CAF POSTING TO OTTAWA · 2026 GUIDE
Kanata, Barrhaven and Orléans get most of the attention. They can be great choices, but they are not your only choices. Your DND work location, acceptable commute and family priorities should come before the house.
Watch the 8-minute guide
Dwayne served 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. In this video he breaks down five communities that often get missed when military families start researching an Ottawa posting.
The rule that matters most
Ottawa is not a traditional one-gate military posting. CAF members can report to different DND locations across the National Capital Region, including NDHQ Carling, Pearkes, Startop, Uplands and Shirley's Bay. A community that works beautifully for one posting can create an unnecessary commute for another.
Know where you will actually report before narrowing the map.
Test the drive at the time you would really be commuting.
Schools, lifestyle, budget and housing come after the geography makes sense.
Five communities worth comparing
These are not ranked. The right answer depends on your posting and what you want life outside the uniform to look like.
Munster is a small rural community southwest of Ottawa. The appeal is simple: more breathing room, quieter surroundings and a lifestyle that feels very different from a large suburban subdivision.
What to think about: everyday amenities are limited, so shopping, restaurants and many services mean driving. Munster makes the most sense for someone who genuinely wants rural living and has checked the commute against their actual work location.
Richmond is one of the stronger compromises between small-town living and suburban convenience. It has schools, parks, recreation, restaurants and local businesses, while keeping Kanata, Stittsville and Barrhaven within reach.
What to think about: Richmond has grown. Buyers should evaluate today's village, traffic and development rather than the quieter Richmond someone may remember from years ago.
Carp can be compelling when the west side of Ottawa works for your posting and you would rather have a village or rural property than a conventional subdivision. Depending on the property, the trade can be more land and a much quieter setting.
What to think about: rural properties bring rural-property homework. Well and septic systems, snow removal and internet availability should be investigated before the listing photos win you over.
Russell is worth considering for families whose work and daily life make the east or southeast side logical. It offers a growing small-town environment, with Embrun nearby adding another set of services and housing options.
What to think about: if schools matter to your move, confirm current boundaries, programs and eligibility directly with the applicable school board before buying. Never base a purchase on an assumed school assignment.
Kemptville is a service centre in its own right, with shopping, restaurants, schools, recreation and healthcare. For families who want small-town life without driving into Ottawa for every everyday need, it can offer a useful balance.
What to think about: the commute is the big one. If you will be travelling into Ottawa five days a week, test the route during your real commuting hours and decide whether the trade-off still works.
Do not choose the house before the location. Start with your work location, acceptable commute, schools if relevant, lifestyle and budget. Then look at houses. A beautiful kitchen does not make a long daily commute shorter.
Keep planning
Start with where you will actually report and build outward from there.
See which Ottawa communities fit different bases, commutes and lifestyles.
Do the homework before you land so your House Hunting Trip is for execution, not orientation.
Send us your work location, approximate arrival date and whether you're planning to buy or rent. We'll help you narrow the map before your HHT starts.
Talk with Dwayne & Mallory