While You’re Here

Safety
Venues
Public Transit
Parking
Restaurants

Keep Festive

Animation festivals from around the world have come together to help make festivals safer for everyone.  Please alert a staff member if you ever feel unsafe.  Ottawa – like all cities – has its issues but it is generally safe especially around the busy areas where our venues are.

If you need any help or are ever made to feel unsafe,
please immediately call 911 for an emergency and/or call our Keep Festive hotline at
1 613 505 4102 and an OIAF staff member will do their best to support you

 

 

Venues

If you have any further accessibility questions, you can contact us at info@animationfestival.ca or fill out our anonymous form to provide us feedback.

Arts Court Ottawa​Arts Court

Where you’ll find: OIAF Office, OIAF Registration, Arts Court Theatre, Chez Ani, Aniboutique, Club SAW

Address: 2 Daly Ave. https://goo.gl/maps/kejNrfHHFajZjnDC6 

Venue Description: A multi-storey building housing local arts organizations. Service Animal-friendly and has multiple places to sit.

Wheelchair Access: An accessible entrance is available via ramp at 67 Nicholas Street. Elevators are available throughout the building. 

Bathrooms: Gender-neutral bathrooms are available throughout the building.

Public Transit: Located 3 minutes away from:

Parking: 

More Info: https://artscourt.ca/visitor-info-en

 

​Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG)

Where you’ll find: Alma Duncan Salon

Address: 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, 10 Daly Ave. https://goo.gl/maps/syz8heqkqTsMLwxJ9 

Venue Description: A multi-storey building housing exhibition space, an auditorium, and workshop rooms. Service Animal-friendly and has multiple places to sit.

Wheelchair Access: All entrances are wheelchair accessible. An accessible drop-off location for Para Transpo is available at 10 Daly Avenue. Elevators are available throughout the building.

Bathrooms: Gender-neutral bathrooms are available throughout the building. 

Public Transit:

Parking: 

More Info: https://oaggao.ca/visit/accessibility-and-childcare/

 

​ByTowne Cinema

Address: 325 Rideau St. https://goo.gl/maps/HQFSPfmpTnv3Lc8z7 

Venue Description: A single-screen repertory cinema.

Wheelchair Access: Accessible entrance and reserved seating for wheelchair users.

Bathrooms: Women’s/Men’s bathrooms. Both washrooms have accessible stalls, however, the doors to the men’s room are the old 30″ standard width with no automated door opener. Staff or patrons can open the door for you.

 

Public Transit:

Parking:

More Info: https://www.bytowne.ca/accessibility/ 

 

​National Arts Centre (NAC)

Address: 1 Elgin St. https://maps.app.goo.gl/cDfh24f6DUWXg4pg6 

Venue Description: A multi-storey performing arts center with theatres and event space. Service Animal-friendly and has multiple places to sit.

Wheelchair Access: Accessible entrance available on Elgin Street. The Canal Lobby entrance, the Parking 2 vestibule, and the Parking 3 vestibule are also accessible. Elevators are available throughout the building.

Bathrooms: Women’s/Men’s accessible bathrooms are available throughout the building. Universal and companion care washrooms, including one with an electronic lift, are located at the Orchestra Level of Southam Hall.

Public Transit: 

Parking

More Info: https://nac-cna.ca/en/visit/accessibility

 

Strathcona Park

Where you’ll find: The Animators’ Picnic

Address: 25 Range Rd. ​​https://goo.gl/maps/WfB8UVWv1uKwDr5ZA 

Venue Description: A large public park with a mix of grassy areas and concrete/gravel paths. Service animal-friendly and has multiple places to sit.

Wheelchair Access: Concrete paths around the periphery of the park are connected via gravel paths. 

Bathrooms: Women’s/Men’s accessible bathrooms are available on site.

