Half Moon Bay, Ottawa

Half Moon Bay
Neighbourhood
Half Moon Bay is located in Ottawa
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay
Location of Half Moon Bay in Ottawa
Coordinates: 45°15′23″N 75°44′03″W / 45.2563°N 75.7342°W / 45.2563; -75.7342
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
CityOttawa
Approved1997
Official Plan2006
Construction2007
Area
 • Total
500.5[1] ha (1,237 acres)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
15,219[2]
Forward sortation area
K2J
Area code(s)Area codes 613, 343, and 753

Half Moon Bay is a community in the suburb of Barrhaven, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, located in the Barrhaven West Ward of Ottawa. It is south of the Jock River and neighbours Stonebridge, a golf course community. It is located about 20 km from Downtown Ottawa. The name was selected by Mattamy. The 2021 census saw a near double increase in population of Half Moon Bay from the 2016 census, rising to a population of 15,219, and is currently one of Ottawa's fastest growing communities.

Geography

The area is bordered east of Borrisokane Road, south of the Jock River, west of Greenbank Road,[note 1] and north of Barnsdale Road.[3][4] Main through-roads include Cambrian and Greenbank. The area is surrounded by rural farmland on the west and south, by Barrhaven to the north and Stonebridge to the east.

There are three main sections of Half Moon Bay; one being the oldest part of the community, referred to as just Half Moon Bay, which is east of the proposed realigned Greenbank, south of the Jock River, west of Longfields, and north of Cambrian. To the west, there is a section named Half Moon Bay West, which is bounded east of Borrisokane, south of the Jock River, west of the realigned Greenbank, and north of Cambrian.[5] It is currently under its last phase of development. Another new section of Half Moon Bay referred to as Quinn's Pointe, which is currently under active development, is east of Borrisokane, south of Cambrian, west of Greenbank, and north of Barnsdale.[6]

History

Construction

Before the rapid urban expansion of Barrhaven south of the Jock River, the area consisted of rural farmland. Development of Barrhaven South was first approved in 1997, after the Area 7 Secondary Plan was approved by the pre-amalgamation Nepean City Council, which planned development of both Stonebridge and Half Moon Bay.[1] In 2006, the final plan was released, and in 2007, the first construction of homes in the area began.[7] There are many developers in the region, including (now defunct) Monarch, Minto, Mattamy, Richcraft, and Tamarack.[1] Mattamy is the largest of them, and did the bulk of advertising the area.[7]

Infrastructure

Commercial

On October 30, 2025, a Food Basics opened on the future intersection of Cambrian and realigned Greenbank, becoming the first major retail tenant to open in Barrhaven South.[8][9] In the near future, the area will become very commercialized, centered around the future realigned Greenbank and the future transit station. A No Frills and Shoppers Drug Mart will open soon at this centre.[10]

Transportation

Since the first design plan for Barrhaven South in 2006, Greenbank Road was slated for realignment further to the west, complete with a new segment of the Southwest Transitway.[1] However, it was pushed back for two decades due to a shift in budgeting concerns. Barrhaven South currently has a smaller, two lane bridge which would cause traffic issues as the population grew.

Events

In 2018, some residents complained about the new Trail Road waste facility, describing the smell as "chemical", and "organic". The cause was identified as recent heavy rain striking the area. The city of Ottawa has taken measures to reduce the smell.[11]

On July 13, 2023, two EF1 rated tornadoes touched down in Half Moon Bay and Barrhaven at 12:44 PM and 12:45 PM respectively. The line of damage was about 5 kilometres with a maximum width of 200 metres. Both tornadoes had a maximum wind speed of 155 km/h, falling in the EF1 category. At least 125 homes were damaged with varying severity, including damage of roof shingles and sheeting, trees going down and broken windows. One minor injury had been reported.[12][13][14][15]

Amenities

Half Moon Bay is home to many catholic and public schools built since the 2010s. Major parks such as Half Moon Bay Park hold a splash pad and playground, soccer fields and tennis courts, and Half Moon Bay District Park provides a recreational walking opportunity around a local stormwater pond. The Minto Recreation Complex, located on the intersection of Greenbank and Kilbirnie is a city-run community complex featuring a gymnasium, a weight and exercise room, two pools, two skating rinks, a walking track, and many other multi-use rooms. It opened November 29, 2014. Directly south of the building is Ottawa Fire Station 47, and the Quinn's Pointe Field, a CFL-sized artificial playing football field.[16][17]

