This building served as the Ontario County Land Registry Office from 1873 until 1987. It was part of a block that included the Ontario County Courthouse and the Ontario County Gaol. Come and see how this heritage building has been refreshed and adapted to support the growth of Durham Region’s rapidly growing innovation ecosystem – Whitby’s first accelerator hub!

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Located in the former R.A. Sennett Public School, 360insights is a tech company specializing in creating, managing and measuring incentives programs. Built between 1920 and 1921, 360insights renovated and restored this 97-year-old school building in 2017; it now serves as the company’s tech campus.

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The Abilities Centre is a 11,613-square-metre (125,000-square-foot) facility that offers sports, fitness, arts and life-skills programming, as well as education opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. It is recognized as an International Centre of Excellence for its fully accessible design. The Centre is focused on bringing together families, friends and neighbours in the spirit of inclusion and opportunity.

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Bring your walking shoes as Whitby’s Heritage Planner and the Brooklin Heritage Society guide you through this historical village. Take in the neighborhood, meet the business owners, connect with neighbours, hear stories and discover unseen aspects of this community. Meet at the Brooklin Legion hall – originally a hotel, and later the Temperance House when liquor sales in hotels became prohibited.

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Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, the memorial to Camp X at Intrepid Park is dedicated to the men and women who were employed at the British Security Coordination spy training school and communications centre located here during the Second World War. The buildings associated with the site have been demolished or relocated. The memorial was erected in 1984.

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The Ontario County Courthouse was built between 1852 and 1854. By 1964, however, the building had become too small to accommodate the county’s needs and a new courthouse was built on Rossland Road. In 1967, with assistance from the Canada Centennial Project, the original courthouse was reopened as a community centre known as the Whitby Centennial Building.

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The Lynde Shores Conservation Area includes Cranberry Marsh and Lynde Marsh. Historically an Indigenous hunting ground, it is now a significant breeding habitat and important migratory stopover. During Doors Open, wear sturdy footwear to walk the accessible gravel trail and explore the Cranberry Marsh – including touch-table displays. Try your hand at feeding the friendly chickadees. Bring your camera!

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Presented in collaboration with the Downtown Whitby Business Improvement Area and Jane’s Walk. Meet outside of the Whitby Public Library (in front of Celebration Square) and wear your walking shoes! Explore the historical downtown and meet business owners, connect with neighbours, hear local stories and discover all of what downtown Whitby has to offer. Please dress according to the weather.

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This house, built for a local builder and shop owner, was eventually sold to Mary Brawley, who served as Ontario County’s acting sheriff from 1931-36. She lived here until 1990, after which time the building fell into disrepair. In 2002, the house was restored and became an art gallery. In 2012, the house was renovated and became Gallery Dental.

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GO Transit’s new 46,451-square-metre (500,000-square-foot) state-of-the-art facility – built to LEED Gold certification standards – provides the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area with fast, convenient and integrated transit. Stop by this site during Doors Open and see what goes into keeping GO trains in shape, and see how they get that perfect shade of green in the Paint Shop.

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Presented in collaboration with Jane’s Walk. Discover unseen aspects of our community. Join us at 10 a.m. near the Centennial Building's main entrance for a walking tour of Whitby's historical neighbourhood. (Meeting spot will be marked.) The tour encompasses part of the original plan of the subdivision owned by Asa Werden in 1854. Wear walking shoes.

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This frame house – built for James Rowe, Whitby’s first mayor – is one of the finest surviving examples of early building at Port Whitby. The house contains the original interior central hall floor plan. Relocated in 1999, the house is now a museum run by the Whitby Community Heritage Association. As part of Doors Open, enjoy the vintage camera display.

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This community-based site was supported by donations, services and materials from local businesses, citizens and service clubs. Following 2018 renovations, the site now includes two full classrooms and welcomes over 15,000 students annually. Come and explore this kid-sized version of a real town – featuring small-scale buildings, detailed roadways, and more! Meet community partners to learn more about programs offered here.

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This house was built around 1812 for Jabez Lynde, an early Whitby pioneer. It is a rare example of the Georgian or Loyalist architectural style. It has been a museum since 1972 and was moved to its current location in 2014. Enjoy all that the museum has to offer by taking an informative tour with one of our guides.

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The original hospital, designed by James Govan, was built to house convalescing First World War soldiers. The current facility was modernized in 1996 (the Doctors’ Residence is all that remains of Govan’s original), and delivers innovative mental health care. During Doors Open, visitors can explore vendors, an arts workshop, historical artifacts and photographs, and the Family Resource Centre.

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This house was built between 1908 and 1909 for the family of Peter Mathison. Its architecture reflects the simple, balanced and classical characteristics of the Edwardian style. The current owners - the Racic family - welcome you to explore their home in this picturesque, heritage neighbourhood.

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This house was constructed in 1876 for Barnabus Gibson, a railway contractor. Known as Ringwood, the house is architecturally significant and was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1982. After several years of neglect, a flood and a fire in the early 2000s, Ringwood was restored in 2011 by Dr. Nihad Ali-Ridha. It is now used as commercial space.

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The Spencer School Community Centre stands on the original location of a log schoolhouse (replaced in 1877 by the current building) that served rural residents northwest of Brooklin. The school closed in 1965 but reopened in 1967 as this community centre. During Doors Open, join a professional archaeological team and see what treasures you might find in the school yard.

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Whitby Junction Station was built for the Grand Trunk Railway in 1903. Its turrets and bays allowed telegraph operators to view incoming and outgoing trains. In 1970, the station was adapted into an art gallery. The heritage gallery makes use of the station’s old waiting room, where you can find intact original trim and the ticket window.

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Whitby’s Town Hall was officially opened on January 8, 1977. Architect Raymond Moriyama hoped that the building would become the “beating heart of Whitby.” During Doors Open, stop by to see rare local artifacts, and learn about the Talking Historical Plaques application. At 2 p.m., join Lynn Philip Hodgson in the Council Chambers for a special Camp X presentation.

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Trafalgar Castle was originally built for Ontario County’s notorious sheriff Nelson Gilbert Reynolds by Toronto architect Joseph Sheard. Reynolds went bankrupt in 1874 and sold the building to the Methodist Church of Canada, which turned it into the Ontario Ladies’ College. Today, it operates as a private girls’ school. The principal’s residence was converted from a carriage house in 1877.

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Emmanuel Sleep from Cornwall, England purchased 57 acres here in 1879. Within three years, he had built this farmhouse with bricks from Toronto’s Don Valley Brick Yard; the staircase and library bookcases were made of black oak. Sleep eventually owned 500 acres, making him one of the area’s wealthiest farmers. During Doors Open, see how the property/business has been transformed.

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This Centre is home to Durham College’s culinary, food and farming, horticulture, hospitality and special events management programs. The building boasts numerous features – including an apiary, apple orchard, gardens and greenhouses – and provides fresh food each year for use in the college’s kitchens and laboratories. During Doors Open, join facility and garden tours, or grab a bite at The Pantry.

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This library was designed with a dynamic relationship between the interior and outdoor public spaces. During your Doors Open visit, you'll learn about all the building features that put the environment and technology top of mind. Get an inside look at the boiler room, pool room and computer systems area, and see where the archivist keeps the most historical documents.

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The first full-time firefighters were hired by the Whitby Fire Department in 1970. In 1998, they changed their name to Whitby Fire and Emergency Services, officially opening on September 21, 1999. Today, it operates five fire halls. During Doors Open, kids are invited to complete the Junior Firefighter obstacle course and experience simulated activities of a real firefighter!

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