Nepean, Ontario

Coordinates: 45°20.5′N 75°45.5′W / 45.3417°N 75.7583°W

Nepean
Community

The limits of the former City of Nepean within the current City of Ottawa
Country Canada
Province Ontario
City of Nepean 1978–2001
Government
 • Mayor Jim Watson
 • City councillors Steve Desroches, Jan Harder, Mark Taylor, Rick Chiarelli, Keith Egli, Scott Moffatt
 • Member of Parliament Pierre Poilievre, John Baird
 • Member of Provincial Parliament Lisa MacLeod, Bob Chiarelli
Area[1]
 • Total 217.00 km2 (83.78 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 156,298
 • Density 720/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC−5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC−4)
Area code(s) 613, 343

Nepean /nəˈpiːən/ is a part of Ottawa, Ontario, located west of Ottawa's inner core. It was formerly a city in its own right until amalgamated with the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton in 2001 to become the new city of Ottawa. However, the name "Nepean" continues in common usage in reference to the area. The population of Nepean is about 180,000 people.

Although the neighbouring municipality of Kanata formed the entrepreneurial and high tech center of the region, Nepean hosted noted industries such as Nortel Networks, JDS Uniphase and Gandalf Technologies. As with the rest of the National Capital Region, however, Nepean's economy was also heavily dependent on federal government employment. Most of Nepean's employed residents commute to downtown Ottawa or Kanata for work.[1]

Nepean's policies of operational and capital budgeting prudence contrasted with the budget philosophies of some other municipalities in the area. Nepean instituted a strict 'pay-as-you-go' budgeting scheme. The city entered amalgamation with a large surplus and a record of tax restraint. However, most big-ticket municipal infrastructure items (transit, garbage collection, sanitary sewers, water, arterial roads, police, social services) were the responsibility of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, not the former City of Nepean.

Prior to amalgamation, Nepean's City Council spent many tax dollars aggressively campaigning against what they (and their allies) referred to as the "megacity" model. The central plank of the strategy was to promote a tri-city model, which would have seen the 10 municipalities of the Ottawa region reduced to three: one in the west (comprising Nepean, Kanata and the western rural municipalities), one in the east (comprising Gloucester, Cumberland and the eastern rural municipalities) and one in the centre (comprising Ottawa, Vanier and Rockcliffe Park). These efforts were in vain, as the one-city model eventually prevailed. (The one-city model was recommended by Glen Shortliffe, who was appointed by the Government of Ontario to study the issue of municipal reform in Ottawa-Carleton.)

Climate

Nepean has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), with warm, humid summers and cold winters. The summers start in early June and end in early September with an average summer high temperature of 27 °C (81 °F). In Nepean, summers have about 220 mm (8.7 in) of rain. There is a 95% chance that all the precipitation comes by thunderstorms in the summer. There is also a small chance of cool, average rainy days in the summertime. Nepean is also the Ottawa suburb that has the most hours of sunshine, with an average of 2,100 hours each year. In the winter, Nepean gets about 150–200 cm (59–79 in) of snow yearly with an average temperature of −5 °C (23 °F). Spring starts around late March and lasts until late May, with temperatures of about 10–15 °C (50–59 °F). The springtime has about 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain a year. The average temperature for fall is around 10 °C (50 °F). Autumn is the driest season in Nepean with only 100 mm (3.9 in) of rainfall annually. The gardening zone for this area is 6A.

