The Aviary – founded in 1927 at Dundurn Castle – was relocated in 1996 to the Fieldhouse of the Royal Botanical Gardens’ former teaching gardens. The Friends of the Aviary will introduce you to Hamilton’s lively, colourful parrots – each with its own personality, story and place on this planet. Learn about their care and environmental plight.

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Cable 14 – a local specialty channel serving the greater Hamilton area – is the only independent community programming network designated in Canada. See their state-of-the-art television equipment and learn how television is made. Observe a live production, get a chance to be on television asking your questions to provincial election candidates, enter draws to win a prize, and more!

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Cannon Knitting Mills – one of Hamilton’s few surviving industrial complexes – started as a foundry and became the Chipman-Holton Knitting Company in 1902, one of Hamilton’s first knitting mills. Tour the former textile production spaces that will be adaptively reused as the Beasley Park Lofts – a restaurant, boutique hotel and residential condominiums complex.

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This church – founded in 1876 as the Church of The Redeemer – was established in 2007 with the amalgamation of the parishes of The Redeemer and the Church of our Saviour, Stoney Creek (founded 1919). See how the 1876 church expanded in 1952, view stained-glass windows and learn the story of the Dossal tapestry. Complimentary refreshments will be available.

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The Church of the Nativity – founded in 1878 as St. Mary’s, Bartonville – was established in 2006 with the amalgamation of the parishes of St. Mary’s and Grace Church, Hamilton (founded 1919). View the intricately carved chapel reredos – originally in the 1881 stone church – stained-glass windows, archival photographs and worship artifacts from both former parishes.

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This restored stone farmhouse, operated by Green Venture as an environmental demonstration house, is an excellent example of adaptive reuse designed by Zebroski and Associates Inc. During Doors Open Hamilton, see a unique indoor dog pen in the basement of the original farmhouse. And join us for a heritage seedling sale and seed distribution.

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Take this rare opportunity – in a LEED Silver-certified building designed by McCallum Sather Architects – to learn how the City of Hamilton protects its drinking water. Refill your water bottle. Visitors over 9 years of age – wearing closed-toe footwear and on review and sign-off of the Laboratory Safety Form – will continue on a guided tour of the laboratory.

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Explore the birthplace of the Women’s Institutes (WI), founded in 1897 for the education and empowerment of women – and home to six generations of the Lee family, spanning nearly two centuries. See where the WI constitution and bylaws were penned. View displays and a virtual tour in the carriage house. Enjoy the panoramic view from the edge of the escarpment.

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Visit the Eucharist Church – originally known as the Victoria Avenue Baptist Church and most recently as the First Romanian Baptist Church – in its new home as they open their doors to the community. Explore the refurbished sanctuary and see the restored stained-glass windows. Tour the renovated kitchen and children’s area.

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Take this rare opportunity to tour the former maintenance shed of the Hamilton Port Authority. View displays about: the City of Hamilton’s plans to redevelop Piers 6, 7 and 8, the Hamilton Waterfront Trust’s plans for public space, and Navy League and other waterfront-related organizations. Note: Flat footwear is recommended.

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This garden is a remnant of the 80 hectares (200 acres) cleared by the Loyalist Thatcher family in the late 18th century. Come and explore pesticide-free community gardens, native species, pollinator gardens and more. View solar- and wind-energy generation, permeable path options and a green roof. And examine the new Chevrolet Volt at the electric vehicle charging station.

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Furlan Conservation – a heritage conservation business – is located in an intact early-20th-century commercial streetscape, housing small businesses created for newcomers attracted to the east-end steel mills. Take a guided tour of the studio and workshop and learn about the restoration of wood windows, architectural paint analysis, wood types and properties.

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The former Gibson School – named in 1914 for Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Sir John Morison Gibson (1908-14) – evolved from a one-room schoolhouse in 1854 on this site, S.S. No. 7, Barton Township. Tour the former school and see how it will be adaptively reused as the Gibson School Lofts with residential lofts, retail and live/work units.

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This GO Centre is a rare example of an art moderne public building with curved forms, polished metals and machined detailing throughout. Retired staff operate the railway museum on the centre’s mezzanine level and share first-hand experiences of Hamilton’s railway history. Interpretative panels highlight the architecture and reconstruction of this landmark downtown building.

