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The Road to Ottawa

© David Newman

You may think that Ottawa has always been the capital of Canada, but that's not all that true. It is true that the nation in which we live in has always had Ottawa but before 1867, the capital moved around the nation.

New France and the Province of Quebec In 1608 the French had already been in "Canada" for a few years. Canada at that time designated the village of Stadacona (Quebec). After much exploring, Canada became the name of all the land north of the great lakes. In 1608, Champlain founded the city of Quebec and since it was the only city in New France (there was forts and trading posts though) Quebec became the Capital and where the King of France was represented by the Intendant of New France. After the Conquest of New France by the English in 1763, the British were afraid that the Canadians (read French Canadians) would join the growing anti-British sentiment in New Britain (Thirteen Colonies) so they made the Act of Quebec (1774) creating the Province of Quebec. The Province of Quebec's capital was still Quebec.

Upper and Lower Canada Soon after the American Revolution, The United Loyalists came to Quebec where they founded many towns. The growing British population in this region caused the separation of Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada in 1791. Quebec remains the Capital of Lower Canada while Niagara (Niagara-on-the-Lake) is Temporarily Capital of Upper Canada. Quebec will remain a Capital until Unification of the Canadas. On the other hand, Upper Canada changed its Capital in 1796 from Niagara to York a town that had been founded in 1793. York grows and is renamed Toronto in 1834. Toronto remained as Capital of Upper Canada until the unification even throught the war of 1812 when it was partially destroyed by the Americans.

Province of Canada Kingston was among the largest towns in Canada after Quebec and Montreal. It was also one of the oldest British cities in Canada. The Loyalists that settled after fleeing the United States established it. Kingston became capital in 1841 with the Act of Union. Kingston still takes pride of being the first Capital of a United Canada. Of Course the capital changed often in this new Province. Infact, in 1844, Montreal becomes the capital of Canada. This seems to be a perfect place for a Capital, between both parts, East an West, but rioter in 1849, burned down the parliament buildings and the Capital was moved to Toronto. Toronto remained the Capital of Canada until 1858, when Ottawa was chosen as Capital.