Infrastructure

Cambrian Station at the Minto Recreation Complex

Transportation

Half Moon Bay is quite far from Downtown Ottawa, as it is generally isolated, and currently does not have much OC Transpo service outside one frequent route, the 75, and one Connexion route, the 275. As a result, most people drive. There are a variety of 600-series routes serving this area for the middle and high schools which are not located in Half Moon Bay.

A new realigned Greenbank Road is slated for construction in Spring 2026.[18] The portion of existing Greenbank crossing the Jock River will be converted to a multi-use pathway. South of the Jock River, it will be renamed.[19]

A new secondary school costing $77.7 million will start construction on Cambrian Road in Spring 2026. It is scheduled to open in September 2029.[20][21][22]

Parks

  • Black Raven Park
  • Cappamore Park
  • Celestial Park
  • Dowitcher Park
  • Elevation Park
  • Flagstaff Park
  • Freshwater Parkette
  • Guinness Park
  • Half Moon Bay Park
  • Half Moon Bay District Park
  • Regatta Park
  • River Mist Park
  • River Run Park
  • Tucana Park
  • Watercolours Park

Schools

Public English (OCDSB)

  • Half Moon Bay Public School
  • Wazoson Public School

Catholic English (OCSB)

  • St. Benedict School
  • St. Cecilia School
  • St. Juan Diego School

Public French (CEPEO)

  • École élémentaire publique Des Visionnaires

Catholic French (CECCE)

  • École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Kateri

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ North of Cambrian Road, the boundaries extend to west of Longfields Road.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Barrhaven South Community Design Plan". Retrieved February 13, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ derived from combining Ottawa-Gatineau census tracts 0141.25, 0141.24
  3. ↑ "South Nepean Town Centre (Area 7)" (PDF). Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Barrhaven South Urban Expansion Area - Community Design Plan" (PDF). Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Half Moon Bay West" (PDF). April 15, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ Langston, Patrick (April 25, 2015). "Minto launches Quinn's Pointe in Barrhaven". Retrieved April 21, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. 1 2 "Model home tour: Mattamy's new homes in Half Moon Bay". Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  8. ↑ Szperling, Peter (October 30, 2025). "Food Basics open in Half Moon Bay: How do prices compare?". CTV News. Retrieved February 15, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ "Food Basics opens new store in Nepean, Ont". grocerybusiness.ca. November 5, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ↑ "Greenbank Road Realignment and Southwest Transitway Extension" (PDF). March 20, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ↑ Osman, Laura (January 11, 2018). "Barrhaven residents raise stink over dump's growing aroma". CBC News. Retrieved February 15, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ "Tornado in Barrhaven damages about 125 homes". CBC News. July 13, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ Pringle, Josh; Raymond, Ted (July 15, 2023). "Two tornadoes with wind speeds of 155 km/h touched down in Ottawa on Thursday". CTV News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  14. ↑ Pangilinan, Mika (July 14, 2023). "Ottawa suburb hit by tornado". Insurancebusinessmag.ca. Retrieved February 15, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ↑ "In the news today: Tornado hits Ottawa suburb, work resumes at B.C. ports". CityNews. July 14, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ↑ "New $54M Minto Rec Complex opens in Barrhaven to high fanfare". OttawaSportsPages.ca. Retrieved February 15, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ↑ "Photos: Residents, VIPs turn out for opening of Barrhaven's Minto Recreation Complex". Ottawa Citizen. November 29, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ↑ Baldin, Natasha (January 21, 2026). "Long-awaited Greenbank Road realignment in Barrhaven set to break ground". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved February 15, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions - Greenbank Realignment and Southwest Transitway Extension" (PDF). June 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ↑ Laucius, Joanne (December 5, 2025). "Province announces funding for two new Ottawa high schools". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved February 13, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ↑ "Ontario Investing $162 Million to Build and Expand Schools in Ottawa". Government of Ontario. December 5, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ↑ "Capital Projects". Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. Retrieved June 25, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.