Barrhaven is made up of three main residential areas. These include: ‘Old’ Barrhaven West, Stonebridge (to the South) and Longfields-Davidson Heights (to the East) with the area now boasting a population that is believed to be just shy of 100,000 residents.
Thinking about living in Barrhaven, Ontario?
Located in Southwest Ottawa is a large suburb known as Barrhaven. The area has seen rapid growth and development over the past several decades and is one of the most family-friendly communities anywhere in the capital region. Prior to its amalgamation with the City of Ottawa in 2001, it was a part of Nepean. With numerous schools, parks, community centres and a budding commercial landscape, the area is a highly attractive option for homebuyers who are looking for a safe place to call home.
How far is Barrhaven from Ottawa?
Barrhaven is about a 20-25 min drive from Downtown Ottawa. Major transit stations include Barrhaven Town Centre and Fallowfield Station which provide service to other central stations that connect to the rest of the city. The latter also serves as a Via Rail station for train service to other major Canadian cities. Future plans (2030 estimate) will bring light rail, rapid transit service right into Barrhaven.
In this post, we’ll highlight the major residential areas in Barrhaven that you should consider throughout your home search. If you’re looking for other Ottawa areas, check out our detailed blog post about the best Ottawa neighbourhoods to live in!
Overview of Barrhaven Neighborhoods in Ottawa
Old Barrhaven (Barrhaven West)
The first signs of community development in Barrhaven began to take shape in the 1960s with the formation of what is referred to today as ‘Old Barrhaven’. This large residential sector is located in the westernmost part of the area and is bordered by Cedarview, Fallowfield & Greenbank Road. Up until the early 2000’s, residents of Barrhaven largely relied on the Nepean area for the vast majority of its shopping, dining and recreational needs but in the decades that followed, the area quickly began to expand. Large commercial developments started to appear, giving the area access to the businesses it needed most.
Old Barrhaven consists of the following major residential areas: Pheasant Run (Cedarview / Fallowfield area), Fraserdale (South West – East of Cedarview Rd / South of Jockvale) and Barrhaven On The Green (West of Greenbank / North of Strandherd / Wessex). While most of the homes in this area are single family dwellings, you will also find a number of streets packed with row / townhome units as well as some condo / town living options.
Additionally, the VIVA retirement residence is located on the outskirts of Old Barrhaven, providing assisted and unassisted living options for elderly parents and relatives.
Schools located in ‘Old Barrhaven’ West include:
- Mary Honeywell Elementary School (JK – Grade 6)
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Catholic School – JK – Grade 6)
- Barrhaven Public School (JK – Grade 6)
- Jockvale Elementary School (JK – Grade 6)
- St. Patrick School (Catholic School – JK – Grade 6)
- Ottawa Christian School (JK – Grade 8)
- Cedarview Middle School (Grades 5-8)
- John McCrae Secondary School (Grades 9-12)
Barrhaven West is known for its large number of connected walking paths which are routed down Jockvale Road, Cedarview Road and also run parallel to the VIA Rail train tracks. Some homes back onto the path and have no rear neighbors. The paths provide an excellent opportunity for dog-walking, running or cycling and are enjoyed year round by locals.
There are a number of parks in Barrhaven West and Clarke Fields is one of the most popular, due to its accessibility. It features several soccer fields, kids play structures and a ball diamond. It’s also the location of Barrhaven’s annual Canada Day festivities and fireworks display. A midway & fairgrounds are set up at this park each year and in the winter months, an outdoor skating rink is constructed in conjunction with the city of Ottawa.
Additional parks in Barrhaven West include: Pheasant Run Park, Weybridge Park, Malvern Park, Houlahan Park, Mowat Farm Park, Burnett Park, Larkin Park & Moloughney Park.
