East of the Rideau River in the south end of Ottawa are two rapidly-growing, family-friendly neighbourhoods, Riverside South and Findlay Creek.
With a mix of detached, semi-detached row houses, new elementary schools, and future access to Ottawa’s light rail transit system, these neighbourhoods are growing in size and popularity.
This part of Ottawa is a golfer’s dream with at least half a dozen courses in the general vicinity. The Rideau Carleton Casino, home of the future Hard Rock Ottawa, is nearby and offers live horse racing, a casino, entertainment, and dining options.
If you’re looking to buy real estate in one of these communities, we’ve gathered some info on the neighbourhood amenities and schools to help you become more familiar with what’s on offer.
Riverside South Amenities
Most of the houses in Riverside South have been built since the late 90s. The community is expected to continue its expansion, eventually stretching as far east as Bowesville Road. The Riverside South Community Design Plan details the planned phases of development.
Riverside South has several shopping plazas, multiple community parks, walking trails and a dog park. The Riverside South Community Association page mentions five ice rinks or puddle pads in the community, with more on the way.
Ottawa’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) Trillium Line extension will soon include a Limebank stop in Riverside South. This will provide quick and convenient public transit to downtown Ottawa. The Vimy Memorial bridge also allows easy access to nearby Barrhaven.
Riverside South Real Estate
Findlay Creek Amenities
Development of Findlay Creek began in 2002, and the Community Association was formed a few years later. The community now has a population of 10,000 and is continuing to grow. The community design plan is available here.
The surrounding area of protected wetlands has a 500-metre boardwalk surrounding it. It is home to dozens of bird species throughout the year. Findlay Creek has multiple parks and trails and a retail plaza off of Bank Street.
Findlay Creek Real Estate
Riverside South and Findlay Creek Schools
Neighbourhood schools are always an important consideration for families moving to a new area. With Ottawa’s many school boards and French Immersion programs, finding a school can be confusing.
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The interactive map above allows you to restrict your search to a specific school type to make the process a bit easier for you. To use this function, click on the icon found on the top left of the map. A menu will slide out on the left-hand side, and you can scroll through the list and check the box of the schools you’d like to see on the interactive map.
Type an address into the school locators below for the English boards to determine which programs each school offers.
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB): school locator
Ottawa Catholic School Board: (OCSB): school locator
For an explanation of the elementary school language options in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, click here. For secondary school options, see this link. A description of how French is taught in the Catholic Board can be found here.
English Public (OCDSB)
Residents of Riverside South living west of Limebank Road attend Steve MacLean Public School, which opened in 2006 and has an enrolment of 960 students. It’s a JK to grade 8 dual track school with both English and Early French Immersion programs.
Residents of Findlay Creek, and those living east of Limebank Road in Riverside South, attend Vimy Ridge Elementary School, with over 1,000 students. Having opened its doors in 2017, Vimy Ridge is one of Ottawa’s newest – and largest – elementary schools. It’s a dual-track school with English and Early French Immersion programs for students in JK to grade 8.
A new public high school has been approved for Riverside South that will accommodate 1500 students.
For now, though, Riverside South residents living west of Limebank Road can choose to attend either Merivale High School or South Carleton High School.
Riverside South residents living east of Limebank and Findlay Creek residents living west of Bank attend Ridgemont High School.
Findlay Creek residents living east of Bank Street can attend either Gloucester High School or Osgoode Township High School.
French Public (CEPEO)
Michel Dupuis, a new school that opened its doors in 2016, is the French public elementary school for students in these neighbourhoods.
Pierre-de-Blois is a brand-new French high school that opened its doors in September 2021.
English Catholic (OCSB)
In the English Catholic School Board, Riverside South residents attend St. Jerome School (the western boundary is Albion Road). Residents of Findlay Creek living between Albion Road and Bank Street attend St. Thomas More. Students living east of Bank Street attend St. Bernard. All three of these schools offer grades JK to 6.
St. Francis Xavier is the English Catholic secondary school serving students in these neighbourhoods.
French Catholic (CECCE)
Jonathan-Pitre Elementary School serves Riverside South residents living south of Earl Armstrong. Those living north of Earl Armstrong and Findlay Creek attend Bernard-Grandmaître.
The closest French Catholic high school is Pierre-Savard, located in Barrhaven.
Are you looking to buy a home in Ottawa’s Riverside South or Findlay Creek neighbourhood? Our team of experienced realtors at MacDonald Property Group can help you find your next home. Contact us today.
Have you read our other neighbourhood spotlights?
Westboro, Wellington, Hintonburg & Mechanicsville
Grenfell Glen, Pineglen, Merivale Gardens & Country Place
Barrhaven East & Longfields
Strandherd, Heart’s Desire, Barrhaven on the Green & Heritage Park
Stonebridge & Half Moon Bay
Old Barrhaven West
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