Nepean

Nepean is a centrally located neighbourhood that lies west of Ottawa’s downtown core. The population of Nepean is about 180,000 people. It is characterized by its proximity to downtown and its large number of educational institutions, including Algonquin College.

Nepean Housing

In the 1950 and 1960s, Nepean's urban area began to expand in areas that were previously rural in nature. These new developments expanded to become the community of Centrepointe in the east and the community of Barrhaven in the south.

Nepean features a variety of homes from townhouses to large upscale houses and is a popular destination for families.

The area boasts dozens of elementary and secondary schools, including Merivale High School and St. Joseph High School. It is also home to many post-secondary students attending Algonquin College—the city’s largest collegial institution.

Nepean Jobs and Employment

Although the neighbouring municipality of Kanata formed the entrepreneurial and high tech centre of the region, Nepean hosted notable companies, such as the notorious Nortel Networks. As with the rest of the National Capital Region, Nepean's economy is also heavily dependent on federal government employment. Most of Nepean's employed residents commute to downtown Ottawa or Kanata for work.

Is Nepean A Safe Neighbourhood?

The crime rate in this area is relatively low, and the various neighbourhoods that makeup Nepean have active community associations, like the Centrepointe Community Association.

Nepean Activities

The neighbourhood’s major attraction is Ben Franklin Place, which houses the Centrepointe Branch of the Ottawa Public Library and the locally renowned Centrepointe Theatre. It is also home to the Nepean Sportsplex a multi-purpose facility serving residents and visitors to Ottawa for over 40 years.

Nepean is also located in close proximity to the amenities of both downtown Ottawa and neighbouring Kanata.