Centrepointe–Craig Henry
West
Fast Facts
- Population: 15,754 (City of Ottawa Neighbourhood Study (sum of the two combined boundaries))
- Size: 5.3 km² (Computed from the combined City of Ottawa Neighbourhood Study boundary polygons)
- Distance from Parliament Hill: About 11.0 km west (straight-line distance)
- Who's building: Minto Corporation (Centrepointe), Jack Aaron (Craig Henry)
Overview
Centrepointe–Craig Henry combines two residential neighbourhoods in the former City of Nepean's west end. Centrepointe was developed from 1984 as Nepean's planned 'downtown,' anchored by Ben Franklin Place, the former Nepean city hall, which today houses a branch of the Ottawa Public Library and the Centrepointe Theatre. Craig Henry, developed from 1971 on the former Craig Henry farm, is an older residential subdivision immediately to its south.
Boundaries
The City of Ottawa Neighbourhood Study covers this area with two separate boundaries — Centrepointe and a combined Woodvale-Craig Henry-Manordale-Estates of Arlington Woods area — merged here, running roughly from Baseline Road in the north to Knoxdale Road in the south, between Woodroffe Avenue and Greenbank Road.
Map
History
Centrepointe was farmland purchased by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which let it lie fallow for years before most of the land was sold to Minto Corporation, Ottawa's largest housing developer, starting in 1984. It was designed to be Nepean's 'downtown,' a self-contained community projected to cost $700 million to develop.
Ben Franklin Place was built to house the former City of Nepean's city hall, named for Ben Franklin, Nepean's longest-serving mayor; the complex today houses the Centrepointe branch of the Ottawa Public Library and the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe.
Craig Henry was developed starting in 1971 on the former Craig Henry farm, primarily during Ottawa's 1970s housing boom, by developer Jack Aaron. Most of its housing dates from between 1960 and 1980.
Both neighbourhoods were part of the former City of Nepean until Ottawa's 2001 amalgamation, and remain separated by the CN railroad line that runs between Centrepointe and Craig Henry-Briargreen.
Claim to Fame
Centrepointe-Craig Henry's defining feature is Ben Franklin Place, the former City of Nepean's city hall, built as the civic anchor of Centrepointe's planned 1984 development as Nepean's self-contained 'downtown.'
Surrounding Neighbourhoods
Carlingwood and Carlington lie north, Meadowlands-Fisher Glen lies south, Bells Corners lies west, and City View and Crestview lie east.
Architecture
Centrepointe's housing, built from 1984 onward by Minto Corporation, ranges from townhouses to large upscale singles, developed as a planned community around Ben Franklin Place. Craig Henry's older housing stock, mostly built between 1960 and 1980, mixes single-detached and semi-detached homes with townhomes and low-rise apartments.
Restaurants
- Desi Hangout - Indian Fusion Street Food — Indian
Indian street food restaurant at 261 Centrepointe Drive, Unit 7, known for fusion dishes like paneer burgers and pizza kulcha.
Pedestrian and Cycling
Centrepointe's planned layout includes pathways around Ben Franklin Place and Centrepointe Park, while Craig Henry's older streets are typical low-density suburban blocks with several neighbourhood parks.
Schools
- Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School — Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Secondary school at 55 Centrepointe Drive, specializing in vocational education with programs in auto service, auto body, cosmetology, welding and construction.
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Amenities
Ben Franklin Place — Civic complexFormer Nepean city hall at 101 Centrepointe Drive, now housing the Centrepointe branch of the Ottawa Public Library and the Centrepointe Theatre.
Photo: Earl Andrew, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Transit Options
OC Transpo bus routes run along Baseline Road and Woodroffe Avenue; the neighbourhood does not have its own O-Train station. Check octranspo.com for current route numbers, since the network is periodically redesigned.
Nearby on This Site
No listings yet in this area.
Official Information
Last verified: August 27, 2026