Climate data for Nepean – Barrhaven – Bells Corners – Kanata
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 12
(54)		 12.4
(54.3)		 26.7
(80.1)		 31.1
(88)		 32.8
(91)		 36.1
(97)		 36.7
(98.1)		 37.8
(100)		 35
(95)		 27.8
(82)		 23.9
(75)		 18
(64)		 37.8
(100)
Average high °C (°F) −5.1
(22.8)		 −4.1
(24.6)		 3.2
(37.8)		 11.8
(53.2)		 20.1
(68.2)		 25.8
(78.4)		 28.5
(83.3)		 26.9
(80.4)		 20.5
(68.9)		 15.5
(59.9)		 5.8
(42.4)		 −3
(27)		 11.9
(53.4)
Average low °C (°F) −13.3
(8.1)		 −12.3
(9.9)		 −5.1
(22.8)		 2.6
(36.7)		 10.7
(51.3)		 14.7
(58.5)		 17.4
(63.3)		 15.1
(59.2)		 10.1
(50.2)		 4
(39)		 −1.8
(28.8)		 −10.1
(13.8)		 2.1
(35.8)
Record low °C (°F) −35.6
(−32.1)		 −36.1
(−33)		 −30.6
(−23.1)		 −16.7
(1.9)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 −0.1
(31.8)		 5
(41)		 2.6
(36.7)		 −3
(27)		 −7.8
(18)		 −21.7
(−7.1)		 −34.4
(−29.9)		 −36.1
(−33)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 25.2
(0.992)		 17.6
(0.693)		 36.3
(1.429)		 60.5
(2.382)		 78.4
(3.087)		 85
(3.35)		 90.6
(3.567)		 87.1
(3.429)		 85.3
(3.358)		 74.9
(2.949)		 59.8
(2.354)		 31.3
(1.232)		 732
(28.82)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 50.2
(19.76)		 45
(17.7)		 30.8
(12.13)		 10
(3.9)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.1
(0.04)		 21.9
(8.62)		 57.2
(22.52)		 175.7
(69.17)
Source: [2]

History

Nepean Township, originally known as Township D, was established in 1792 and originally included what is now the central area of Ottawa west of the Rideau River. Jehiel Collins, from Vermont, is believed to have been the first person to settle in Nepean Township, on the future site of Bytown. Nepean was incorporated as a city on November 24, 1978. The geographic boundaries of Nepean changed considerably over this time; the original town hall of the township of Nepean was located in Westboro, which was annexed in 1949 by the city of Ottawa. Nepean's centre then moved to the community of Bells Corners. In the 1950 and 1960s, Nepean's urban area began to expand in previous rural areas in such areas as Centrepointe in the east, and Barrhaven in the south.

Prior to its amalgamation with 10 other municipalities into the new city of Ottawa in 2001, the population of Nepean was 124,878. The 2006 census population was 138,596.

Nepean was named after Sir Evan Nepean, British Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department from 1782 to 1791.

A Nepean quarry provided the sandstone blocks that were the principal building material used in the Parliament Buildings in downtown Ottawa.

Demographics

According to the Canada 2001 Census:

Neighbourhood Population (2011) Population (2006) Area (km2.) Density (per km2.) Census Tracts
Agriculture Canada 5 0 16.96 0.3
Barrhaven West 17,253 17,887 4.43 3894.6 5050140.05, 5050140.04, 5050140.07, 5050140.06
Bayshore-Fairfield Heights 7,640 7,535 1.21 6314.0
Bells Corners 9,468 9,799 4.67 2027.4
Briargreen 2,043 2,097 0.90 2270.0
Centrepointe 7,523 7,275 2.06 3651.9
City View-Navaho-Ryan Farm 4,913 4,756 2.42 2030.2
Craig Henry 6,593 6,772 1.84 3583.2
Crystal Beach 3,924 4,173 5.51 712.2
Davidson Heights-Rideau Glen-Ashdale 8,632 8,391 8.38 1,030.2 5050141.08
Fisher Heights-Skyline 6,092 6,004 1.96 3108.2
Graham Park-Qualicum 1,715 1,699 1.21 1417.4
Havenlea-Winding Way 6,237 4,899 1.69 3693.2 5050141.09
Heart's Desire-Chapman Mills-Jockvale 9,048 2,997 6.38 1418.2 5050141.13, 5050141.12
Knollsbrook 2,667 2,745 0.81 3290.6 5050140.03
Leslie Park 3,134 2,833 0.98 3198.0
Longfields 17,242 15,278 4.61 3740.1 5050141.11, 5050141.10, 5050141.05
Manordale 1,947 1,899 1.41 1380.9
Meadowlands-Crestview 3,671 3,608 2.05 1790.7
Parkwood Hills-Borden Farm-Stewart Farm-Fisher Glen 10,050 10,189 2.86 3514.0
Pineglen-Merivale Gardens-Grenfell Glen-Country Place 3,893 3,385 11.07 351.7
Stonebridge-Strandheard Meadows 11,245 2,878 16.63 676.2 5050141.04, 5050141.15
Tanglewood 4,385 4,401 1.60 2740.6
Trend-Arlington 4,818 4,945 3.55 1357.2
Rural Nepean 2,160 2,244 123.02 17.6

Mayors

Education

Public schools in Nepean are administered by Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. Catholic schools, or "separate schools", are administered by the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board. The secular Anglophone board's headquarters and the Catholic board's headquarters are located within Nepean itself.[3]

Francophone education is provided by the Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CÉPEO) and the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE).

