The epicentre of the quake was likely in Quebec, north of Ottawa, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and struck at 1:41 p.m. EDT at a depth of 18 kilometres. The area - known as the Charlevoix-Kamouraska zone along the St. Lawrence River - is the most active seismic zone in that part of Canada, according to a report for the Canadian Geological Survey published earlier this year.

The same report predicted that the odds of a "structurally damaging" quake for Ottawa were about 9 per cent over the next 50 years. For Vancouver, the largest city near Canada's other most active seismic zone, those odds were estimated at 11 per cent.

An earthquake with a magniture of 5.0 is considered to be a moderate one but it can cause major damage to poorly constructed buildings over small regions. At the most, it should cause only slight damage to well-designed buildings.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/reports-of-earthquake-in-ontario/article1614941/

My brother is in Ottawa and they are all safe!