Public Transit:

Parking: 

More Info: https://map.accessnow.com/details/60405760-fd26-11eb-b731-06d275231987?lng=en

 

Lowertown Brewery

Where you’ll find: Opening Night Party

Address: 73 York St. https://maps.app.goo.gl/Bwj5QFU6gCwUMGKB7

Venue Description: A two-storey bar and restaurant serving Canadian comfort fare with craft beer & cocktails in casual digs with a spacious patio. Service Animal-friendly and multiple places to sit both indoors and outdoors.

Wheelchair Access: The main entrance of the main floor is accessible via ramp. The upper floor is only accessible via stairs. An accessible drop-off location for Para Transpo is available at the Rideau LRT Station entrance on Rideau St.

Bathrooms: Accessible bathrooms are available on the main floor. There are additional bathrooms (not accessible) down a set of stairs in the basement.

Public Transit:

Parking:

More Info: https://www.lowertownbrewery.ca/ 

Public Transit

Getting around the city is easy with OC Transpo and the O-Train! Purchase a Presto card for only $6 and load it with your fare(s) in advance. Coming in from Toronto? Your Toronto Presto cards are valid here too!

Day passes are also available for purchase and can be bought as a 1, 3, 5, or 7-day pass. The DayPass lets you ride on OC Transpo, Para Transpo, and STO from the time of purchase until it expires. To ride, just tap your DayPass at the fare gate or show it to the operator as you board the bus. Having a pass will make it easy and convenient to get to and from the OIAF venues, especially if you are staying near the LRT (O-Train) or a downtown bus route. 

Visit Prices for all your fare rates and options. 

Buy your Presto card online or at an OC Transpo Customer Service Centre or participating Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws, and Real Canadian Superstore locations. 

OC Transpo Ticket Machines can be found at all O-Train stations, and the Ottawa airport has an OC Transpo Ticket Machine located on Level 1: Arrival and Baggage claim. 

Rapid route 97 serves YOW around the clock, 7 days a week!  

O-Train 1 Tunney’s Pasture will take you from the VIA railway station to downtown Ottawa. It runs from early morning to late at night. 

Still need more information?
Visit OC Transpo’s website for all the information you need about Ottawa’s bus and O-train service. You can also call them at 613-560-5000.

Want to take a taxi or Uber from the airport?

The average cost to take a taxi from the airport to downtown Ottawa is $29
To take an Uber from the airport to downtown Ottawa rates start at $25

Want more ground transportation options from the airport? 

Visit https://yow.ca/en/parking-transportation/ground-transportation-options for more information.

Parking Recommendations

Around the ByTowne (325 Rideau)
There is usually street parking on Rideau or Nelson which is free on weekends or after 3:30 pm.

$ Loblaws Rideau (1 min walk)
363 Rideau – enter on Nelson
$5 for 2.5 hours – or for the day on Sat / Sunday
Do not use for a late show, though, because this lot closes at 10pm.

Around the Mayfair Theatre (1074 Bank)
Sometimes you can get lucky and get street parking on Bank but otherwise drive into Willard, Belmont and those surrounding streets.

Around the Ottawa Art Gallery (10 Daly)

There is some street parking on Nicholas, Besserer, Daly, and the surrounding streets, but it is now free only after 7:30 pm and on Sundays.

$ University of Ottawa Desmarais Garage (1 min walk to OAG)
55 Laurier – drive in off of Nicholas – underground
Pay and Display or use the HotSpot app (#4002)
$5.50/hour with $9.00 Max after 3 pm and on weekends

$ Gilad Parking (1 min walk to OAG)
90 Besserer Street – on street – pay and display
The evening rate is $8, and the all-day rate is $8 on Saturday and Sunday (and you can go in and out)

$ City Hall Parking (10 min walk to OAG)
110 Laurier Ave W.
After 6 pm and on weekends it’s only $2! A steal – but a bit of a walk.

$$$ Rideau Centre – Green Garage (1 min walk)
72 Besserer Street Lot 113
Day rate (12 hours) $20.00 / $14 for 2.5 hours

Want to be the first to know about OIAF updates?

Subscribe to our newsletter!