What is the capital city of Canada?

The capital city of Canada is Ottawa. Located in southeastern Ontario at the meeting of the Ottawa and Rideau rivers, it is the country’s federal political centre.

Ottawa became Canada’s capital through a decision by Queen Victoria in 1857. Its position near the border between the former Canada West and Canada East made it a political compromise, while its inland location was considered easier to defend than cities closer to the United States.

The city is home to Parliament Hill, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Office of the Prime Minister, and many federal departments and foreign embassies. Ottawa also forms part of the bilingual National Capital Region with Gatineau, Quebec, across the Ottawa River.

Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are larger and internationally prominent, but none is the national capital. Ottawa was formerly known as Bytown and was incorporated as the city of Ottawa in 1855.