Thousands of people cross the bridges between Ottawa and Gatineau each day. (Submitted by Shane Zurbrigg)

Ottawa-Gatineau: They're two cities in two provinces, separated by a river and an interprovincial border, but closely linked by a series of bridges and the tens of thousands of people that cross them daily in both directions.

The population of Gatineau grew 39 per cent faster than that of its neighbour from 2001 to 2006, climbing 6.8 per cent, Statistics Canada reports. Ottawa grew just 4.8 per cent over the same period.

Gatineau's new residents include Ottawa families lured across the river by cheaper homes and daycare, fuelling rapid development in Aylmer that is changing the character of the community. The newcomers also include thousands of immigrants that the city has worked hard to attract and welcome , with help from the province of Quebec. One of the most visible signs of Gatineau's success in this regard is the growth of its Muslim community and its very first mosque, which opened in November 2008.

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