Formerly the Terry Fox Centre, 1805 Gaspé is now a community, multi-tenant, multi-purpose building that houses a farmers’ market, private school, day care centre, Caribbean catering business and home to neighbourhood programs. This three-storey building has been beautifully renovated and repurposed, with an airy foyer that greets visitors. The addition of an elevator makes all floors fully accessible.

The AIDS Committee of Ottawa has served the community for nearly 40 years, providing support, prevention, education and outreach services that promote the holistic well-being of those living with, affected by, impacted by and at risk of HIV/AIDS in Ottawa. Overlooking the Rideau Canal, this home offers services such as subsidized gym memberships, food bank, laundry and office support.

This building was constructed on the eve of the Second World War as a church and bomb shelter. During the war, people came to pray to the Theotokos of the Passion icon for the safe return of their loved ones. All the young community men returned from the war. This icon remains a source of comfort during times of need.

In 1978, Ottawa’s mayor recommended establishing a municipal arts centre, arts council, arts festival and a permanent art collection for the city. This building initially served as the Carleton County Court House, purpose-built in 1870-71. It was slated for demolition in 1980, but it was saved by the city and turned into the Arts Court. It officially opened in 1988.

The Bank of Canada head office is known for its unique architecture — balancing modern and classical styles. The original granite building spoke of stability and tradition. In 1979, it was partially enclosed by modern glass office towers and a large indoor atrium. The complex has continued to evolve, with the addition of a conference centre, museum and an outdoor plaza.

Bayview Yards is Ottawa’s one-stop business acceleration shop — bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors and community members. Built as a municipal works building, it once contained machinery storage and repair shops, stables, offices and stockrooms. Built of reinforced concrete with brick panels, it exemplifies the modern industrial architecture popular in Canada from the 1940s to the 1970s.

The main house here is considered to be one of the oldest homes in Ottawa. The Billings family lived here for five generations. Once a large agricultural property, parts of the estate were given to different family members or sold off. Today, what remains is a museum, several outbuildings and a cemetery for more than 140 community and family members.

Constructed in 1961, this is one of two treatment plants operated by the City of Ottawa to supply drinking water to almost one million people. Its source water is the Ottawa River. The treatment process removes undesirable substances — such as colour, suspended particles, algae, bacteria and viruses. Over the years, the site has seen significant expansion and modernization.

This state-of-the-art building, located within the Earnscliffe National Historic Site, has been the official residence for British high commissioners for more than 90 years. The building has LEED Gold status, with reduced water consumption inside and native and drought-resistant vegetation throughout the grounds. Note: Due to renovations, the High Commissioner’s residence will not be open, but the grounds will be.

The Bytown Fire Brigade Historical Society is a volunteer-based non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving, interpreting and celebrating the history of firefighting in Ottawa. They collect and maintain historical firefighting artifacts — including vintage fire trucks, uniforms, equipment and photographs — illustrating the evolution of firefighting technology. Through its efforts, they help preserve Ottawa’s firefighting heritage for future generations.

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Ottawa’s oldest stone building. The Bytown Museum offers tours of the Commissariat Building throughout the day. Come check out their new temporary exhibit and award-winning gallery renewal, a showcase of their historical costume collection and their vault. Enjoy a fresh lemonade next to the Ottawa lockstation, part of the Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The ByWard Market has been Lowertown’s focal point since 1848. This particular site has served as a market since 1875. The present building is the fifth to house the market. Home to food merchants, specialty boutiques and artisans operating in indoor and outdoor spaces, the ByWard Market Building is a landmark. For Doors Open, enjoy special tours, displays and presentations.

With over 17,000 artworks by over 3,000 artists, the Canada Council Art Bank houses the largest collection of contemporary Canadian art in the world. The collection houses paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs and prints by emerging and established artists, including a significant number of Indigenous artists. The collection is also regularly featured at the Canada Council for the Arts main office.

The Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) and the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN), part of the Department of Canadian Heritage, were created in 1972 to advance and promote the conservation of Canada’s heritage collections. The building houses over 20 laboratories, metal and wood workshops and over 100 offices. Don’t miss “Captain Conservation,” an imposing fiberglass sculpture over the front entrance.

The Ottawa Hospital is a world leader in cancer research. During Doors Open, discover fascinating cancer research with a behind-the-scenes tour of a lab, and an opportunity to explore the lab’s high-tech tools. For safety reasons, visitors must be 16 years or older. Forty-minute guided tours leave every hour from the Cancer Centre lobby. Space is limited. Registration is required.

This Centre operates in a beautiful historical building in downtown Ottawa. They provide evidence-informed integrative medicine, research and education across the spectrum of chronic and acute health-care conditions — such as cancer, cardiovascular health, mental health, thyroid health, women’s health, diabetes and more. Their approach emphasizes quality of life, support for the body, care of the spirit and active disease prevention.

The Centretown Mosque was constructed in 1911 as the First United Church — the site of Canada’s first mixed-raced marriage. Since then, it was also the Ottawa Chinese-Canadian Heritage Centre. Today, it is the first mosque to serve Ottawa’s Muslim community. Fundraising campaigns are currently underway to help preserve the site’s history — including two beautiful halls, an organ and stained-glass windows.

Built in 1872, this church was constructed to harmonize with the new Parliament buildings. Named the Cathedral of the Diocese in 1897, it continues to nurture faith in creative and traditional ways. Architectural features include soaring ceilings, magnificent windows and the bell tower, home to the 516-pound bronze bell cast for the original church in 1839.

St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church was built of local limestone. It remains an active place of worship and a concert venue today, with a history that’s closely intertwined with that of the local community, the city of Ottawa and the nation. Artifacts and windows remind us of those connections — particularly the stained-glass window behind the altar and the magnificent Létourneau organ.

This church is notable for its exquisite local stained glass dating from the early 20th century to the 1980s. Their windows illustrate some of Ottawa’s early stained-glass works, with a strong influence by Tiffany. The building also tells the story of a creative and tenacious congregation that has had a spiritual home in what’s now Old Ottawa East since 1877.

The Rideau Township Archives began as North Gower’s town hall in 1876 until new township offices opened in 1967. It is interesting for its history and its architecture – featuring an unusual cupola. After being restored, it was among the first of the township’s buildings to be designated. The current exhibit features this initial revitalization in the 1980s.

In 1975, CKCU became the first campus-based community radio station in Canada. It continues to be a pioneer in community broadcasting, serving as a voice for many Ottawa identities and communities not served by the mainstream media. Offering over 100 programs in over 10 languages, CKCU is committed to diversity. Come witness live radio in the making!

In 1960, NATO and the Canadian Department of National Defense built a satellite communications facility here that provided communications between all NATO countries until 1999 when the site was decommissioned. In 1999, it was purchased by Canadian Space Services Ltd. to serve as its corporate headquarters. Today, interior space is rented to local businesses for meetings, workshops and parties.

The Cumberland Heritage Village Museum provides visitors with an immersive, seasonal experience that showcases rural life in the 1920s and 1930s in Eastern Ontario. Tour an operational sawmill and blacksmith shop, an old train station and caboose, a one-room schoolhouse, a print shop, a 1927 Imperial Gas garage, a 1904 church and several family homes and barns.

This award-winning building serves a representational role for the Ismaili Imamat in Canada, offering a centre for building relationships, enabling quiet diplomacy, and disseminating knowledge and information, while reflecting the humanistic/humanitarian agenda of the Aga Khan Development Network and its associated institutions. Inside, the play of light on transparent and translucent surfaces creates a dynamic visual effect.