The building that stands at 430 Gladstone was built in 1910 as a Livery (horse and carriage depot) to support one of Ottawa`s top hotels, The Alexandria. Ottawa City Woodshop purchased the property in 2024, providing a home for unban woodworking in the heart of Ottawa.

Founded in 2019, the Ottawa Glassblowing Co-op is located in the heart of Ottawa near Little Italy. Their mandate is to foster a glassblowing co-operative that operates inclusively to support the artistic creativity, learning and growth of its members and to educate the public in the art of glass. Come and see glassblowing demos by local artists!

Jump inside the blueprints to tour a full-scale, furnished mock-up of the patient room-of-the-future and other key room designs for The Ottawa Hospital’s new campus. Guided tours by hospital planning staff will take you behind the scenes of Ottawa’s state-of-the-art hospital plans and how we’re designing spaces. Tours are available in English and French. Registration required.

The Carleton County Jail was built in 1862 and was run as a prison for 110 years, with room for approximately 150 prisoners. In 1972, the jail was shut down due to inhumane conditions. But it was repurposed and opened a year later as this hostel. After a night in a real cell block, you can visit Ottawa’s main sites.

The Ottawa Little Theatre, founded in 1913, is Canada’s longest continuously running community theatre. During Doors Open Ottawa, visitors will receive a guided, behind-the-scenes tour from one of the theatre’s dedicated volunteers. The tour will reflect an actor’s experience from first rehearsal to opening night and feature the talented production team who support them on that journey.

The Ottawa Muslim Association and the Ottawa Mosque was incorporated in 1964 as a charitable organization, with its first phase completed in 1970. The Ottawa Mosque is the first and the oldest mosque in the city, and is one of the oldest in Canada. Its distinct architectural design includes a two-storey prayer hall, library, minaret, central dome and multi-purpose basement.

Opened in 2005, the 9,290-square-metre (100,000-square-foot) Ottawa Paramedic Service Headquarters is a state-of-the-art facility that houses all paramedic operations (except for medical dispatching), a vehicle depot and administrative area for the service. This was the first LEED-certified building in Ottawa. Each day, more than 75 emergency vehicles are deployed to serve the communities of the nation’s capital.

Located in the ByWard Market, this school is in a four-storey, three-bay stone building of solid appearance with a richly decorated principal façade. During Doors Open Ottawa, visitors can join school staff and students in the lobby as they celebrate the school’s 145th anniversary, or take a guided tour. Throughout the day, art and artifacts will be on display.

Located at the corner of Elgin and Queen Streets, the Ottawa Visitor Centre is the capital’s in-destination hub, welcoming visitors and inviting residents to rediscover their city. In 2026, Ottawa celebrates its 200th anniversary with festival and event programming throughout the year. Chat with tourism experts and learn more about Ottawa’s unique history and the ways to celebrate this wonderful city!

The Public Works Big Wheels Expo offers kids of all ages an exciting chance to get a closer look at the trucks and equipment behind the city’s public works. Come and explore some of the city’s mightiest machines. Meet the fleet and climb into the driver’s seat — from garbage trucks and snowplows to sidewalk sweepers and road painting trucks.

Rideau Hall has been the official residence of every Governor General of Canada since 1867, and their workplace since 1940. It has nearly two centuries of history and has become an important gathering place and site of official activities. The grounds, the building and its interiors have evolved over time to reflect/reinforce Rideau Hall’s identity as a national symbol.

The Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife rehabilitation centre in the Ottawa area that treats injured and orphaned wild mammals and reptiles. Approximately 1,500 animals are admitted each year. Visitors will receive a tour of the centre and see wildlife being fed and treated behind one-way viewing windows. There will also be several display booths and outdoor activities. Registration required.

This single-storey building is home to the tv Rogers and Rogers tv community production studios, where they create 300 original hours of programming every year. Come and visit the studios and learn more about the fascinating world of television. Check out their volunteer opportunities. Or suggest an idea for programming you’d like to see developed here.

Headquartered in the historical building where the Mint was founded in 1908, this facility produces hand-crafted commemorative coins, gold and silver bullion, medals and medallions. A tour of the operations explains the many different coin manufacturing technologies. For an unforgettable souvenir, hold a 24-karat pure gold bar worth over $700,000.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has guided learning for specialist physicians so they can deliver the best health care for all. This landmark building, which overlooks the Rideau Canal, is a classically inspired structure — featuring impressive stained glass and an interior courtyard. It was formerly a monastery for the Sister Adorers of the Precious Blood.

Designed by Hobin Architecture, the new School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa (SPAO) building was completed in just 43 days in the heart of Little Italy. The contemporary, purpose-built design is quintessential to the development of photography, with room for the SPAO Centre Gallery, classrooms and the most well-appointed darkroom in the Ottawa region.

Visit this unique museum to view collections that show how scouting contributed to Canada’s heritage while helping to develop youth into valued citizens. See displays of photos, uniforms, badges, scrapbooks, diaries and other memorabilia. The museum also houses their own amateur radio station (VE3SHQ), which allows youth to participate in the largest on-air and on-the-internet scout gatherings in the world.

The South Nepean Muslim Community Mosque is excited to participate in this year’s Doors Open Ottawa, welcoming visitors to explore their beautiful and vibrant community space. Come and tour the facilities, including the spacious prayer halls, serene meditation areas and versatile community spaces that serve as hubs for learning, worship and social engagement. Light refreshments will be provided.

The exterior of the Southminster United Church is Nepean sandstone, the same stone used for the Parliament Buildings. The entrance ends at a pointed arch gate that leads into the church porch, which opens into the narthex. Beyond is the nave, which consists of five bays on each side, a central aisle and smaller aisles on each side.

This site is a unique, non-denominational place of worship. Sathya Sai Baba’s life message is to "love all, serve all" and "help ever, hurt never," strongly promoting the unity of faiths as depicted through symbols and messages on the centre’s pillar. During your Doors Open visit, explore the stupa at the entrance, the main prayer hall, library and classrooms.

Having outgrown an earlier church, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian was constructed in 1872 with wood provided by Ottawa lumber baron, J.R. Booth. Of note are the splendid stained-glass windows and the high vaulted ceilings. The raised pulpit is uniquely placed along the west wall. This placement follows the Scottish Presbyterian tradition that sees the ministers as teachers, with children around them.

This red brick building is a familiar Ottawa landmark. Note the separate entrance for the community thrift shop, while another door is the way into The Well — a day program for women. Throughout the summer, their Indigenous Engagement Coordinator offers smudging each Sunday. The bell can be heard throughout the neighbourhood. Music can also often be heard when passing by.

Although St. Mary the Virgin, Blackburn no longer offers Sunday services, it is available for use as a venue for musical presentations, art shows, a coffee house and more. Over the years, many changes and upgrades have been made. The stained-glass window was donated following the World Wars. The adjacent cemetery, too, pays homage to generations of area settlers.

This church was built after Old St. Mary's at Pinhey's Point was deemed structurally unsafe. Many of the pews and other interior fixtures are from the former church. Old St Mary's was the first Anglican church in the Ottawa diocese and is the oldest church in the Ottawa area. Of note are the stained-glass windows and the lovely wooden interior.

Suntech is a commercial greenhouse that supplies Ottawa's grocery stores with tomatoes and cucumbers. They use hydroponics to reduce water consumption and give exact nutrients to the plants in conjunction with LED lights in certain crops. They also focus on providing the highest quality vegetables to local markets, meaning that their carbon footprint is reduced. Don’t miss the tasting tables!