The National Capital Region (NCR) has twenty-three (23) Year Round Events (YREs) for your walking enjoyment. That is on top of the conventions four walks. Below is a list and Google map links for the start points. Also check at the registration and information desks for instructions to get to them via public transit (OC Transpo).
See below for more information on using Ottawa's public transit.
More detail can be found on the Walking & Volkssport Association of Ontario (WVAO) site under YRE Ottawa Links.
West
| YRE# | Location | Start Point |
|---|---|---|
| 003 | Kanata – North | Kanata Leisure Centre, 70 Aird Place |
| 054 | Manotick (Ont Directors Walk) | Mac's Milk, 5511 Main Street, Manotick |
| 092 | Nepean – Crystal Beach | PetroCan, 3095 Carling Ave |
| 030 | Nepean - Woodroffe Walk #1 | Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Ave |
| 130 | College Square | New Balance Store, College Square, 1371 Woodruffe Ave. |
| 100 | Nepean - Greenbank | Mac’s 299 Greenbank Rd. |
| 147 | Greenboro/South Keys | Macs Milk, Greenboro Plaza, 25 Tapiola Cres |
| 090 | Richmond | Macs Milk, 6138 Perth St, Richmond |
| 148 | Stittsville Walk | Shoppers Drug Mart, 1300 Main St, Stittsville |
| 272 | Westboro Walk | Bridgehead Coffee House, 362 Richmond Road |
| 123 | Kanata - East | PharmaPlus - inside the Hazeldean Mall |
| 290 | Barrhaven | Sobey’s, 1581 Greenbank Road |
East
| YRE# | Location | Start Point |
|---|---|---|
| 152 | Gloucester | Quickie Store, 1600 Forest Valley Drive |
| 195 | Gloucester | The Hill Butcher Shop, 2339 Ogilvie Road |
| 018 | Orleans | Bob McQuarrie Complex, 1490 Youville Drive |
| 050 | Orleans | Ray Friel Centre, 1585 Tenth Line Rd |
| 213 | Orleans | Ultramar Service Station6469 Jeanne d’Arc Blvd |
| 233 | Orleans | Mac’s Convenience Store, 2672 Innes Road |
| 270 | Ottawa Round and Long Distance Walk 200 km | Contact Ole Olson for registration kit. 613-824-1583 oleolson@magma.ca |
| 005 | Ottawa - Downtown | The Exchange, Rideau & Sussex St |
| 027 | Ottawa - Downtown | YMCA-YWCA, 180 Argyle Avenue |
| 268 | Ottawa - Downtown | Food Mart Express, 380 Laurier Avenue W |
| 153 | Ottawa | RA Centre, (Athletics Registration Desk), 2451 Riverside Dr |
| 273 | Ottawa | RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive |
| 277 | Ottawa | Champagne Pool, 321 King Edward Ave |
| 281 | Ottawa | Shoppers Drug Mart, Alta Vista Centre, 1559 Alta Vista Dr. |
| 214 | Vanier | Shell Service Station, 1 Montreal Road |
Using Ottawa's Public Transit
Public Transit in Ottawa is provided by OCTranspo (www.OCTranspo.com). The service is interconnected with the transit system on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, the STO. Schedule information can be found by using the OCTranspo site’s schedule finder
Buses in the region operate on an ‘Exact Fare’ system. The driver does not provide change. Travel can much less costly if one travels using tickets rather than cash fares. Current cash fare on a regular route is $3.25. By paying with tickets the price is $2.60, tickets come in blocks of 10. For seniors (65+) that fare is to $1.30.
Tickets will be available at Algonquin through the college book store.
For seniors currently OC Transpo offers FREE travel on Friday and Mondays after noon and all day Wednesday. Proof of Age may be requested.
Also OC Transpo offers a discount by way of a Day Pass. Weekdays the pass allows unlimited travel for an adult for a fee of $7.50. On Weekends and Statutory holidays this pass allows 2 adults traveling together to use the bus all day for $7.50.
There are some peculiarities of OC Transpo visitors need to be aware of. Ottawa operates over an extensive area. Some buses during rush hour (M-F) require more than the basic fare. You probably won’t need to use them. They are identified by numbers between 20 and 80 or numbers over 200. They also carry signs near the driver’s door indicating a higher fare. Make sure you check before boarding!
Articulated busses, sometimes referred to as slinkies, or bendy-busses are called “Proof Of Payment” (POP) buses. To ride these busses you must board by the front door and when paying one’s fare secure a transfer or Proof Of Payment. You may use this transfer for up to 90 minutes from the time it is issued to transfer to other buses or as proof of payment should it be requested. In general it is a good practice to ask for a transfer when boarding any bus. The majority of buses operating to and from Baseline Station are this type of bus.
All buses on the system have a voice announcement of next stop. Also the buses have overhead signs showing the next stop.
OCTranspo also operates the O-Train. This service links parts of the city more quickly than the bus. One can transfer from the bus to the O-Train using a POP transfer. The O-Train currently has a different fare schedule so if boarding the O-Train first one needs to pay the cash fare at the payment booth on the platform and on transferring to a bus obtain a POP transfer from the driver.
A large number of walks operated by the Voyageurs, Nomads and OCVA start very near the Transitway, the system of limited stop, sometimes dedicated bus lanes. Registration for these walks will be available at the Convention venue and buses travel through or near the college to the start point or route. Travel and walk directions will be provided on signing the register for these walks.
