Why I Love Living & Working in Ottawa

By Yusuf Osman, MBA 

I’ve lived in Ottawa my whole life, with the exception of two years I spent at Queen’s University in Kingston. When I was very young, my parents and I immigrated to Canada from Apartheid South Africa in search of a more equal opportunity. Leaving the only home we knew was extremely overwhelming. Adapting to a new country and a new way of life while struggling to make ends meet was a tough price to pay to leave the devastating system of discrimination in South Africa.

Luckily, Canada’s fundamental principles of tolerance and acceptance allowed us to thrive in Ottawa. The Ottawa Hospital took a chance on my father and gave him an opportunity to prove himself as a great medical doctor. This city and country welcomed us with open arms and I feel honoured every day I get to experience the kindness and warmth of the Canadian people — helping to alleviate the sense of loss that comes from leaving your country (flawed as it was), your childhood friends and extended family. Ottawa will be my family’s adopted home forever, and I wanted to share a few more reasons why I love living and working here so much.

A Capital With Culture

Ottawa has all the perks of living in a larger city, but is much more manageable. We don’t have the same kind of crazy rush hours you see in bigger cities, and the housing prices here are more reasonable than Vancouver or Toronto (though we have been doing our darndest to catch up!). With less hustle and bustle, you would expect the city to be boring, but Ottawa still has a great nightlife, lots of culture, and ethnic diversity (a place where a nice boy from South Africa could meet a bella ragazza from Italy — my wife, Lori).

Ottawa is also a city that loves to celebrate; a festival takes place almost every month. In the spring, you can go see the gorgeous displays at the Canadian Tulip Festival, and in the peak of winter, we have an excuse to leave our homes to see the ice sculptures and skate on the Rideau canal during Winterlude.

A Green City

Ottawa was so beautifully designed, incorporating large public parks everywhere as well as vast natural spaces. The city also has a very impressive public transportation system, which helps lower its CO2 emissions and environmental impact. Of course, the beautiful and historic Rideau Canal makes for a beautiful sight year-round, especially when frozen over.

Two blocks from my house is the Central Experimental Farm (CEF), a relic of scientific research in the Victorian era, which has become an amazing place for recreation and education for the city’s residents. The Gatineau Hills, an awesome place to go hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter, are a short car ride away.

The Ottawan People

Ottawa, and by extension Canada, has become a stellar example of an exceptionally compassionate community. Coming from Apartheid South Africa, I truly appreciate the history of Ottawa and the culture of tolerance that’s been built here. Giving back to the people who welcomed my family with open arms many decades ago is a core value of mine, which is why I am committed to educating and inspiring my fellow Ottawans to take control of their finances.

Whether you are considering moving to Ottawa or were born and raised here, consider working with an investment advisor who understands the people of this great city. To get started, contact me at (613) 447-1770 or yusuf.osman@gmii.ca​.

About Yusuf

Yusuf Osman is a Financial Advisor at Global Maxfin Investments Inc., an independent full-service financial advisory firm dedicated to helping clients create financial freedom, security, and peace of mind. With over 30 years of experience in the finance industry, Yusuf is committed to educating, engaging, and inspiring as many people as possible to take control of their finances. He spends his days developing a thorough understanding of his clients’ lives, concerns, and dreams to help them build a financial plan that keeps pace with changes in both the markets and their lives. Yusuf graduated from the University of Ottawa with a bachelor’s degree in Science and earned an MBA in Finance from Queen’s University. To learn more about Yusuf and his Dynamic Wealth Program for Women, go to Dynamic Wealth Program for Women | Dynamic Wealth.