Beacon Hill is a primarily residential area, built in the 1960s and ’70s. It consists of two parts, Beacon Hill North and Beacon Hill South, divided by Montreal Road.
It is most likely that the community drew its name from a lighthouse in the Ottawa River, downstream from Duck Island. It is thought that the light from the river could be seen from Naskapi Dr. (the top of the hill), hence Beacon Hill. Though the lighthouse is no longer in use, its foundation is still visible from the bike path. One of the key hangouts among young people in Beacon Hill is secret park or ‘seeks’ which is located behind T.D McGee Catholic School.
The ‘Hill’ the name refers to is actually a ridge running roughly parallel to the Ottawa River. A large, open area of the ridge is a municipal park (Ski Hill Park) and is located behind the Beacon Hill Mall on Ogilvie Road.
Schools
- Le Phare Elementary School (French Immersion Public)
- Robert Hopkins Elementary School (English/French Immersion Public)
- Henry Munro Middle School (English/French Immersion Public)
- Colonel By Secondary School (English/French Immersion Public, with International Baccalaureate Program)
- École élémentaire catholique La Vérendrye (French Catholic)
- École élémentaire publique Séraphin-Marion (French Public)
- Thomas D’Arcy McGee Catholic School (English Catholic)
- Gloucester High School
- Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School
- Brother Andre Catholic School (former Elmridge Catholic)
School Locator
- Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
- Ottawa Catholic School Board
- Conseil Des École Catholiques du Centre-Est
Toboggan Hills
- Green’s Creek (in Blackburn Hamlet)
- Ski Hill Park
- Loyola Park
