Ottawa–Gatineau
374,000
residents on the Quebec side · July 1, 2025
16
municipalities
13.5%
of residents are immigrants · 2021
$85k
median household income · 2020
Figures for the Quebec part of the Ottawa–Gatineau census metropolitan area (CMA): 16 municipalities. The Gatineau page gives the figures for the city alone.
Gatineau faces Ottawa, the federal capital, across the Ottawa River. Its region is the Quebec side of the Ottawa–Gatineau metropolitan area, which had 1.7 million residents in total on July 1, 2025; the Quebec side had about 374,000, according to Statistics Canada — up 5% since 2021. It groups 16 municipalities, including the city of Gatineau, which had 291,000 residents in the 2021 census. Immigrants make up 13.5% of the population (2021 census), the highest share among Quebec's metropolitan areas after Montreal. Median total household income reached $85,000 in 2020, compared with $72,500 for Quebec as a whole (2021 census). About 37% of households live in apartments. To buy, the median price was $523,500 for a single-family home and $308,000 for a condo in the second quarter of 2026 (APCIQ). This section gathers the bilingual guides for settling in Gatineau: finding housing, crossing the bridges with the STO and OC Transpo, understanding taxes when you work in Ontario, registering children for school and accessing services.
8 guides
Sources: Statistics Canada · 2021 census
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Guides · Ottawa–Gatineau · Stages04- I just arrivedFinding a place to live and getting your bearings in the region from day one.
- I'm settling inLocal paperwork, health care and getting around the region.
- I'm workingFinding a job and getting support in the region.
- I live in QuebecDaily life, leisure and the help organizations of the region.
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WorkJob-Search Help in Gatineau (and the Ottawa Option)October 21, 20263 minRead the guideEducationFree French Classes in GatineauOctober 21, 20263 minRead the guideDaily lifeFirst Steps in GatineauAugust 8, 20265 minRead the guideResourcesNewcomer Support Organizations in Gatineau, by NeedSeptember 9, 20263 minRead the guideHousingFinding Housing in GatineauAugust 8, 20265 minRead the guide8+free guides · FR · EN · 中文
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Gatineau
Gatineau faces Ottawa, the federal capital, across the Ottawa River.
Job-Search Help in Gatineau (and the Ottawa Option)The free services that help newcomers toward employment in Gatineau — SITO, CJEO, Services Québec — and how to weigh working in Ottawa.Gatineau has a unique advantage: two job markets within reach — Quebec's and Ottawa's, just across the river. To navigate them, the Outaouais has free services that help newcomers toward employment. On the Quebec side, several organizations support job search: the Service Intégration Travail Outaouais (SITO) — insertion of immigrants into the labour market; · the Carrefour jeunesse-emploi de l'...Work · October 21, 2026 · 3 minFree French Classes in GatineauWhere to learn French for free in Gatineau and the Outaouais — Francisation Québec, APO, AFIO, Cégep de l'Outaouais — and how to register.In Gatineau, it can be tempting to do everything in English because of Ottawa, just across the river. But you live in Quebec: French remains essential for local jobs, services, school and integration. The state funds free courses for all levels, and the Outaouais has its own francization organizations. The starting point is Francisation Québec, the government's single window. It offers free cou...Education · October 21, 2026 · 3 minRegistering Your Child for School in GatineauThe CSS des Draveurs, Western Quebec School Board, and how to register your child.In Gatineau, several School Service Centres run the French public schools: CSS des Draveurs (Gatineau sector, including Cantley and Val-des-Monts) · CSS des Portages-de-l'Outaouais (all of Hull sector and Aylmer) · CSS au Cœur-des-Vallées (Buckingham and Masson-Angers) The Western Quebec School Board runs the English public schools. The Charter of the French Language — Bill 101 — restricts acce...Education · October 10, 2026 · 5 minFinding Housing in GatineauGatineau's sectors, the rental market, and the Quebec-vs-Ontario decision for Ottawa commuters.Gatineau has five distinct sectors: Hull — dense urban centre, near the Ottawa bridges, popular with young professionals · Aylmer — more residential, along the river, large anglophone community · Gatineau — original sector, central · Buckingham and Masson-Angers — more suburban, traditionally francophone Budget roughly $1,200 to $1,700 per month for a 4½. Hull near the bridges is the priciest....Housing · August 8, 2026 · 5 minNewcomer Support Organizations in Gatineau, by NeedThe free organizations welcoming newcomers in Gatineau and the Outaouais — settlement, French, employment — with a note on working in Ottawa.Gatineau has a particularity: it's just across the river, facing Ottawa, Ontario. Many newcomers live and work on both sides. For welcome and integration, the Outaouais has its own network of organizations funded by the Ministère de l'Immigration — free and confidential. Accueil-Parrainage Outaouais (APO) supports immigrants at every step: orientation and procedures, temporary housing, informat...Resources · September 9, 2026 · 3 minFirst Steps in GatineauSettling in Gatineau, bilingual city facing Ottawa: city services and local particulars.Gatineau is the main city of the Outaouais region, with about 306,000 residents (2025 estimate). Located directly across from Ottawa, the Canadian capital, it has five sectors: Aylmer, Hull, Gatineau, Buckingham and Masson-Angers. It's a unique city in Quebec — bilingual in practice, with a large English-speaking community and an economy tied to the federal public service. Gatineau is the resul...Daily life · August 8, 2026 · 5 minPublic Transit in Gatineau: STO, OC Transpo, Multi CardThe STO network, OC Transpo connection from Ottawa, and the Multi card for getting around the capital region.The STO, or Société de transport de l'Outaouais, runs the buses in Gatineau. The network covers the five sectors: Aylmer, Hull, Gatineau, Buckingham and Masson-Angers. Several Rapibus lines cross the city quickly on a dedicated lane. Many Gatineau residents work in Ottawa. Several STO lines cross the bridges to Ottawa, and several OC Transpo lines come into Hull. If you commute daily between Ga...Daily life · October 19, 2026 · 5 minWorking in Ottawa from GatineauUnderstand the daily commute, bridges, transit, and taxes when you live in Gatineau and work in Ontario.Gatineau and Ottawa form a single metropolitan area, separated by the Ottawa River. Many Gatineau residents work in Ottawa, especially in the federal public service, which is the region's biggest employer. Five bridges connect Gatineau and Ottawa: the Champlain bridge, the Portage bridge, the Alexandra bridge, the Macdonald-Cartier bridge and the Chaudières bridge. Traffic is heavy at rush hour...Work · October 21, 2026 · 6 min