It's fine.

It depends entirely on the program you're applying to.

It's very expensive for international students. Something like 10X.

Yes, an essay will help a lot, especially given you're lack of credentials. But it has to be a brilliant letter without being ostentatious or bizarre. Not easy to do. Get professional help (a tutor, etc. to proof-read it for you), it's worth the $50.

That depends on you. Ottawa is a nice, small city for the most part but it isn't a hockey hotbed by any stretch, and while there is a tech presence here it's nothing like what they have in Montreal or Toronto, but that's how everything is when it comes to Ottawa. For the most part, people are in bed by 10.

Yes, there is poutine. Over all, the food in town is fairly good compared to other small cities but, again, nothing like either of Ottawa's two big brothers. I say the food scene is "fairly good" because it used to suck but it's getting much better lately.

Weed situation is ideal but pricey. There is a major dispensary right downtown where you can buy all kinds of (often overpriced) weed without a prescription (just bring ID, be over 19 I think). You can pay anywhere from $7-$15 a gram in there but you don't need to call a dealer or wait around in a sketchy part of town to pick up. It's not legal yet in the strictest sense but police no longer enforce so it's essentially legal.