Hi, I've visited Ottawa a lot, not lived there.
It is lovely and a great place for families - manageable size, lots of green space, clean, easy to get around. It combines 'small town' provincial feel with capital city benefits - great museums, arts facilities and events. It could be viewed as a little bland and conformist - all those government employees - but from the pov of bringing up children, that's not a bad thing!
I've been told that Ottawa is the capital city with widest temperature range in the world - typically ranging from -30 to +35c (or even -40 to +40) in a year. It's temperature is not moderated by a water body in the way that Toronto's is. Yes, houses, shops and all buildings are kept really warm in winter. Fuel is cheap, insulation and building standards are good. Air conditioning in summer makes shops so cold you can feel you need a jumper - then step out into a wall of heat.
I'd recommend willingness to embrace winter sports. You might as well. You can skate on the canal - even skate-commute into town. There's good skiing less than an hour's drive into Quebec.
The grimmest time of year is the 'melt' when there's dirty slush everywhere, around March-April.
In summer, embrace lakes. It's much more usual for people to have holiday cottages (more, cheaper land) so you may get some weekend invitations, or can rent. Swimming, canoeing etc is lovely, plus lounging in the tranquility of course. If you feel active, you and the Toronto poster could meet for some canoe trekking and camping in Algonquin Park.
Autumn is beautiful, visit the Gatineau Park. It's great for cycling and walking too.
Schools, I don't know which is good but it will be linked to neighbourhood. Almost everyone goes to the local school, far fewer people are privately educated than here. There is the choice between French immersion or not. I'd go for it given suitable aged children as it's such a great way to learn but a personal choice.