Schools in Nepean include:

Public Schools

Elementary

  • Adrienne Clarkson Elementary School
  • Barrhaven Public School
  • Bayshore Public School
  • Bells Corners Public School
  • Berrigan Elementary School
  • Briargreen Public School
  • Cedarview Middle School
  • Century Public School
  • Chapman Mills Public School
  • D. Aubrey Moodie Intermediate School
  • Farley Mowat Public School
  • Greenbank Public Middle School
  • Jockvale Elementary School
  • Knoxdale Public School
  • Lakeview Public School
  • Leslie Park Public School
  • École élémentaire publique Michaelle-Jean
  • Manordale Public School
  • Mary Honeywell Elementary School
  • Meadowlands Public School
  • Sir Winston Middle School

Secondary

Special Education

Alternate Education

Closed

  • Graham Park Public School
  • J.S. Woodsworth Secondary School
  • Parkwood Hills Public School

Catholic Schools

Elementary

  • Frank Ryan Catholic Senior Elementary School
  • Monsignor Paul Baxter School
  • Our Lady of Peace School
  • Pope John XXIII School
  • St. Andrew School
  • St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School
  • St. Emily School
  • St. Gregory School
  • St. John the Apostle School
  • St. Luke School, Nepean
  • St. Monica School
  • St. Patrick School
  • St. Rita School
  • St. Rose of Lima School

Secondary

  • Mother Teresa High School
  • St. Joseph High School
  • École Secondaire Catholique Pierre-Savard

Continuing Education

Nepean City Hall

Ben Franklin Place

Ben Franklin Place, located in Centrepointe, was formerly the city hall for Nepean until it became a part of Ottawa. Now, it serves as a government office and client service centre, as well as continuing to be home to a branch of the Ottawa Library and the Centrepointe Theatre.

Museums

Nepean Museum located at 16 Rowley Avenue, Nepean Ontario is a museum that collects, preserves, researches, exhibits and interprets the works of man and nature in Nepean.

Media

"Nepean This Week" (http://www.nepeanthisweek.com/) is a weekly publication distributed in the Nepean area.

The Ottawa area's CTV affiliate, CTV Ottawa formerly known as CJOH-TV was headquartered on Merivale Road in Nepean. The studio was home to shows such as Graham Kerr's The Galloping Gourmet, and the cult children's classic You Can't Do That on Television. The building was ravaged by a fire on February 7, 2010 and was demolished in 2011.[4][5] The Merivale Road complex is still home to Corus Entertainment's English-language stations CKQB-FM and CJOT-FM.

Famous Nepeanites

The following famous people were either born in, raised in, or consider Nepean their home town:

Jesse Levine

Nepean communities and neighbourhoods

Prior to amalgamation, the following communities and neighbourhoods were within the city boundaries:

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nepean, Ontario.
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Nepean, Ontario (City / Dissolved)". 2001 Community Profiles. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  2. ↑ Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000
  3. ↑ "Contact Us." Ottawa Catholic School Board. Retrieved on December 15, 2014. "The Ottawa Catholic School Board administrative office, the Catholic Education Centre, is located in Nepean, Ontario." and "570 West Hunt Club Road, Nepean, Ontario, Canada K2G 3R4"
  4. ↑ "CTV Ottawa newsroom destroyed by fire", CTV Ottawa, 2010-02-07
  5. ↑ "Fire destroys CTV newsroom", CBC.ca, 2010-02-07
Bibliography
  • Elliott, Bruce S. (1991), The city beyond, a history of Nepean, birthplace of Canada’s capital 1792-1990, Nepean, Ontario: Corporation of the City of Nepean