The federal riding initially consisted of, in the city of Ottawa, the Central, Capital, Wellington, Dalhousie, the parts of Victoria and Elmdale wards east of Parkdale Avenue, and the part of Riverdale ward not included in Ottawa East.

In 1952, it was redefined to consist of the part of the city of Ottawa west of a line running along Parkdale Avenue south to Avenue, east to O'Connor Street, north to Linden Terrace, and east to the Rideau Canal.

In 1966, it was redefined to consist of the part of the city of Ottawa west of a line running along the Canadian Pacific Railway line from the interprovincial boundary to Bayview Road, southeast to Bayswater Avenue, south to Carling Avenue, west to Fisher Avenue, south to Baseline Road, west to the western limit of the City of Ottawa.

In 1976, it was redefined to consist of the part of the city of Ottawa west of a line running along the Canadian Pacific Railway line from the interprovincial boundary, south to Somerset Street, west along Somerset Street and Wellington Street to Holland Avenue, south to Carling Avenue, west to Fisher Avenue, and south to the city limit.

In 1987, it was redefined to consist of the part of the city of Ottawa west of a line running from the eastern extremity of the southern limit of the City of Ottawa (immediately south of Baseline Road), east to Fisher Avenue, north to Carling Avenue, east to Island Park Drive, and north to the interprovincial boundary.