Located approximately 22 km west of the city’s downtown core, Kanata is one of the largest suburbs in Ottawa, with a pleasant mix of both rural and urban features. Kanata currently has a population of just under 100,000 residents, yet is continuing to grow rapidly. Geographically, the area is located in the Ottawa Valley, with the Ottawa River to the north, Nepean to the east and Stittsville to the south. Several notable buildings and institutions reside in the area, including the famous Canadian Tire Centre, Landmark Cinemas, Bell Sensplex, and a number of other recreational facilities. The primary commercial district is the Tanger Outlet Mall, a large shopping complex across from the Highway 417, Canadian Tire Centre and Palladium Auto Park. Some popular parks in the area include Shirley’s Brook Park, Morgan’s Grant Woods, Shetland Park, and Allenby Park.
There are several neighbourhoods located in Kanata, many still developing, including South March, Kanata North Business Park, Beaverbrook, Kanata Town Centre, Kanata West, and more. A number of medical centres are scattered throughout the region, however the nearest hospital is the Queensway Carleton Hospital, located in Nepean. OC Transpo has numerous bus routes running throughout Kanata, taking passengers to all corners of Ottawa.