Students from the University of Ottawa, Carleton, Algonquin College and La Cite Collegiale are moving back in to the capital as the new academic year gets underway.
Many are getting their first taste of life away from home.
"I'm pretty excited and looking forward to meeting new people, having fun," said Mathieu Gauthier, a new student at Ottawa U.
Classes have yet to begin. Many are moving in with the help of family and friends.
"There's a lot of my stuff, my mom said you're moving the whole house into one little room. There's a bit of everything, you've just got to grab a little bit of everything and hope it all fits in," said Stafana Dranga.
This is the busiest moving time of the year in Ottawa. People from near and far will be calling Ottawa home for the next eight months.
For many parents, this is a period of great change, with children leaving home and leaving the nest empty.
"It's quite an interesting experience, I must say, as you raise three of them you often talk about the day they'll all be gone, and today for us, this is it, so it's kind of special," said parent Jacques Gauthier.
Population figures in Ottawa-Gatineau swell during the school year. There are approximately 79-thousand students studying at the four major colleges and universities.
"The students are bringing a lot of energy to Ottawa," said Jean-Benoit Deschamps, a second year student. "And with them in the streets, they're bringing a bring new view about society, a new look about how they see the world."
While it can be a stressful time for new students, the veterans are doing what they can to help.
"I remember being scared but you meet so many people and it's everyone's first time so everyone makes friends," said second year student Katie Young.
With a report from CTV's Vanessa Lee
