Rockcliffe Park, Ontario

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Rockcliffe Park is the wealthiest neighbourhood in Ottawa, Ontario, and is one of the most prosperous enclaves in Canada. Until 2001 it was an independent village, but was amalgamated with the rest of the city that year. As of 2001, Rockcliffe Park had a population of 2,028.

The area is northeast of downtown, on the southern banks of the Ottawa River. It encompasses the small MacKay Lake, and the Ottawa Rockery, a rock garden maintained by the National Capital Commission (NCC). The largely francophone neighbourhood Vanier area lies to the south.

Rockcliffe Park is home to many Ottawa notables. Stornoway, the residence of the leader of the Canadian Official Opposition is located there. Many ambassadors to Canada also live in Rockcliffe, including the ambassadors of Israel, Norway, the United States of America, and the Papal Nuncio. In recent years the neighbourhood has attracted leaders of Ottawa's high tech industry, including Michael Cowpland, former Chief Executive Officer of Corel, who built a large gold-coloured house in the area, much to the consternation of the community.

Other notable figures who live in the area, include local director/filmaker Nathaniel Lyman, as well as the honourable militarist Edward Houston. Their opinions of the Cowpland house rallied a community consensus to shellack the house with eggs.

The area is also home to Elmwood School and Ashbury College, two of Ottawa's most prestigious private schools.

Also located in Rockcliffe is a community hall/library complex. The library was originally funded, built and staffed through the efforts of Rockcliffe residents, but it is now a branch of the Ottawa Public Library, with computer access, a children's area, and a young adult section. Unusual for branches of the Public Library, it has a special collection of art-related books called the Margaret A. Bailey collection.

As it was long a separate village not under the jurisdiction of Ottawa's municipal government, Rockcliffe Park differs from the rest of the city. It has very few sidewalks, but is also relatively inaccessible to through traffic. Much of Rockcliffe is still wooded and the houses are set far apart on wide lots.

On the bank of the Ottawa River is some open ground that is called Rockcliffe Park. It is transversed by a branch of the parkway. This has several carparks along its length, that enable visitors to enjoy the lawns, wooded areas & lookouts. It also contains a large bandshell and a public toilet which caused controversy over its excessive cost. It is maintained by the NCC.

The sale of the long-disused Canadian Forces Base in Rockcliffe Park has brought forth plans by local developers to make an entirely new neighbourhood on these grounds, with stores and houses, as an example of a community built on "sustainable" principles.

Average salary in Rockcliffe Park is $119,377, whereas the average salary in Ottawa is $53,250.

According to the Canada 2001 Census: