Last updated: September 2026
Qualicum, Ottawa (officially Qualicum-Graham Park) is a small 1960s Nepean neighbourhood of about 1,800 people (2021 Census), bounded by the Queensway, Richmond Road, Baseline Road and Morrison Drive. It’s known for large lots, mature trees, a creek running through the neighbourhood, and some of Ottawa’s best-known mid-century homes, all within a few minutes of the Queensway Carleton Hospital, Bayshore and the new Pinecrest O-Train station.
Homes here rarely come up in large numbers, and buyers often wait for the right lot. This guide explains what makes Qualicum and Graham Park different from the rest of Nepean, what the housing is like, and what to check before buying.
About Qualicum and Graham Park
Before development, the area was woods and farmland known locally as Graham Bay. At the southwest tip, the Bruce family farmed until 1961; part of that land is now Bruce Farm Park, and part became the site of the Queensway Carleton Hospital, which opened in 1976. The neighbourhood was built through the 1960s.
Four original sections
Qualicum-Graham Park was originally planned as four sub-neighbourhoods: Bruce Farm, Qualicum Park, Graham Park and Bellands. MLS® listings still group them under a single code that uses all four names.
Street names from British Columbia
The neighbourhood is named after Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island, and many streets are named after British Columbia places and Indigenous peoples: Nanaimo Drive, Esquimalt Avenue, Okanagan Drive, Kitimat Crescent, Cowichan Way, Chinook Crescent and Kitsilano Court among them.
Graham Creek
Graham Creek winds through the neighbourhood from the Bruce Pit area toward Andrew Haydon Park and the Ottawa River. Homes backing onto the creek corridor get extra privacy and green space, though buyers should ask about drainage and any flood-related regulations for properties close to the water.
Location and ward
Qualicum-Graham Park is in College Ward, in the former City of Nepean. Morrison Drive, on its eastern edge, was the old boundary between Nepean and the former City of Ottawa, with Redwood and Queensway Terrace across the line.
Qualicum Homes: Large Lots and Mid-Century Design
Executive homes on big lots
Qualicum is known for executive homes on generous lots, many around 100 by 100 feet, which is large by Ottawa suburban standards. Qualicum Street, running parallel to Baseline Road, is known for large custom homes associated with builder Bill Teron, who also built Lynwood Village in Bells Corners and later planned Kanata. Many homes are bungalows, side-splits and two-storeys with 1960s modernist lines, wide frontages and mature landscaping.
Renovation and rebuild potential
Because lots are large and houses are 55 to 65 years old, Qualicum sees a steady mix of full renovations, additions and occasional rebuilds. For buyers, that creates a wide spread between original-condition homes and fully updated ones. Before planning an addition or rebuild, check zoning and permit requirements with the City of Ottawa and review the City’s new zoning by-law, which is changing what can be built on many residential lots.
Newer infill
Graham Park Public School closed in 1988 and was later demolished; in 2015, new homes were built on the former school grounds at Kitsilano Court. It’s one of the few pockets of newer construction in the neighbourhood.
What to check on a 1960s home
Ask about the electrical service and panel, any original wiring, plumbing and the water service line (see the City’s lead pipe information), insulation, windows, roof and foundation. Large mature trees are part of the appeal, but check roots near sewer lines and foundations. Our guide to buying a 1960s–1980s home in Nepean goes deeper.
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Parks, Recreation and Community
Parks
Qualicum has several neighbourhood parks: Mohawk, Okanagan, Qualicum, Valley Stream and Nanaimo (Graham Park). Valley Stream Park is home to the Valleystream Tennis Club. Bruce Farm Park adds more green space at the southwest corner.
Community centre
A small community centre at Nanaimo Park, built around 2010 to 2012, hosts the Qualicum-Graham Park Community Association’s meetings and local programs.
Greenbelt and river
The NCC Greenbelt, including the Bruce Pit off-leash area and trails, is a few minutes south, and Andrew Haydon Park and the Ottawa River Pathway are a short drive north.
Shopping
Bayshore Shopping Centre and the Pinecrest shopping area are each a few minutes away, and Baseline Road and the Robertson Road strip in Bells Corners add more shops and services.
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Schools Serving Qualicum and Graham Park
Qualicum no longer has a school within its boundaries, so students attend nearby schools. Catchments change, so confirm for any address with the board.
Elementary
Families have been served by Knoxdale Public School (OCDSB) and Our Lady of Peace Catholic School in Bells Corners (OCSB), among others. Leslie Park Public School, which also served the area, has since reopened as Mamawi Public School.
Secondary
High school options have included St. Paul High School (the former Sir John A. Macdonald High School site), Sir Robert Borden High School, Bell High School and Collège catholique Franco-Ouest. French-language families can also look at CEPEO schools.
Tips
Because students may bus to several different schools, check bus routes and walking distances when comparing homes. Our Nepean schools guide explains how to confirm catchments.
