-country days, and the WBCA reports that the area's growing popularity has brought new housing development. Neighbourhood-level housing statistics are not published separately: ONS includes Westboro Beach in its 'Westboro' area. en.wikipedia.org westborobeach.ca

Highlights
  • The only part of the area with direct public access to the Ottawa River
  • Westboro Beach about 0.38 km from the centre: supervised swimming (City lifeguards) in summer, kayak/paddleboard/canoe rentals and volleyball
  • NCC beach reopened June 1, 2025 with a zero-carbon pavilion, year-round restaurant, cafe, lookouts and playground
  • Winter: sledding and a multi-use winter trail for skiing, snowshoeing and fat-biking that leads to the pavilion
  • Paul Dewar Field House hosts community events such as the WBCA AGM
  • Volunteers restoring Atlantis Woods with the NCC and Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (two-year anniversary in Oct 2026)
  • Farm Boy about 0.55 km away; Richmond Road shops a short walk south

Community

History

How Westboro Beach came to be

Champlain Bridge and the Ottawa River islands near Westboro
Champlain Bridge and the Ottawa River islands near Westboro. Photo: Harleyd613, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
  1. 1869

    James Skead bought land along the river around 1852; Skead's Mills was built there in 1869, burned in 1870 and was rebuilt by 1873. E.B. Eddy bought the mill in 1880, and it burned a few years later and was not rebuilt. hpraottawa.wordpress.com

  2. 1910

    The beach was first recognized as a swimming site in 1910, when the "Clarella subdivision plan" set aside three parcels for public swimming; in 1926 the Westboro Board of Trade backed swimming there while the land was still privately owned (Kitchissippi Times, citing Friends of Westboro Beach, reproduced by the WBCA). westborobeach.ca

  3. 2025

    The NCC reopened Westboro Beach on June 1, 2025 after a $21 million redevelopment, partly funded by the City of Ottawa under its LRT agreement with the NCC. The work added a zero-carbon pavilion, lookouts, a playground and outdoor showers. cbc.ca

  4. Volunteers working with the NCC have mapped remnants of the foundation of the main Skead's Mill building near the shoreline rock platform. westborobeach.ca

  5. Many of Westboro's surviving cottage-like residences are north of Scott Street near the river, a reminder of when the area was cottage country. en.wikipedia.org

People & landmarks

Local names worth knowing

  • James Skead

    Lumberman whose Skead's Mills (1869) on the riverfront gave the early settlement its name before it became Westboro. hpraottawa.wordpress.com

Map

Around Westboro Beach

Walking rings at 5, 10 and 15 minutes from the neighbourhood centre.

Westboro Beach: schools, parks, shops and transit within about 1.3 km of the centre
Westboro Beach: schools, parks, shops and transit within about 1.3 km of the centre · Distances are straight-line from the marked centre. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
  1. 1Roy Duncan Park130 m
  2. 2The Grand Pizzeria (Westboro Beach)360 m
  3. 3Centre Jules-Léger370 m
  4. 4Westboro370 m
  5. 5Westboro Beach380 m
  6. 6Lion's Park420 m
  7. 7Elise480 m
  8. 8Riverside Terrace Park490 m
  9. 9Kichi Zìbì (formerly Dominion)500 m
  10. 10Natural Food Pantry520 m
  11. 11Churchill Seniors Recreation Centre520 m
  12. 12Gezellig540 m
  13. 13Happy Goat Westboro Café540 m
  14. 14Farm Boy550 m
  15. 15Cloudforest Coffee550 m
  16. 16Batter Up Bakery550 m

Schools

8 nearby

Straight-line distances from the Westboro Beach centre. Living near a school does not guarantee a place: confirm the designated school for an address with each board. All schools and board locators.

Parks & places

10 nearby

  • Roy Duncan Park

    City park on Churchill Avenue North; the Paul Dewar Field House is nearby on an Ottawa Community Housing site.

    295 Churchill Avenue Northopenstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org

    130 m2 min walk

  • Westboro Beach

    NCC-managed sandy beach on the Ottawa River with a designated supervised swim area in summer; the renovated site has pavilions, a year-round restaurant (the Grand Pizzeria) and a seasonal café, and in winter the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail leads directly to the pavilion.

    supervised swimming (summer)kayak/paddleboard/canoe rentals (summer)beach volleyballplaygroundoutdoor showersyear-round restaurant

    745 Kichi Zībī Mīkanopenstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org ncc-ccn.gc.ca

    380 m5 min walk

  • Lion's Park

    City park on Elmgrove Avenue beside the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre, with the Lions summer wading pool.

    wading pool

    294 Elmgrove Avenueopenstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org ottawa.ca

    420 m5 min walk

  • Riverside Terrace Park

    City park on Clearview Avenue near the river (dogs allowed per OSM).

    dogs allowed

    225 Clearview Avenueopenstreetmap.org

    490 m6 min walk

  • Churchill Seniors Recreation Centre

    City of Ottawa seniors' recreation centre on Richmond Road in Westboro.

    345 Richmond Roadopenstreetmap.org

    520 m7 min walk

  • Mahoney Park

    City park on Lanark Avenue.

    160 Lanark Avenueopenstreetmap.org

    600 m7 min walk

  • Ottawa River Pathway (Trans Canada Trail)

    Multi-use cycling and walking pathway along the Ottawa River, part of the NCC's Capital Pathway network (200+ km of off-road pathways) and mapped in OSM as part of the Trans Canada Trail.

    cyclingwalkingriver views

    openstreetmap.org ncc-ccn.gc.ca openstreetmap.org

    640 m8 min walk

  • Heather Crowe Park

    City park on Scott Street (leashed dogs per OSM).

    leashed dogs

    1902 Scott Streetopenstreetmap.org

    780 m10 min walk

  • Clare Gardens Park

    Small City park on Clare Street in Westboro (no dogs per OSM).

