Kanata is one of the largest suburbs of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Located about west-southwest of the city's Downtown, Kanata has a population of 80,781 (population centre: 101,760) as of 2011 and is growing rapidly. Before it was amalgamated into Ottawa in 2001, it was one of the fastest growing cities in Canada and the fastest growing community in Eastern Ontario. Located just to the west of the National Capital Commission Greenbelt, it is one of the largest of several communities that surround central Ottawa. It is a planned community and an important hi-tech centre.