Located on the east bank of the Rideau River across from Lowertown and Sandy Hill and south of Rockcliffe Park, New Edinburgh, Lindlea and Beechwood, Vanier is increasingly considered a target for gentrification as the walk to the market is only about 20 minutes. It is one of the last relatively inexpensive Ottawa neighborhoods with a desirable location next to downtown. Increasingly popular among young families thanks to the only publicly funded school in Ottawa based upon Waldorf education, Trille Des Bois, and a very active community association.
Vanier was historically a francophone community however, in 2012 its francophone population shrunk to less than 40% from 63% in the early 1980’s. It offers a wide variety of retail shops, strip malls, eateries, bars, etc and is the site of several existing and proposed upscale condos and infill developments due to its proximity to some high end locales. It is also the site of the only urban maple sugar bush in North America and holds the Maple Sugar Festival each spring!