    269 Clare Streetopenstreetmap.org

    1.1 km14 min walk

  • Iona Park

    City park on Iona Street with a summer wading pool.

    wading pool

    223 Iona Streetopenstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org ottawa.ca

    1.2 km15 min walk

The full parks & trails guide.

Shops & dining

10 nearby

The full shops & dining guide.

Getting around

Transit

  • Westboro

    Future trench-level O-Train station on Scott Street (Lines 1 and 3). The old Transitway trench closed in June 2022 for Stage 2 work, so buses currently stop curbside on Scott Street. Not open as of Oct 2026. OC Transpo (Mar 12, 2026) expected handover to the City in Q2 2027 and passenger service in Q3 2027; Canada Day 2026 flooding damaged parts of the extension between New Orchard and Moodie and OC Transpo has said it may open the extension in parts (CTV, Aug 5, 2026).

    under constructionopenstreetmap.org en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

    370 m5 min walk

  • Kichi Zìbì (formerly Dominion)

    Future trench-level O-Train station replacing Dominion Transitway station by the Kichi Zībī Mīkan, about 225 m from Richmond Road and close to Westboro Beach. OC Transpo reported its elevators installed in 2025. Not open as of Oct 2026. OC Transpo (Mar 12, 2026) expected handover to the City in Q2 2027 and passenger service in Q3 2027; Canada Day 2026 flooding damaged parts of the extension between New Orchard and Moodie and OC Transpo has said it may open the extension in parts (CTV, Aug 5, 2026).

    under constructionopenstreetmap.org en.wikipedia.org octranspo.com

    500 m6 min walk

  • Richmond Road bus corridor

    Westboro Village's main street; OSM bus route relations on Richmond Road in the area include routes 11, 51, 81 and 153. Route numbers change — confirm on octranspo.com.

    openopenstreetmap.org overpass-api.de

    560 m7 min walk

  • Ottawa River Pathway (active transportation)

    Off-road NCC multi-use pathway along the river, part of the 200+ km Capital Pathway network — a car-free cycling/walking route east toward downtown and west along the river.

    openopenstreetmap.org ncc-ccn.gc.ca

    640 m8 min walk

  • Future O-Train

    Kichi Zìbì station (formerly Dominion; ~0.5 km) and Westboro station (~0.37 km) are being rebuilt for the O-Train Line 1 west extension, listed for 2027. Westboro's buses currently stop curbside on Scott Street.

    en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

  • O-Train timing caveat

    CTV reported the west extension launch delayed to summer 2027 (Mar 12, 2026) and that Canada Day 2026 flood damage could mean a partial opening (Aug 5, 2026).

    ctvnews.ca ctvnews.ca

  • Cycling / walking

    Capital Pathway and Trans Canada Trail along the river. Bike racks at the beach pavilions year-round.

    ncc-ccn.gc.ca westborobeach.ca

  • Parking at the beach

    Paid NCC lot across from the beach (66 spaces) plus an accessible drop-off area.

    ncc-ccn.gc.ca

The full transit guide.

Homes

For sale in Westboro Beach

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Next door

Neighbouring areas

Questions people ask

Quick answers

Short answers first; each links to the full answer and its sources.

All 73 questions

  1. Can you swim at Westboro Beach, and what is there?

    Yes. Westboro Beach is an NCC-managed sandy beach on the Ottawa River with a designated supervised swim area in summer. It reopened on June 1, 2025 after a $21 million redevelopment that added a zero-carbon pavilion with a year-round restaurant and a seasonal café.

    As of 2026-10 · ncc-ccn.gc.ca ncc-ccn.gc.ca

  2. What is the nearest working O-Train station to Westboro right now?

    Tunney's Pasture, at Scott Street just east of the area, is the current western end of O-Train Line 1 and the nearest open station. It is about a 28-minute walk from the Westboro Beach centre and 30 minutes from the Westboro centre, or about 4 minutes by car.

    As of 2026-10 · octranspo.com en.wikipedia.org

  3. Is Westboro good for young professionals?

    In the 2021 census, 53.6% of households in the ONS 'Westboro' area rented and 42.3% of dwellings were apartments in buildings of five or more storeys, so there is a large rental and condo stock. Richmond Road has cafés, restaurants and pubs, and groceries are about a 10-minute walk from the centre.

    As of 2026-10-30 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca

  4. What is the Westboro Beach neighbourhood like?

    Westboro Beach is the riverside part of Westboro, between the Scott Street Transitway corridor and the Ottawa River, east to Island Park Drive. It is the only part of the area with direct public access to the river, and the NCC's Westboro Beach, a swimming beach with a year-round restaurant, is about 0.4 km from its centre.

    As of 2026-10-30 · westborobeach.ca en.wikipedia.org

  5. What is there to do outdoors in winter in Westboro?

    The volunteer-groomed Kichi Sibi Winter Trail follows the Ottawa River shore for skiing, snowshoeing, fat-biking and walking, and the NCC says it leads directly to Westboro Beach. City parks such as Westboro Kiwanis, McKellar and Woodroffe parks have supervised outdoor rinks.

    As of 2026-10-30 · wintertrail.ca ncc-ccn.gc.ca

  6. How far is Westboro Beach from the new O-Train station?

    The nearest future O-Train station to the Westboro Beach centre is Westboro station, about a 7-minute walk. It is under construction for the Line 1 west extension and is not open yet; OC Transpo expected passenger service in the third quarter of 2027.

    As of 2026-10 · westboro.homes openstreetmap.org

Sources for this page (70)
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