There are lots of areas in Ottawa with great apartment choices. Depends on the "personality" of the neighborhood yu are looking for.
Orleans is way in the east end...means a long ugly drive to work unless you also work in the east. Lots of new apartment buildings,and young families.
The downtown apartments tend to be in older buildings, lots of 6-8 stories high, with more personality, easy to get around with no car, everybody walks everywhere, great restaurants and shopping in boutiques and the Byward Market.
Westboro is the hip area of town, a real village feel, tons of apartments in old homes, lots of young people, and families with kids, great restautants and bars, and the westboro market. One of the girls at work has a cute apartment there, I think its about 600$ all inclusive.
The Merivale Road area of Nepean has lots of older high rise types of apartments. Close to big box stores, pretty reasonably priced.
The Bayshore area of Nepean has lots of apartments, just have to be careful because there are pockets of crime here and there.
Barrhaven is mostly town homes, but there are a few apartments, it's known as the baby factory, full of new parents, tons of kids etc.
Kanata is way in the west end, and has some apartments. It's the high tech area, and where the Senators home arena is. Lots of families.
If you come south out of the city, there are some apartments in older homes, in villages like Manotick, NorthGower and Osgoode. You definitly need a car here, but it's more like living in a small town, and gives easy access to all areas of the city.
Hope it helps. If you friend wants the name of a realtor, drop me a line, and I can suggest a couple.
You are awesome!