Living in the Billings Bridge area: questions, answered
Answers to 32 questions people ask about living in and buying in the Billings Bridge area: neighbourhoods, schools, the O-Train, prices, walkability, parks and shops. Each answer comes first, then the detail, the sources and the date it is current to.
Updated · Facts on this page link to their sources
- Neighbourhoods 8
- Schools 3
- Commute & O-Train 4
- Walkability & errands 2
- Parks & outdoors 4
- Shops & dining 3
- Safety & services 1
- History 4
- Who it suits 3
Neighbourhoods
8What are homes like in Billings Bridge?
Apartments are the most common home type. In the 2021 census, 40.2% of dwellings in the 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area were apartments in buildings of five or more storeys and 20.2% were apartments in buildings under five storeys. Single-detached houses were 17.6%, semi-detached 8.2%, row houses 7.4% and duplex flats 6.1%.
As of 2021 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca
How many people live in Billings Bridge?
The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study's 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area had 6,065 residents and 3,325 private dwellings in the 2021 census. Average household size was 2.
As of 2021 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca
Do most people rent in Billings Bridge?
Yes. In the 2021 census, 67.8% of households in the 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area rented and 32.3% owned.
As of 2021 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca
Where is Billings Bridge in Ottawa?
Billings Bridge is in south-central Ottawa, where Bank Street crosses the Rideau River. Wikipedia says the village sat south of the river near the bridge and became part of the City of Ottawa in 1950.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org ons-sqo.ca
Is there a library near Billings Bridge?
The Ottawa Public Library's Alta Vista Branch at 2516 Alta Vista Drive is the library mapped nearest to Billings Bridge. It is just east of the neighbourhood boundary.
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org
Is Billings Bridge the same as Heron Park?
They overlap, but they are not the same. Wikipedia says Heron Park is bounded by the Rideau River, Sawmill Creek, Bank Street and Walkley Road, and is sometimes called Billings Bridge because of its closeness to the bridge. The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study uses a combined 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area.
As of 2021 · en.wikipedia.org ons-sqo.ca
Are there many condos and apartment buildings in Billings Bridge?
Yes. In the 2021 census, 40.2% of dwellings in the 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area were in apartment buildings of five or more storeys and 20.2% in buildings under five storeys. Condominium dwellings were 9.8% of the total.
As of 2021 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca
How old are the people who live in Billings Bridge?
In the 2021 census, the median age in the 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area was 34.4. Children aged 0 to 14 were 11.7% of the population.
As of 2021 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca
Schools
3What schools serve Billings Bridge?
The schools mapped in and around Billings Bridge include three elementary schools: Alta Vista Public School and Hopewell Avenue Public School (both Ottawa-Carleton District School Board) and the French-language École élémentaire catholique Lamoureux (Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est). The secondary schools are Brookfield High School (OCDSB) and St. Patrick's High School (Ottawa Catholic School Board).
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org
Which high schools are near Billings Bridge?
Brookfield High School (824 Brookfield Road) is an Ottawa-Carleton District School Board secondary school. St. Patrick's High School (2525 Alta Vista Drive) is an Ottawa Catholic School Board secondary school.
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org ocdsb.ca
Is there a French-language school near Billings Bridge?
Yes. École élémentaire catholique Lamoureux - Enseignement personnalisé is at 2540 Kaladar Avenue and is run by the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE). It is a French-language elementary school.
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org lamoureux.ecolecatholique.ca
Commute & O-Train
4How far is Billings Bridge from downtown Ottawa?
Parliament Hill is about 4.9 km in a straight line from the centre of Billings Bridge. By road it is about 5.7 km, roughly a 12-minute drive in free-flowing traffic.
As of 2026-10 · router.project-osrm.org openstreetmap.org
What is the nearest O-Train station to Billings Bridge?
Mooney's Bay is the nearest mapped O-Train station, about 1 km from the Billings Bridge centre in a straight line, by our calculation from OpenStreetMap coordinates. Carleton (about 1.6 km) and Walkley (about 1.8 km) are the other O-Train stations mapped nearby, and all three are shown as open.
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org
Which transit stations are near Billings Bridge?
Billings Bridge, Heron, Pleasant Park and Riverside are open OC Transpo Transitway stations mapped in the area. Heron at Mooney's Bay is a Transitway station, and Mooney's Bay, Carleton and Walkley are open O-Train stations nearby.
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org
How do people in Billings Bridge get to work?
In the 2021 census, 66.0% of workers in the 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area commuted by car, truck or van and 21% by public transit. Another 42.6% worked at home.
As of 2021 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca
Walkability & errands
2Is Billings Bridge walkable?
The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study gives the 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area an average Walk Score of 57.27. On average there are 16.4 transit stops within a 600 m walk.
As of 2021 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca
How many people in Billings Bridge work from home?
In the 2021 census, 42.6% of workers in the 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area worked at home. This was during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of 2021 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca
Parks & outdoors
4What parks are in Billings Bridge?
