This site is crucial to understanding the history of residential schools and reconciliation in Canada. The Shingwauk Residential School, which operated here from 1874-1970, is now home to Algoma University. Exhibits highlight foundational concepts of healing through education, designing for change, Indigenizing the museum and “Teaching Wigwam” as a contemporary education strategy. Visitors can enter their names in a draw!

This restored home was the first Canadian home of Alexander Graham Bell and his parents and provided the stage for the invention of the telephone in 1874.

Blowes Cards & Gifts occupies the historical Victorian Brandenberger Block, once home to the town’s first Festival Theatre box office and later a Loblaws grocery store. Original timber floors, decorative tin ceilings and a restored façade remain, and visitors can view the newly renovated upstairs — The Blowes Inn space — which showcases additional period details from its 19th-century origins.

The Brantford Airport was established in 1939 as a Second World War flight training base. Currently, it is used for flight training, general aviation and aircraft maintenance. During Doors Open, visit the Flight Centre where club members will provide a guided tour of the airport and its history, and explain what is happening there today.

The City of Brantford’s Parks & Recreation Department has long been a source of community pride. For 75 years, these greenhouses have played an integral part in the city's horticulture operations, program and reputation. The complex is used to grow the approximately 500,000 plants annually that are used in displays, annual and perennial beds and community gardens throughout the city.

The Clergue Blockhouse stands as a reminder of two important periods in Sault Ste. Marie's history. The blockhouse base contains exhibits and information on the fur trade (the base was originally the powder magazine). The top floor exhibit showcases the early industrialization of Sault Ste. Marie and the man behind it — Francis H. Clergue. Clergue lived on the top floor.

This charming historical site is dedicated to the history of Coldwater and its surrounding areas. The museum's centerpiece is the Woodrow Homestead, a beautifully preserved log cabin built in the early 1840s on a former stagecoach route. Visitors can explore the homestead and other heritage buildings. Don’t miss the Coldwater Steampunk Festival occurring in the nearby village of Coldwater.

Rebuilt following a devastating fire, Knox Presbyterian remains a cornerstone of Stratford's spiritual and cultural life. Its magnificent stained-glass windows, including a stunning seven-panel installation, have been recently restored. While the congregation continues to worship here, the building is also being prepared for Copperlight, a new hospitality and arts venue. Return for a special ticketed dinner/concert Saturday evening (pre-booking required).

Start your day at the Doors Open Stratford Information Headquarters! Grab a coffee downtown and pick up your map/information before starting your journey. Kresge’s “five and dime” opened here in 1929 during the Depression, offering affordable goods until the early 1970s. Later home to the National Bank, the building now welcomes visitors as Stratford’s tourism centre.

The Ermatinger Old Stone House is one of the oldest stone buildings northwest of Toronto. Charles Ermatinger and his wife Mananowe (Charlotte) ran their home and business here during the fur trade era. It has served many purposes over the years — hotel, sheriff's residence, courthouse and apartments. Restored from 1967-70, the building is now a historical site and museum.

The two buildings that house Gallery Stratford were constructed by London architect George F. Durand. One structure was built as the Stratford Waterworks’ pump house and the other for equipment storage. Durand believed that architecture was more than just engineering — it was art. You can see that in his mix of styles. Designated by the City of Stratford in 1985.

Hamilton Craft Studios is a 1,300-square-metre (14,000-square-foot) multidisciplinary craft space in a historical wire factory in downtown Hamilton. Panoramic windows fill the space with natural light. The second floor houses woodworking and fabrication spaces, while the third floor features ceramics, textiles and general arts studios — offering tools, equipment and shared workspaces for makers of all skill levels.

Join one of these 30-40-minute walking tours, beginning and ending at Stratford City Hall. Led by Stratford Walking Tours, you will explore the stories of the city hall, the courthouse, the Shakespearean Gardens, the Avon River and Memorial Gardens Stratford. Each 1-1.5-kilometre tour has a maximum of 25 participants. No registration required (first come, first served, rain or shine).

This century-old cinema, located in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood, is the world's first and largest documentary cinema. It is home to first-run Canadian and international documentary films, as well as special presentations, cultural events and some specialized fiction programming. The building is the flagship venue of the annual Hot Docs Festival, as well as several of the city's independent film festivals. (Photo: Joseph Michael)

In 1874, Stratford’s first brick Lutheran church was dedicated. This building later became part of the Pounder Brothers Mill, whose construction shaped a lot of Stratford. Portions of the original church remain visible in Jobsite Brewing Co.’s production area today. Visitors can enjoy these historical touches alongside a pint and a wood-fired pizza, both made onsite.

Nestled on the shores of Lake Couchiching, the Leacock Museum National Historic Site is housed in the summer cottage, boathouse and gardens of famous Canadian humorist and economist, Stephen Leacock (1869-1944). Leacock was known for his witty and satirical works (particularly Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town). His legacy is honoured annually through the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour.

Step inside The Memorial Tower — an iconic structure and symbol of the sacrifices made by local men and women in the service of their country and the world. Artwork depicts action from six military conflicts dating back to the War of 1812. Representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 will be onsite.

The North West Company Lock is located at the foot of Huron Street. It is actually two structures built almost 100 years apart. The stone replica lock seen today was built in 1896 and lies over the floor and framework of the original lock built in 1797. The lock was built to help laden canoes and boats navigate the rapids.

Explore the Ontario Forest Research Institute (OFRI), one of the Sault’s most beautifully designed buildings. Constructed with local maple, granite and glass, it offers a unique work environment with natural light and a reminder of its northern Ontario location. OFRI is a Ministry of Natural Resources workplace, supporting forest research related to climate change, genetic diversity, invasive species and more.

This museum has been an art, culture and heritage hub in the heart of Orillia for over 25 years. Located in downtown Orillia, the clocktower of the Sir Samuel Steele Memorial Building is a beacon for the museum. The museum’s mission is to provide inclusive space to engage community, inspire creativity and celebrate culture, by exploring art and history.

Built in 1874 by local builder Thomas Orr Sr., this elegant Italianate home features tall arched windows, decorative brickwork and wide eaves with ornate brackets. Once a private residence, it now serves as the Orr Insurance & Investment head office, reflecting Stratford's rich architectural heritage and the Orr family's long-standing community legacy.

Designed by prominent architect George F. Durand, this is one of the most magnificent courthouses in Ontario with many of its original features intact. This excellent example of High Victorian architecture combines bichromal masonry with a variety of other building materials, not to mention architectural styles. Check out the spectacular stained-glass windows, intricate woodwork, decorative tile floors and grand staircases.

Inspired by Zen philosophy, Peter Dušek's photographs distill our world to the heart of its essence. Placing a strong emphasis on balance and negative space, and seeking the perfect balance between too much and too little, Dušek's design goal is “as little as possible, as much as necessary,” giving an abstract quality to his poetic landscapes.

Founded in 1858, the Queen's Inn is Stratford's oldest continuously operating hotel, rebuilt in the neoclassical style in 1905. Long a gathering place at the heart of community life — even hosting Queen Elizabeth II during her 1959 visit — the hotel is now being restored/transformed into a Marriott Tribute Portfolio property known as the Queen’s Cue, continuing its tradition of hospitality.

Explore the Sault Ste. Marie Armoury, home to the 49th (Sault Ste. Marie) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery and the 33 Service Battalion. Today, army reserve and cadet units use the facility for military drills and training. Visit the Lest We Forget Remembrance and History Library and Last Post Museum. Learn about anti-aircraft guns and the Howitzer artillery gun outside.