Places of worship in Barrhaven West include:
- Cedarview Alliance Church
- Sequoia Community Church
- Harvest Mission Bible Church
- Haven Baptist Church
- Barrhaven Fellowship Christian Reformed Church
- Barrhaven United Church
- Divine Word Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Ottawa Torah Centre Chabad
Barrhaven’s original sports complex and community centre is Walter Baker Sports Centre which first opened its doors in 1980. It includes multiple ice pads and 3 swimming pools (including a lane, diving and kids pool). The centre also offers squash courts, a full service workout gym and a number of meeting rooms. Connected to the complex is the Ruth E Dickinson Public library which has undergone significant renovations in recent years. Also connected to Walter Baker and the library is John McCrae Secondary School which makes for an outstanding educational experience with close access to nearby city run amenities.
Barrhaven West also offers other amenities such as:
- The Charlie Conacher Community building
- Barrhaven Tennis Courts
- The Larkin Community Centre
- South Nepean Satellite Community Health Centre
Some of the businesses located in Old Barrhaven are:
- KFC
- Greenfields Public House
- Food Basics
- Barrhaven Auto Centre
- Colonnade Pizza
- The UPS Store
- Rexall Drug Store
- Escape Manor Junior
- Ottawa Barrhaven Animal Hospital
- Dynacare Blood Lab
- Starbucks
- Five Guys
- The Barley Mow
- Boston Pizza
- Canadian Tire
- Barrhaven Source For Sports
- Home Depot
- Best Buy
- Dollarama
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- Bed, Bath & Beyond
- Broadway Bar & Grill
- McDonalds
- Swiss Chalet
- Mr. Lube
- The Royal Oak
Click here to begin your search for homes in Old Barrhaven West
Strandherd Meadows / Havencrest / West Pointe Village (West of Barrhaven West)
Located West of Cedarview Rd and East of Strandherd Drive are several newer housing developments that were built over the past 15 years and completed as recently as last year. The initial construction of the first community known as Strandherd Meadows was developed by Phoenix Homes and began to take shape in the mid 2000’s. In recent years, Claridge as well as Tartan have also created communities nearby. This area offers large single family homes, row towns and 3 story townhome options scattered throughout the length of Strandherd Drive from the end of Cedarview up until the 416 Highway on ramp.
The construction of so many new homes in this area also brought along a large commercial development. Located West of Strandherd Drive and just across the street from this diverse multicultural community is a massive 5 storey Amazon fulfillment centre that created over 1,000 jobs in the area and opened this fall. A few years ago, a large Costco Wholesale location opened its doors right beside it, which was very much needed. Strandherd Road is also being widened to become a 4 lane road in order to handle the increased traffic flow around this development.
Several parks are located nearby including Hibiscus Park which is centrally located and is popular among the many young families that live in the area. It offers play structures and splash pads which are great in the summer months. Nearby Morgan’s Pond Park provides an incredible place to take in the nature and wildlife that lives in the tranquille pond located amongst the homes that back onto the water.
Other parks include:
- Havencrest Woods Park
- Fosterbrook Park
- Cobble Hill Park
Some of the other businesses that are located in this immediate commercial area include:
- Marshalls
- Ren’s Pets
- Value Village
- One Plant Cannabis
- High Class Nail & Spa
- LCBO
- Amazon Fulfillment Centre
- Lone Star
- A&W
- Freshii
- Montanas
- East Side Marios
- Tutti Fruity Breakfast & Lunch
- Halibut House
- Panago Pizza
- Shawarma Kingdom
- Subway
- Popeyes
- Barrhaven Bright Smile Dental
- Braces Haven
- Donna Bella Hair Designers
- My Gym Children’s Fitness Centre
- Sizzle N Grill
- Gabriels Pizza
- Burgers & Shakes
- Cafe Cristal
Cedarhill / Orchard Estates / Onassa Springs
Located just North of Old Barrhaven is a luxury estate community that was developed in the late 1980s. Custom homes in the area were built around the Cedarhill Golf & Country Club, one of Barrhaven’s only golf courses. Homes here are large and all of them sell for well over $1 Million but can often range upwards of $3-4 Million. Many properties back directly onto the golf club. If you’re looking for a big home with a large property in one of Barrhaven’s most exclusive neighborhoods, this is one of the places you should consider keeping an eye on for new listings.