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Visit The Heart of Ontario offices and learn how we expand and enhance tourism in the County of Brant, the City of Hamilton, the Regional Municipality of Halton, the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. See the original fixtures in this art-moderne office building.

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Explore the Hamilton Port Authority’s wonderful art moderne-style headquarters by the bay. Learn about the Port of Hamilton – the largest port in Ontario. Enjoy the panoramic harbour view from the sixth-floor boardroom. Your visit will also include: displays, the "What is a Port?" video, and a giant colouring page.

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The stone cooperage – home to a variety of industries over 90 years – was converted in 1974 by Trevor Garwood-Jones into an architectural office. Visit the offices of Invizij Architects (founded in 2012), talk to members of the design team about what it is like to work for an architectural practice and learn about some of their exciting current projects.

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Visit the Locke Street office of the Judy Marsales Real Estate Ltd. Brokerage, originally built as the second Bank of Hamilton branch. Enter the original vestibule and tour the reception area and the bank vault(s) in this former banking hall. See the vintage clock, desks and original woodwork in one of Hamilton’s “most robbed” banks.

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Discover one of Hamilton’s most unique yet least-known industries – medical isotope research, development and production – plus more! For tours, visitors must be over 10 years of age, be comfortable in confined spaces and pre-register (government-issued identification and completion of a visitor information card is required). Note: McMaster Nuclear Reactor reserves the right of refusal.

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The Meadowlands Fellowship Church – founded in 1989 – was one of the first churches in Ontario to use geothermal heating and cooling, employing heat pumps and a horizontal loop located under its parking lot. Tour the church, see how it works and learn more about other energy- and water-saving measures.

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Set at the base of the Niagara Escarpment in Gage Park, Roselawn invites you to tour the clubhouse and view the two regulation-size greens from the balcony. See archival photographs and learn about lawn bowling. Try hand-size fitting of the bowls. Try playing a game at 1 p.m. each day (flat-soled shoes or sneakers are required on the greens).

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The Royal Hamilton Yacht Club – designated “royal” by Queen Victoria in 1891 – is celebrating the 130th anniversary of its founding Annual General Meeting. Tour the clubhouse to see archival photographs, artifacts, trophies and the extensive collection of half model sailboats. Learn about racing, competitive sailing and the pioneering participation of women.

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The Royal Hamilton Yacht Club – where the unique geography of the harbour provides shelter for the beginner as well as interesting winds for the more seasoned sailor – is Hamilton’s only yacht club, providing youth and adult Learn to Sail and Able Sail programs. Tour the grounds, junior sail area and the new docks.

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This Romanesque-style church has beautiful stained glass and painted murals. The beautiful main altar and pulpit are carved and sculpted in renowned Italian Carrera marble. Experience the remarkable acoustics during choir singing, guitar music and organ performances on the 110-year-old Casavant pipe organ. Enjoy complimentary snacks and refreshments throughout the day.

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The Stoney Creek Masonic Centre is home to three lodges that are steeped in Hamilton history. Hosted by Beach Lodge No. 639, you will see one of Ontario's impressive lodge rooms. Ask about freemasonry, see regalia from different Masonic bodies, talk with members of Masonic youth groups and tour the building. Charity barbecue (by donation) and light refreshments available.

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Enjoy a rare opportunity to learn about the City of Hamilton’s historical and current drinking water system – and its filtration process – through a guided tour of the Learning Centre, Filter Gallery and Control Room. See how the extensive structural rehabilitation and architectural facelift in 2010 returned this plant to its original art deco grandeur.

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The Wellwood Juravinski House, presented by the Hamilton Halton Home-Builders’ Association (a cancer support centre), occupies a remnant of the original Mountain (Tuberculosis) Sanatorium and subsequent Chedoke Hospital site. Tour the purpose-built house designed by McCallum Sather Architects, with clerestory windows and original art, and ponder the Inukshuk “pointing north” – a tribute to the 1,274 Inuit sanatorium patients.

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Canada’s only national workers’ history museum and art gallery, housed in Hamilton’s former Custom House, celebrates the role of the labour and social movements in advocating for a fair and just society. View the permanent exhibits on workers' history in Hamilton and Ontario. Interactive activities for children include animation of the operational knitting machine and a button-making station.

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