Once a small place called Bytown, it was renamed to Ottawa and founded as an official city in 1855. Chosen by Queen Victoria as the capital of the province of Canada because of its central and easily defended location, Ottawa has become one of the country's largest cities. The capital has also become home to numerous exiles from England, most notably the exiled Queen Elizabeth II and former prime minister Winston Churchill. Ottawa has recently undergone major development to alter its industrial aesthetic to something more modern and pleasing to the eye. Parliament Hill is where the Canadian government operates underneath glistening gothic spires. All eyes are on Ottawa, as Quebec and the western provinces grow increasingly weary of Ontario, it's up to Ottawa to keep the nation together.