Moving to: Arnprior

Arnprior is an up-and-coming bedroom community located 65 km west of Parliament Hill, at the confluence of the Madawaska River and the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley. The convenience of the recently expanded 417 Provincial Highway to four lanes has made Arnprior a very desirable town to live in to allow for Ottawa workers to still experience the joy of rural living.

The land occupied by what is now called Arnprior is part of the traditional territory of the Algonquin nation of indigenous North Americans. The first European explorers, led by Samuel de Champlain, first visited the area in May 1613. The town is a namesake of Arnprior, Scotland, and is known for lumber, hydropower generation, aerospace, farming, and its proximity to the National Capital Region.

Arnprior has a long history with railways. The Canada Central Railway reached Arnprior on December 6, 1864. Later the Canadian National Railway (CNR) came and, through much of the 20th century, Arnprior was served by both major Canadian railways. The CNR tracks were pulled up and the right-of-way is used as a walking trail.

Some main attractions for the town are:

·         Arnprior Market: This annual event is held on Sundays along John Street in Downtown Arnprior. From the May long weekend until the last Sunday in September, John Street is closed to traffic and over 30 vendors line the street selling everything from fresh produce and preservatives to unique crafts and giftware. The Market runs from 9 am – 2 pm.

·         Robert Simpson Park. The Park houses a guarded beach, a splash pad, a canteen and a bandstand where free live music can be found throughout the summer on Sundays from 2 – 4 pm. Robert Simpson Park features views of the Ottawa River and many activities take place at the park such as the annual Priorpalooza Music Festival, beach volleyball, and yoga on the beach.

·         There are many walking trails in Arnprior including the Millennium trails and MacNamara Trail which provides scenic views of the waterfront, downtown heritage homes, and two nature trails including a walk-through of the Gillies Grove, a 45-acre (180,000 m2) tract of old-growth forest, preserving the white pine which was the foundation of the local lumber industry. Gillies Grove is also home to the tallest tree (45 m [148 ft]) in Ontario. Additionally, the rivers and local lakes encourage boating, fishing, and canoeing.

·         Arnprior & District Museum, housed in the former Arnprior Post Office Customs House and built in 1896, offers a unique glimpse into the town's early days. It has undergone many renovations including a completely renovated 2nd floor which is home to a new modern exhibition. The museum also features travelling exhibits from the Royal Ontario Museum often and hosts the Annual Quilt Exhibit every November.

·         Priorpalooza, 12 hours of music celebrating local artists, this is a free event hosted at the beachfront on the first Saturday in June every year.

·         White Pine Festival, a three-day event held all around town that includes vendors, music, food, a highland dance competition and a movie in the park.

·         The Arnprior Fair, a mix of musical entertainment, livestock shows, educational displays and rides