Parks mapped in and around Billings Bridge include Heron Park (999 Heron Road), Bruce Timmermans Park (1497 Gilles Street), Brookfield Park (984 Brookfield Road East), Kaladar Park (2554 Kaladar Avenue), Linda Thom Park (1324 Bank Street) and Brewer Park (100 Brewer Way). Residential parkland covers 44.17% of the area, per the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org
Where are the outdoor rinks and wading pools near Billings Bridge?
Ice rinks are mapped at Heron Park, Kaladar Park, Brewer Park, Applewood Park, Alta Vista Park and Windsor Park. Wading pools are mapped at Heron (999 Heron Road), Alta Vista (1301 Randall Avenue) and Windsor (1 B Windsor Avenue).
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org
How green is Billings Bridge?
Tree canopy covers 21.9% of the 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area as of 2024, and residential parkland covers 44.17%, per the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca
Are there recreation centres or arenas near Billings Bridge?
The RA Centre (2451 Riverside Drive), Brewer Arena (151 Brewer Way) and Ottawa Tennis Club (176 Cameron Avenue) are mapped as recreation facilities nearby. Wikipedia says Heron Park community association meetings are held at the Community Centre at Heron Park.
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org
Shops & dining
3Where do people in Billings Bridge buy groceries?
Grocery stores mapped in and around Billings Bridge include Your Independent Grocer (2241 Riverside Drive), Walmart Supercentre (2277 Riverside Drive), Bulk Barn (2269 Riverside Drive) and Farm Boy (1500 Bank Street). Smaller markets include Cedars & Co. Food Market (1255 Bank Street), Kaladar Fresh Market (2455 Kaladar Avenue) and Mangosteen (1742 Bank Street).
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org
What is at Billings Bridge Shopping Centre?
Billings Bridge Shopping Centre is at 2277 Riverside Drive. Walmart Supercentre and its pharmacy, a Rexall pharmacy and the Ottawa Anxiety & Trauma Clinic are mapped at the same address.
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org
Are there bakeries in Billings Bridge?
Yes. Bakeries mapped nearby include Bakery Ichiban and Mavericks Doughnuts (both 1500 Bank Street), Trillium Bakery (1181 Bank Street), Le Roi Pastry & Bakery (1729 Bank Street) and Fiesta Manila Bakery (1800 Bank Street). Alsafi Bakery (2186 B Lamira Street) and Mediterranean Bakery (2698 Alta Vista Drive) are also listed.
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org
Safety & services
1Where are the pharmacies and clinics in Billings Bridge?
Pharmacies mapped nearby include Rexall and Walmart Pharmacy (both at 2277 Riverside Drive), Pharmasave (1355 Bank Street and 1194 Karn Place), PharmaChoice (1500 Bank Street) and Shoppers Drug Mart (1582 Bank Street). Clinics include Appletree Medical Clinic (1582 Bank Street), The Balanced Practice (2211 Riverside Drive) and the Ottawa Cardiovascular Centre (1355 Bank Street).
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org
History
4What is the history of Billings Bridge?
Braddish Billings settled here in 1812 and farmed beside the Rideau River. A first bridge, called Farmers Bridge, was built at Bank Street around 1830, and by 1859 both the bridge and the community were commonly known as Billings Bridge.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org
Who was Braddish Billings, and why is it called Billings Bridge?
The bridge and neighbourhood are named for Braddish Billings, who arrived from Brockville in 1812 and cut out a farm on the Rideau River. In 1823 he built a sawmill on a creek near today's Bank Street, which is still called Sawmill Creek.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org
Where is the Billings Estate Museum?
The Billings Estate Museum is mapped at 2100 Cabot Street. It is listed in OpenStreetMap as a park-type area, and sits just north-east of the Billings Bridge centre.
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org en.wikipedia.org
What was the 'Battle of Billings Bridge'?
The 'Battle of Billings Bridge' is the informal name for a counter-protest by Ottawa residents on February 13, 2022, during the Canada convoy protest. Residents set up a blockade on Riverside Drive at Bank Street, and after hours of negotiation the convoy retreated.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org cbc.ca
Who it suits
3Is Billings Bridge a good place to live?
Billings Bridge is a south-central Ottawa neighbourhood on the Rideau River, about 4.9 km in a straight line from Parliament Hill. In the 2021 census, the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study's 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area had 6,065 residents, a median age of 34.4 and 67.8% of households renting. Its average Walk Score is 57.27 and there are on average 16.4 transit stops within a 600 m walk.
As of 2021 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca
Is Billings Bridge good for families with children?
Here are the facts families usually ask about. In the 2021 census, 11.7% of residents in the 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area were aged 0 to 14, and average household size was 2. Elementary schools mapped nearby include Alta Vista Public School, Hopewell Avenue Public School and École élémentaire catholique Lamoureux.
As of 2021 · ons-sqo.ca openstreetmap.org
Is Billings Bridge a good place to rent?
Renting is the most common arrangement here. In the 2021 census, 67.8% of households in the 'Billings Bridge - Heron Park' area rented, and 60.4% of dwellings were apartments. On average there are 16.4 transit stops within a 600 m walk.
As of 2021 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca