Which city did Queen Victoria choose as Canada’s capital in 1857? The answer is Ottawa.
Queen Victoria selected Ottawa as the capital of the Province of Canada in 1857, before Canadian Confederation created the Dominion of Canada in 1867. Her decision followed years of political disagreement over whether Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Kingston, or another location should serve as the seat of government.
The choice was made after the legislature asked the monarch to settle the dispute. Governor General Edmund Head reviewed the competing proposals and advised Victoria to choose Ottawa. Her decision was announced by letter, with Ottawa designated the capital effective 31 December 1857.
Ottawa offered both strategic and political advantages. It stood inland, away from the United States border and in a relatively defensible position. It also lay near the boundary between Canada West and Canada East, making it a compromise between the English- and French-speaking sections of the province.
The selection did not immediately end the debate. Parliament ratified it in 1859, and the government buildings were developed over the following years. Ottawa’s first Parliament buildings opened for legislative use in 1866, just before Confederation.