NEPEAN NEIGHBOURHOODS
Craig Henry, Ottawa: A Family Neighbourhood
Last updated: September 2026
Craig Henry, Ottawa is a 1970s Nepean family neighbourhood between Woodroffe Avenue and Greenbank Road, just south of Centrepointe across the rail line. It’s home to about 6,900 people (2021 Census), with a mix of detached homes, split-levels, semis and townhouses on quiet crescents, several parks, and Sir Robert Borden High School within its catchment.
Buyers like Craig Henry for its central location, its schools and parks, and the fact that it offers family-sized homes at price points that are often more approachable than Centrepointe’s detached homes. This guide covers the neighbourhood’s history, housing, schools and amenities, and what to check when buying here.
About Craig Henry
Craig Henry is a residential subdivision developed from 1971 on land that was once the Craig Henry farm. The developer was Jack Aaron, whose name lives on in Jack Aaron Drive. It sits in Knoxdale-Merivale Ward in the City of Ottawa and is part of the former City of Nepean.
Boundaries
The neighbourhood is bordered by Woodroffe Avenue to the east, Greenbank Road to the west, the rail line separating it from Centrepointe and Briargreen to the north, and the Knoxdale Road area to the south. Woodvale, a slightly older area north of Knoxdale Road, is grouped with Craig Henry in MLS® listings.
Community
The Craig Henry Community Association represents residents and organizes local events. The neighbourhood has a significant Jewish community, and the Beit Tikvah of Ottawa synagogue sits at its centre. Like much of Nepean, it has a strong base of long-term owners, and turnover often comes from downsizers selling the family home.
The 2018 tornado
On September 21, 2018, an EF-2 tornado with winds of about 225 km/h tore through parts of Craig Henry and neighbouring Arlington Woods, damaging many homes. Many affected houses were repaired or rebuilt with new roofs, windows and siding, which is worth knowing when you compare listings on those streets. It’s also worth asking about insurance history and any repairs on a home you’re considering.
Craig Henry Homes: What’s Available
Craig Henry was built over roughly 15 years, so it offers more variety than a single-builder subdivision.
Detached homes and split-levels
Detached homes in Craig Henry are mostly 1970s and early-1980s two-storeys, backsplits and side-splits, typically with three or four bedrooms, a family room and an attached garage. Lots are a comfortable suburban size, and many backyards are mature and private.
Semis and townhouses
Semi-detached homes and townhouse rows, some freehold and some in condominium corporations, give first-time buyers and downsizers a way into the neighbourhood. For condo townhomes, review the status certificate and reserve fund; the Condominium Authority of Ontario explains what to look for.
What 1970s homes typically need
Most Craig Henry homes are around 45 to 55 years old. Common items to check include roof age, original windows, furnace and air conditioning age, insulation levels, and the electrical panel. Some homes built in the late 1960s and early to mid-1970s used aluminum branch wiring; it isn’t automatically a problem, but connections should be assessed by a licensed electrical contractor, and some insurers ask about it. The Electrical Safety Authority has guidance. Our page on renovating a backsplit or bungalow in Nepean covers common upgrades.
Price context
Craig Henry generally offers family homes at moderate price points for central Nepean. Prices vary widely with condition and updates, so comparable sales of similar homes are the best guide; the Ottawa Real Estate Board publishes board-wide trends. See current Nepean homes for sale.
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Schools in and Around Craig Henry
Craig Henry is a popular choice for families partly because of its school options. Catchments can change, so always confirm with the board for a specific address.
English public
Nearby OCDSB elementary schools have included Knoxdale Public School, Briargreen Public School and Manordale Public School. Greenbank Middle School closed in 2017, and Sir Robert Borden High School, next to the neighbourhood, now serves students from grade 7 to 12. Confirm with the OCDSB school locator.
Catholic and French-language
St. John XXIII Catholic Elementary School in Woodvale serves the area for the Ottawa Catholic School Board. French-language families can look at schools run by CEPEO and CECCE.
Looking at school information
The EQAO publishes provincial assessment results by school, which some parents use as one input. Visiting the school and talking to parents in the neighbourhood usually tells you more. Our Nepean schools guide covers the process.
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Parks, Recreation and Daily Life
Craig Henry has a lot of green space for a central neighbourhood.
Parks
- Craig Henry Park has a play structure, the Craig Henry Tennis Club, a bike path to Sir Robert Borden High School, and a pedestrian and cycling underpass north to Centrepointe.
- Charing Park has a play structure, a tobogganing hill, and a hockey rink and basketball court.
- Knoxdale Road Park has a play structure and a splash pad.
- Bateman Park runs toward the hydro corridor with play equipment and a small footbridge.
Recreation nearby
The Ben Franklin Soccer Dome at Knoxdale and West Hunt Club has two indoor fields, and the Nepean Sportsplex on Woodroffe has pools, arenas and fitness facilities. Greenbelt trails around the Bruce Pit are a few minutes west.
