Vanier, Ontario, formerly known as Eastview, is a vibrant neighbourhood nestled in the east end of Ottawa, Canada. This historically francophone and working-class community was a separate city until its amalgamation into Ottawa in 2001. Today, Vanier is a bustling hub of activity, located on the east bank of the Rideau River, across from the neighbourhoods of Lowertown and Sandy Hill, and just south of Rockcliffe Park, New Edinburgh, Lindenlea, and Manor Park.
In 1908, the communities of Janeville, Clarkstown, and Clandeboye united to form the village of Eastview. By 1913, Eastview was incorporated as a town, becoming a popular destination for civil servants desiring to live away from downtown. The town saw a significant influx of French Canadians, transforming it into the capital's main francophone area.
During the Great Depression, Eastview captured national attention with the Eastview Birth Control Trial (1936-1937), a public forum for national debates on birth control. The town was renamed Vanier in 1969, in honour of the recently deceased Governor-General of Canada, Georges Vanier. A memorial at the intersection of Marier Avenue, Dagmar Avenue, and Hannah Street commemorates Eastview citizens who lost their lives in Canadian military conflicts.
Today, Vanier is increasingly being earmarked for gentrification. It remains one of the last relatively inexpensive Ottawa neighbourhoods with a desirable location next to downtown. The neighbourhood is becoming popular with young families, thanks to the Trille-des-Bois, the only publicly-funded school in Ottawa based on Waldorf education, known for its excellent standards.
Vanier boasts an active community association and offers a wide choice of retail shops, strip malls, eateries, and bars. Housing options range from subsidized and self-financed housing to upscale condominiums and in-fill developments. The western edge of Vanier, notably the Kingsview Park neighbourhood, is among the more affluent areas.
Vanier is home to a diverse population, including French-speaking immigrants from Africa and elsewhere. The neighbourhood hosts the urban Maple Sugar Festival (Festival des Sucres) in spring and is home to an outdoor Catholic shrine, La Grotte-de-Lourdes.
Vanier is represented by MP Mona Fortier (Liberal) federally and MPP Lucille Collard (Ontario Liberal) provincially in the Ottawa—Vanier ridings. The neighbourhood is known for its staunch support for the Liberal party since its creation in 1935.
