Located in the middle of the Ottawa River and under the shadows of Parliament Hill, Victoria Island bears witness to Ottawa’s past.
Once at the foot of the pristine Chaudières Falls, the island was used for thousands of years by the Algonquin people as a meeting place for gatherings, trading and celebrations. The island was also used as a portage route around the waterfalls.
With the arrival of settlers and entrepreneurs in the 19th century, the island quickly became occupied by industries eager to harness the power of the waterfalls. It also played a vital role in the region’s historic lumber industry.
In 1899, inventor Thomas Wilson built a stone mill on the island to produce acetylene gas, a product of calcium carbide. The mill still stands on the island today, and was designated a heritage building by the National Capital Commission in 1972.
In recognition of the spiritual significance of Victoria Island, the Turtle Island Tourism Company was formed in partnership with the Odawa Native Friendship Centre, a cultural centre serving the Aboriginal community in the Capital region.
On the island you will find a traditional aboriginal village that offers a rare opportunity to experience the rich culture, teachings and history of Canada’s First Peoples.
From May until October, you can learn about the design and construction of a birch bark canoe, experience life inside a tepee or wigwam, and participate in traditional song and dance.
There are events and activities for all age groups, including craft workshops, guided tours, theatrical storytelling, enactment of aboriginal legends and pow-wows.
Victoria Island was acquired in 1971 by the NCC, which subsequently replaced much of the industrial clutter on the island with parkland.