Petawawa

Petawawa (population 18,000 in 2021) is the largest town in eastern Ontario's Ottawa Valley. Petawawa is on the south shore of the Ottawa River, and exists primarily to support the CFB Petawawa military base. The town can serve as a gateway to the eastern parts of Algonquin Park, but Petawawa also offers canoeing opportunities in-town, on the Ottawa and Petawawa Rivers.

History
The earliest settlement in the Petawawa area was inhabited by the Algonquin First Nation. The name Petawawa originates from a local Algonquin language word, biidaawewe, meaning "where one hears a noise like this".

In the late 19th century, the area was surveyed and settled by emigres from Scotland, Ireland and Germany. The land was unsuitable for crops, but the heavily forested surroundings were useful for logging. The Canadian military acquired land in the area in 1905, which later became Canadian Forces Base Petawawa. An internment camp was set up at the Militia Camp in Petawawa from December 1914 to May 1916; it also housed German prisoners-of-war during World War II.

CFB Petawawa is one of Canada's largest ground forces bases with members deployed throughout the world on various missions supporting the United Nations in peacekeeping or the War on Terror.

Climate
Petawawa has a humid continental climate with long, cold, snowy winters and warm summers.

Visitor information

 * Town of Petawawa

By car
The main way in and out of town along Highway 17 (Trans-Canada Highway).

By bus

 * Between Ottawa and Sudbury including stops in Kanata, Arnprior, Renfrew, Pembroke, Mattawa, and North Bay.

By plane
There is an airport in Pembroke with no scheduled flights. The closest major airport is Ottawa.

Get around

 * Take a walk along the Emerald Necklace trail system
 * Drive around town. Maps are available at Town Hall, 1111 Victoria St.

Connect
Free Wi-Fi and computer access is available at the

Go next

 * Algonquin Provincial Park ― the Sand Lake access point, near Barron Canyon and Achray Campground in the eastern part of the park's periphery, is about from the center of town.
 * Mattawa ― a smaller town on the Ottawa River, with additional opportunities for outdoor adventures, and access to the northern parts of Algonquin Park.
 * Pembroke (Ontario) ― a short drive to the southeast, the next city on the Trans-Canada Highway.
 * Ottawa ― Canada's capital, about along the Trans-Canada.