Commuting and Health Care Access
Hospital next door
The Queensway Carleton Hospital, on Baseline Road at the neighbourhood’s southwest corner, is a genuine advantage for families and downsizers who want emergency care and specialist appointments close to home.
Transit
Pinecrest Station on the O-Train West Extension is just north of the neighbourhood along the Queensway corridor, with Bayshore Station a little further west. Once rail service opens, residents will have a direct link toward Lincoln Fields and downtown. Check OC Transpo for the current opening timeline.
Driving
Highway 417 is immediately north via Pinecrest Road or Richmond Road, putting downtown about 15 minutes away outside rush hour and Kanata’s business parks about 10 to 15 minutes. The DND Carling Campus is about five minutes north. Our guide to commuting from Nepean has more detail.
Who Qualicum suits
- Move-up families who want a large lot and a central location close to the hospital, Bayshore and the Queensway.
- Renovators and custom-home buyers looking for a lot with room to expand.
- Mid-century design fans who value the neighbourhood’s 1960s architecture.
- Health care workers at the Queensway Carleton Hospital who want a very short commute.
Because Qualicum is small and homes change hands slowly, it’s worth setting up a listing alert and being pre-approved so you can act when the right house appears.
Renovate, Expand or Rebuild on a Qualicum Lot
Qualicum’s large lots make it one of the few central Nepean neighbourhoods where buyers seriously consider all three options.
Renovate
Keeping the existing house and updating it inside is usually the least expensive path and preserves the mid-century character many buyers love. It makes sense when the structure and foundation are sound and the layout works.
Expand
Adding a second storey, rear family room or larger garage can make a 1960s house work for a modern family. Check the foundation’s capacity, zoning setbacks, lot coverage and height limits before you design. The City’s secondary dwelling unit rules may also let you add a garden suite or basement unit for family members.
Rebuild
Tearing down and building new makes sense only when the house has limited value relative to the lot, or when a major renovation would cost almost as much as new construction. Rebuilds require demolition and building permits, and new homes must meet current zoning, which can differ from what’s on the lot now.
How to decide
Get input from a contractor or designer before you buy, and compare three numbers: the purchase price, the project cost, and what finished homes of that type have sold for nearby. If the total exceeds what the street supports, the numbers don’t work. Jason can pull comparable sales of renovated, expanded and new homes in the area to help.
Buying or Selling in Qualicum
For buyers
- Look at the lot as much as the house. Size, orientation, trees and creek frontage all affect value.
- Separate renovation from updating. A new kitchen doesn’t mean new wiring, plumbing or insulation.
- Check permits for past additions and major renovations.
- Think about your plans. If you intend to renovate or rebuild, get contractor input before firming up, and budget accordingly.
- Budget for closing costs, including Ontario’s land transfer tax.
For sellers
Qualicum buyers are often move-up families and renovators who value the lot and location. Pricing depends heavily on condition and on recent sales of comparable lots; the Ottawa Real Estate Board publishes board-wide figures only. Find out what your home is worth or see how Jason works on the Nepean REALTOR® page.
Nearby neighbourhoods to compare
Qualicum buyers often also look at Crystal Beach, Briargreen and Leslie Park and Bells Corners. For current listings, see Nepean homes for sale, and for the big picture, our Nepean guide.
Prefer a more urban setting? Compare Nepean vs Westboro.
How Jason Polonski Helps Qualicum Buyers and Sellers
Jason Polonski is a REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty with more than 15 years of experience in Ottawa’s west end, a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Marketing and Finance from Concordia University, and a construction and electrical trades background. In Qualicum, where many buyers are weighing a major renovation or addition on a 1960s home, he helps you look past finishes to the panel, wiring, foundation and structure, and understand what a project is likely to involve before you commit.
As a move coordinator, he lines up your sale and purchase 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
Qualicum-Graham Park is in the former City of Nepean in Ottawa’s west end, bounded by the Queensway to the north, Richmond Road to the west, Baseline Road to the south and Morrison Drive to the east. It’s in College Ward.
The neighbourhood is named after Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island, and many streets are named after British Columbia places and Indigenous peoples, such as Nanaimo, Esquimalt, Okanagan and Kitsilano.
Qualicum is known for large lots, many around 100 by 100 feet, which is generous for an urban Ottawa neighbourhood. Lot sizes vary, so check the survey and listing details for any property.
Qualicum-Graham Park was built mainly in the 1960s, after the Bruce family farm and surrounding land were developed. New homes were added at Kitsilano Court in 2015 on the former Graham Park school site.
Yes. The Queensway Carleton Hospital sits at the neighbourhood’s southwest corner on Baseline Road, on land that was once part of the Bruce farm.
Pinecrest Station on the O-Train West Extension is just north of the neighbourhood, with Bayshore Station a little further west. Check OC Transpo for the current opening date.
