What is the capital of Canada?

Ottawa is the capital of Canada, located in eastern Ontario on the south bank of the Ottawa River across from Gatineau, Quebec. The city has a population of about 1.05 million and the National Capital Region (which spans both sides of the river) has a population of about 1.5 million, making it Canada's fourth-largest metropolitan area. Ottawa was chosen as Canada's capital by Queen Victoria on December 31, 1857, before Confederation, and was confirmed in the Constitution Act, 1867.

Ottawa's selection was a compromise between the rival claims of Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, and Kingston during the United Province of Canada era (1841 to 1867). The city's distance from the United States border (about 100 kilometres at the closest), its position on the Ontario-Quebec linguistic boundary, and its location accessible by water and (later) rail favoured the selection. The first Parliament Buildings opened in 1866, just before Confederation, and were rebuilt after a fire in 1916. The Centre Block, Senate, House of Commons, Library of Parliament, the Peace Tower, and the Confederation Building remain the heart of federal political life.

Ottawa hosts the federal Parliament, the Supreme Court of Canada, the federal court system, the Bank of Canada head office, all federal government departments and agencies, foreign embassies and high commissions, and Government House (Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General). The city is also home to the Royal Canadian Mint, the Canadian Museum of History (in Gatineau), the Canadian War Museum, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the National Gallery of Canada, the Bank of Canada Museum, and the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology.

The National Capital Commission, a federal Crown corporation, plans and manages federal lands across the National Capital Region. It maintains the Rideau Canal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007), Gatineau Park, the Confederation Boulevard ceremonial route, and federal residences. Major annual events in the capital include Canada Day on July 1, the Canadian Tulip Festival in May (commemorating the Dutch Royal Family's wartime refuge in Ottawa), the Winterlude winter festival in February, and the Changing of the Guard at Parliament Hill (in summer).