Gatineau
Situated opposite Ottawa on the north bank of the Ottawa River, Gatineau is home to more than 240,000 residents. The population is primarily French speaking but also has a small portion of English speaking residential inhabitants.
Old Gatineau was made up of the area north of the Ottawa River opposite Kettle Island. Gatineau became incorporated in 1939. Until 1975, it covered only a small area compared to its current borders. It is one of five cities (Aylmer, Buckingham, Gatineau, Hull and Masson-Angers) that merged to form the current city of Gatineau in 2002, now covering 348.5 square kilometers of land.
Most of Gatineau sits on level ground but there are Northern and Eastern sections lying at the foot of the Laurentian Mountains. The ‘Gatineau Hills’, are visible from the flat areas of Gatineau.
The Canadian Museum of Civilization and Casino Lac Leamy are major tourist attractions, hosting regular activities and special events. As well as numerous government facilities are located in Gatineau. These sites are located in the Hull section of Gatineau.
On Labour Day weekend, Gatineau hosts a festival for hot air ballooning, when the skies fill with bold, colorful passenger balloons.
Parks and streams run throughout Gatineau’s natural expanses, making it an excellent destination for nature lovers. Jacques Cartier Park is one of Gatineau’s most well known parks and is used as part of the popular Winterlude Festival in February.
If you are relocating to Gatineau, follow these helpful moving tips:
1. It is important to secure a mover and storage location five weeks before the move
2. Do not hang onto items you rarely use, instead have a yard sale before you move
3. Be neat and organized by marking all boxes, making unpacking easier
4. Professional packing tape does a better job keeping boxes closed than masking tape
5. Try using wardrobe boxes to ship clothing on hangers
6. Your local community center or classifieds might be able to offer you free boxes
7. Inventories of valuable items with photographs will help you document any damages
8. Your picture frames are less likely to break if you packing them upright in the box
9. Treat yourself to a fresh start by cleaning your new home before unpacking
10. Be comfortable the first night in your new home by keeping essentials easily accessible
Whether you relocate to Gatineau or just go for a visit, this natural setting of rivers and parks will welcome you.