Shopping and services
College Square and the Baseline Road shops are just north through Centrepointe, with more retail along Merivale Road and at the Hunt Club and Woodroffe plazas. The Centrepointe library and Meridian Centrepointe Theatre are a short walk or bike ride away via the underpass.
Commuting From Craig Henry
Craig Henry is centrally placed for both downtown and the west-end employment hubs.
By car
Woodroffe Avenue and Greenbank Road connect north to Highway 417 and south to Hunt Club Road, which leads east toward the airport and south-end employers. Downtown is typically 15 to 20 minutes outside rush hour, and Kanata’s business parks about 20 minutes.
By transit
Baseline Station, on the O-Train extension to Algonquin College, is a short bus ride or bike ride north. Once rail service opens, it will give Craig Henry residents a direct rail connection toward Lincoln Fields and downtown. Check OC Transpo for the current timeline and routes.
Nearby employers
Algonquin College, the Colonnade Road business park off Merivale, and federal offices along Baseline and Hunt Club are all close by. See our full guide to commuting from Nepean.
Craig Henry vs Centrepointe: Which Fits Your Family?
Craig Henry and Centrepointe sit side by side, connected by a pedestrian underpass, and many buyers look at both. Here’s how they differ.
Housing age and style
Craig Henry is mostly 1970s and early-1980s split-levels, two-storeys, semis and townhouses. Centrepointe was built from 1984 onward, with more 1980s and 1990s two-storey detached homes and a large number of townhomes and terrace homes. Centrepointe homes are generally newer; Craig Henry homes are often on similar or slightly larger lots.
Feel
Centrepointe has a civic heart, with the theatre, library, park and transit hub, and it’s becoming busier as towers rise near Baseline. Craig Henry is quieter and more purely residential, organized around its parks and schools.
Price
Craig Henry often offers family-sized homes at lower price points than comparable Centrepointe detached homes, though updated Craig Henry homes can close the gap. Compare recent sales of similar home types in both areas.
Schools
Both have been served by nearby schools such as Briargreen, Manordale and Knoxdale public schools and Sir Robert Borden High School, depending on address. Confirm catchments.
Who each suits
- Choose Craig Henry if you want a quieter street, family parks and good value, and you’re comfortable with a 1970s home.
- Choose Centrepointe if you want a newer home, walkability to shops and transit, and the theatre and library nearby.
Buying or Selling a Home in Craig Henry
Buyer checklist
- Ask for the ages of the roof, furnace, air conditioner and windows, and any receipts.
- Ask whether the home has aluminum branch wiring and, if so, whether connections have been remediated.
- On streets affected by the 2018 tornado, ask what was repaired or replaced; newer roofs and windows can be a plus.
- Confirm school catchments for the exact address.
- Budget for closing costs, including Ontario’s land transfer tax.
Seller tips
Craig Henry buyers are mostly families, so they notice bedroom count, a usable basement, the yard and proximity to schools and parks. Before listing, deal with visible maintenance and have your updates documented. Find out what your home is worth or read about Jason’s approach on the Nepean REALTOR® page.
Nearby neighbourhoods to compare
Craig Henry buyers often also look at Centrepointe to the north, Arlington Woods and Trend Village to the west, and Tanglewood and Manordale to the east. Our Nepean guide puts them all in context.
How Jason Polonski Helps Craig Henry Families
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Most Craig Henry moves involve selling one home and buying another. As a move coordinator, Jason lines up both so you don’t carry two homes, and offers a 1% Listing Commission, charged on the final sold price. His recognition includes the Chairman’s Club (2025, 2021) and Best in Ottawa Top REALTOR® seven years running. Learn more about Jason or read his reviews on Google.
Frequently Asked Questions
Craig Henry is in the former City of Nepean, bordered by Woodroffe Avenue to the east, Greenbank Road to the west, the rail line and Centrepointe to the north, and the Knoxdale Road area to the south. It’s in Knoxdale-Merivale Ward.
Craig Henry was developed from 1971 by Jack Aaron on the former Craig Henry farm, with most construction in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Sir Robert Borden High School, next to the neighbourhood, serves OCDSB students in grades 7 to 12. Catholic and French-language options are also available. Confirm the catchment for a specific address.
Yes. The September 21, 2018 EF-2 tornado damaged homes in parts of Craig Henry and Arlington Woods. Many were repaired or rebuilt, so ask about repair history when buying on affected streets.
Many families choose Craig Henry for its parks, tennis club, tobogganing hill, splash pad, school options and central location near Centrepointe, Algonquin College and the Nepean Sportsplex.
Craig Henry has 1970s and early-1980s detached two-storeys, backsplits and side-splits, plus semi-detached homes and freehold and condominium townhouses.