Stonebridge / Halfmoon Bay & Surrounding Area
Located South of Old Barrhaven West is an upscale community known as Stonebridge that is primarily bordered by the Jock River, Prince of Whales Drive and Barnsdale Road. The area was first developed by Monarch Homes in the early 2000’s with initial properties backing onto a luxury golf course. The Stonebridge Golf & Country Club was created as the centrepiece to the community and homes in the area are large single family dwellings, located east of Longfields Drive. In the years that followed, additional developers began to build various types of homes in the area – the most prominent of them being Mattamy Homes ‘Half Moon Bay’ development, which began construction in 2010 and is located West / South West of Greenbank Road. Single family homes, row townhomes and 3 story townhomes can all be found in this area. In the past 5 years, additional developments such as ‘The Orchard’ by Uniform Urban Developments and Quinn’s Pointe by Minto have also occupied a significant presence in the area. Stonebridge & its surrounding communities are located in close proximity to Old Barrhaven as well as Chapman Mills Marketplace which serves as Barrhaven’s central commercial development.
Currently under construction is an additional development called ‘The Ridge’ that will be located near Cambrian Rd / Borrisokane Rd, one of the main access points into the Stonebridge / Half Moon Bay area. This community is being built by Caivan Homes and is in its early stages of development. It will feature 20 to 50 foot lot properties and 3 community parks and walking trail will be located nearby.
Schools in the Stonebridge & surrounding area include:
- Half Moon Bay Public School (JK – Grade 5)
- École Élémentaire Catholique Sainte-Kateri (French – Catholic Elementary – JK – Grade 6)
- St. Cecelia Catholic Elementary (JK to Grade 6)
- St. Benedict Catholic Elementary (JK to Grade 6)
- St. Joseph Catholic High School (Grade 7-12)
Stonebridge is a vibrant community of diverse, multi generational families. In the evening hours, you’ll see kids, parents and elderly residents enjoying the parks and accessible pathways in the area. The Stonebridge trail is a 5KM nature trail and a popular route for those looking to walk their dog or just get out to enjoy the outdoors. It runs parallel to the Jock River, which ultimately connects with the Rideau River. Also nearby is The W.C Levesque Park which has 4 full sized soccer fields, play structure and accessible parking lot while Half Moon Bay Park includes splash pads, large soccer fields and two tennis courts for the public to enjoy.
Additional parks in the area include:
- Kilbirnie Park
- Merak Park
- Dowitcher Park
- Black Raven Park
- Lamprey Park
- River Mist Park
- Tucana Park
- Golflinks Park
- River Run Park
- Orchard Park
- Guinness Park
- Regatta Park
Located in heart of the community, Minto Recreation Complex is a multi purpose, City of Ottawa run facility that offers swimming pools for lessons & related aquatic activities as well as several ice pads for local minor hockey games & practices. The facility was rated one of the top 10 indoor pools in Canada by Chatelaine Magazine. Directly outside of the centre is a fire station and Quinn’s Pointe field, a full sized artificial turf for football and other sports.
Also located in the Stonebridge area:
- Stonebridge Golf & Country Club (currently being altered / shortened) to accommodate another new batch of homes being built around the course. This development is called The Crown of Stonebridge and is being completed by Mattamy Homes. This developer also owns the golf club, which is set to re-open by Summer 2022.
- Capital Funeral Home & Cemetery
Click here to begin your search for homes in Stonebridge
Longfields / Davidson-Heights / Havenlea / Chapman Mills / Heart’s Desire
Located to the east of Greenbank Rd and Woodroffe Ave. is a large sector of residential and commercial developments that make up the centerpiece of the community. Between the 1990’s and the early 2000’s, Barrhaven began to experience its first significant growth and expansion since its initial inception. This area of Barrhaven features a large number of town and single family homes, as well as some three story and condo town units. With homes and schools being built to the north and south of Strandherd Drive, it was only a matter of time before Barrhaven received a huge boost to its commercial landscape. The Chapman Mills RIOCAN Marketplace offers residents access to a huge number of businesses and retail chains just minutes away from home, including a Wal Mart, Loblaws, Cineplex movie theatre and much more. In 2009, one of the largest schools in Ottawa, Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School opened in the area. It currently has an enrollment that exceeds 2200 students and is for students in grades 7 to 12.
With 13 schools in the surrounding community, it shows just how well developed Barrhaven’s core has become over the past 20 years. The area is home to the following schools:
- Berrigan Elementary School (JK – Grade 6)
- École Élémentaire Catholique Pierre Elliotte Trudeau (French Catholic – JK – Grade 6)
- Monsignor Paul Baxter School (JK – Grade 6)
- St. Luke School (Catholic – JK – Grade 6)
- Michaelle Jean Public School (French Public – JK – Grade 8)
- Adrienne Clarkson Elementary School (JK – Grade 6)
- St. Andrew School (Catholic – JK – Grade 6)
- Farley Mowat Public School (JK – Grade 6)
- École Elémentaire Jean Robert Gauthier (French Catholic – JK – Grade 6)
- St. Emily School (Catholic – JK – Grade 6)
- Chapman Mills Public School (JK – Grade 6)
- Longfields Davidson Heights Public School (Grade 7 – 12)
- St. Mother Teresa Catholic High School (Catholic – Grade 7 – 12)
Given the family-oriented nature of the community, there are a huge number of parks and greenspaces to take advantage of. Some of the most popular options include Stonecrest Park (also includes a Monarch butterfly waystation), Ken Ross Park and Water Dragon Park which both offer play structures and splash pads to enjoy during the hot summer days in Barrhaven. The Berrigan skateboard park is always being enjoyed by kids of a variety of ages.
Additional parks in the area include:
- Mulligan Park
- Leatherleaf Park
- Watershield Park
- Neil Nesbitt Park
- Utman Park
- North Harrow Park
- Rodeo Park
- Calaveras Park
- Palmadeo Park
- Finchley Park
- Greenpointe Park
- Panda Park
- Mancini Park (also features pickleball courts)
- Stinson Park
- Rippleridge Park
- Grovehurst Park
- Branchwood Park
- Gus Estes Park
- Cresthaven Park
- Furness Park
- Rosetta Park
- Dylan Way Park
- Knowlton Park
- Redpath Park
There are several retirement & long term care facilities in the immediate area providing elderly family members with living options nearby. A large funeral home is also located in the community. These properties include:
- Revera Barrhaven
- Revera Longfields Manor (Long term care)
- The Court at Barrhaven
- Waterford Grand Retirement Residence
- Carleton Lodge Retirement Home
- Kelly Funeral Home
Places of worship in this sector of Barrhaven include:
- Longfields Baptist Church
- SNMC Mosque
- Kingdom Hall of Jehova’s Witnesses
- The Salvation Army Barrhaven Church
As previously mentioned, this part of Barrhaven makes up the primary commercial sector in the area so below, we’ve highlighted some of the major businesses you will find nearby. Dining, shopping and other specialized services include:
- The Barrhaven Chapman Mills Marketplace (RIOCAN Mall / New Barrhaven’s first major shopping area), featuring:
- Wal Mart Super Centre, Cineplex Movie Theatre, Sportchek, Indigo, Staples, Pet Smart, Mark’s Work Warehouse, Play it Again Sports, Bulk Barn, Mastermind Toys Barrhaven, Wizard’s Tower, 1000 Sushi Islands, Prestotea (Bubble tea), Shawarma Heaven, Pho Thi Fusion, PiRho Grill, Sleep Country Canada, Urban Barn Furniture, Loblaws, Homesense, EB Games, Buck or Two, Edo Japan & Sushi, Paramount Middle Eastern Kitchen, Booster Juice, The Fry, Dairy Queen, Kelsey’s Restaurant, Firehouse Subs, Fiazza Fresh Fired Pizza, Mary Brown’s Chicken, Barrhaven Chiropractic, Capital Orthodontics, Pure Hair Design, Trade Secrets Beauty Supply, Anytime Fitness Centre
- Barrhaven Town Centre (West of Greenbank Rd) includes:
- Shoppers Drug Mart (& Canada Post), Best Buy, The Home Depot, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Swiss Chalet Restaurant, Thai Express Restaurant, Little Caesars Pizza, Independent Grocer, Subway, Broadway Bar & Grill, Hakim Optical, Le Look Hair Studio, Popeyes Supplements, Greenbank Animal Hospital, Mr Lube, McDonald’s
- Highbury Park (east of Greenbank Rd includes a very new commercial development that was only built in the last few years):
- Browns Social House, Orangetheory Fitness, Argos Greek & Pizza, Ouid Cannabis, Mad Radish (Health food), Holistic Wellness Physiotherapy, Luisa’s Burritos, Yogatown, A&W, Chocolat Favoris, La Vie Nails, Highbury Park Dental, Elevate Spin, Code Ninjas
- Strandherd Crossing (Woodroffe / Chapman Mills) includes:
- Movati Athletic (Privately run gym), Metro Grocery Store, Heart & Crown Bar, Guava’s Shawarma, Copper Branch (plant based power food), Southpointe Dental, COBS Bread Bakery, Pro Physio & Sport Medicine Centres, Pizza Pizza, Supplement King, The Ten Spot (Beauty Salon), Vapanada Vape Shop, Kardish Health Food Centre, Menchie’s Barrhaven (Specialty frozen yogurt), Argyle Associates (Facial surgery), Shawarma Prince, Global Pet Foods, CIBC / TD / RBC Banks
- Woodroffe / Queensbury includes:
- The Jolly Taxpayer Bar & Grill, Chapman Mills Animal Hospital, Queensbury Dental Centre, Van Orthodontics, Lasting Impressions Hair Salon, LF3 Barrhaven Gym, Milano Pizzaria, Nasa Foods (Indian), Lux Beauty Lounge (Nail salon)
An additional area nearby includes Knollsbrook (triangular piece of land) located east of Greenbank and South of Fallowfield Rd. This area is weirdly located right in between Old Barrhaven and newer Barrhaven. Businesses here include:
- Barrhaven Crossing Shopping Mall
- The Beer Store, The Works Gourmet Burger Bistro, Greenbank Family Health Center (Doctor), Silver 7 Martial Arts, Montessori School by Brightpath, First Choice Haircutters, Barrhaven Optometric Centre, The Barrhaven Crossing Dental Centre, Unleashed Dog Daycare & Grooming, Fallowfield Pharmacy
- Fallowfield / Woodroffe
- Barrhaven Barbers, Gabriels Pizza, Mountaingoat Yoga Centre, Playhouse Learning Centre (Kids & Company), Money, McDonalds, Tim Hortons
- Woodroffe / Longfields Dr.
- Shawarma Palace, Montessori School by Brightpath, Barrhaven Market Grill, Brother Chiu’s Chinese Food, 1 For 1 Pizza, Harir Kabab House, LynnLynn Nails, Lyra Dry Cleaners & Tailoring, Barrhaven Medical Centre (Family physician), Sherwin Williams Paint Store, Greek on Wheels Barrhaven, Ayini Restaurant, Phyncia Restaurant, Carmelito Cafe, Juluca’s Pizza, Active Health Institute
Over the past 20 years, the Barrhaven community has expanded dramatically since its beginnings in the 1960’s. Today, Barrhaven is a vibrant community with so much to offer for families of all ages. The area has truly become one of the most desirable places to live in the Ottawa area with such a vast array of homes, businesses, parks and amenities.
If you’re thinking about living in Barrhaven, you’ve come to the right place. At SERNO Realty, we know the area inside and out and can help you narrow down the best Barrhaven communities to live in based on your family’s unique needs.
Click here to learn more about our homebuyer service package and experience the SERNO difference.