Tommy Thompson Park, just minutes away from downtown Toronto, is a unique urban wilderness that offers some of the best bird watching in the city – with more than 300 species. The Leslie Street Spit – the land on which this park now stands – was entirely manmade, composed of landfill, concrete, bricks and rebar. Today, this 250-hectare park (617 acres) is operated by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. It has become an oasis for walkers and cyclists, and remains the habitat of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. As part of Digital Doors Open, download their birder’s checklist, read their research reports on breeding birds, explore the site through the video below, and watch the acclaimed documentary (from CBC’s The Nature of Things, 44:18).

This museum tells the stories of Toronto's railways, located in the historical John Street Roundhouse – the best example of a surviving roundhouse in Canada. Used to house locomotive maintenance work for more than 50 years, this site also features the country's longest turntable. See the locomotives, view model railways and try your hand at driving a locomotive on the simulator.

The Toronto Zoo – Canada’s largest zoo, at 287 hectares (709 acres), with over 5,000 animals – has a mission to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction. And that mission has never been more important. While the site was closed due to COVID-19, the Zoo quickly enhanced its online engagement to remain connected with the public. Social media and online storytelling grew significantly, with animal photos and videos keeping everyone connected to their favourite animals. Now safely reopened (see the video below for more information), the Zoo has implemented strict new guidelines – including designated one-way routes, hand-sanitizing stations, mandatory face coverings in most areas, and mandatory advanced ticketing with pre-booked time slots required. Should you visit, check out the new Scenic Safari Drive Thru, Camping at the Zoo, the Wild Encounters behind-the-scenes program, and the return of the successful Terra Lumina: An Enchanted Night Walk. But you can also still enjoy a rich digital experience at the Zoo, including lots of home activities, a new downloadable map, educator resources, Wild for Life podcasts and much more! Don’t forget to join them on Facebook Live at 1 p.m. daily when one of the zoo’s expert keepers will introduce you to one of the animals. Check the website for full details.

The Tremont was built as a 24-room hotel. It is one of the last remaining 19th-century hotel buildings in the Collingwood Heritage District. The proximity of the hotel to the railway station and port made it a popular destination for travellers. Now a home to the arts, the Tremont remains an important link to Collingwood's railway and shipbuilding era.

The Trent-Severn Waterway is a 386-kilometre (240-mile) canal route that connects Lake Ontario at Trenton to Georgian Bay in Lake Huron at Port Severn through 46 locks, following the same rugged route taken by Samuel de Champlain in 1615. Begun in 1833 primarily as a safe passage for ships on the Great Lakes against possible American attack, the waterway would soon prove its value as a system of transportation for goods as well and would become an economic boost for the nation. Lured by the promise of free land, thousands of British, French and Italian men came to Canada to build the canal. The first lock was built in Bobcaygeon in 1833, but the entire canal wasn’t completed until 1920 – 87 years later. Today, the canal is run by Parks Canada and is a recreational boater’s paradise that attracts 18,000 visitors from across North American each summer. During Digital Doors Open, you can learn more about this engineering feat through the video below.

Two prominent men – Eben James and William Fraser – had tremendous influence on the development of Trenton through their lives and their rivalry, establishing a company that would influence the development of the town more than any other company in its history. By the 19th century, Trenton was becoming a central hub of agriculture distribution in Ontario. James and Fraser took advantage of this factor by establishing Trenton Cold Storage, using the region’s expanded train and steamship networks to distribute produce more effectively to regional, national and international markets. And apples made up a large part of that produce. The influence of this company and these two men has left an enduring legacy that resonates in the town today. Learn more about their lives and their company through the Sean Scally video below – entitled Apples and Egos: The Saga of Eben James and William Fraser – and see for yourself how apples and egos impacted the history of Trenton.

The United States has had an official diplomatic presence in Canada since 1827. Built in 1969, the current building creates a bridge between places, peoples and ideas. Symbolizing a bridge, the building stands for partnership and alliance. As a work of architecture, the magnificence of the building is indicative of the significant relationship that the United States has with Canada.

The name Valley Creek correctly describes this community. The preservation of this forest allows residents the unique opportunity to gaze on a truly untouched natural environment. Surrounding the community are residential, commercial and industrial land uses, making this a truly unique area. The Nurturing Neighbourhoods Program aims to connect residents with resources, improve civic engagement and empower residents to play an active role in enhancing their neighbourhood. We want to have meaningful conversations in our neighbourhoods. As part of Digital Doors Open, residents can enjoy a virtual neighbourhood walking experience and share what they love about their neighbourhood and what can be changed using the online survey and mapping tools. Though the city is there to support, the strongest neighbourhoods are made by the people who actually live there.

The Barrie Historical Archive’s new, interactive walking tour explores downtown Barrie in a whole new way – revealing a surprising number of historical hotels and sites that have catered to railway and lumber workers, politicians and tourists since the 1800s. For Digital Doors Open, follow along with local historian and storyteller Mary Harris in the video below as she describes the history, colourful proprietors, scandals, fights, grand events and unusual guests from years gone by.

Warkworth is a parcel of land originally purchased from the Mississauga First Nation in 1774 to provide land for United Empire Loyalist settlers. Surrounded by rich farmland and rolling hills, Warkworth’s location attracts the surrounding communities as well as a large tourist trade. A thriving arts community, heritage homes, friendly shopkeepers and its array of activities have made Warkworth a worthwhile destination. Take this walking tour and discover the town for yourself – from Italianate and Queen Anne to arts and crafts to classical revival, there is something for every architecture enthusiast.

The stunning Warsaw Caves, located near Peterborough and operated by Otonabee Conservation, were created by glacial activity over 10,000 years ago. Today, they offer some of the province’s best spelunking opportunities. Due to COVID-19, however, the caves and the cave trail remain closed. But all other trails – as well as camping and canoeing – are available. The Warsaw Caves Conservation Area has a number of downloadable resources – including maps for hiking and camping, plus detailed brochures for canoeing and spelunking. During Digital Doors Open, explore the caves and the cave trail through the video below.

The Belleville Wastewater Treatment Plant is located by the Bay of Quinte in Belleville’s east end. It deals with wastewater that goes down drains in our homes, public buildings and commercial facilities. Wastewater travels through the city’s sanitary sewer system to the Water Pollution Control Plant at the same complex. Wastewater then goes through an extensive treatment process and is returned to the Bay of Quinte. Biosolids are used as fertilizer for agricultural purposes. As of 2020, city water staff have been testing a new odour-control product to break down and control sulfur compounds that can fill the autumn air surrounding the city’s wastewater treatment plant. A storm sewer is a pipeline designed to direct stormwater to a stormwater management pond or receiving stream or body of water. Stormwater is rainfall and melting snow that soaks into the ground or runs off surfaces into storm sewers and nearby waterways. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this treatment plant here.

While it is now the largest craft brewery in Ontario, it was also the first, and Waterloo Brewing is simultaneously expanding its scope while stoking that pioneering spirit that launched it 36 years ago. Brewing beer with character, for people of character, the entire operation now runs from a single Kitchener location. It features a new beer store, patio and taphouse where a microbrewery affords passionate beer-loving staff to dream up and test the next big thing. Learn more about Waterloo Brewing's passion for craft beer in the following episode of Digital Doors Open Waterloo Region.

This scenic driving tour highlights four heritage cemeteries while winding through the three cities and four rural townships of Waterloo Region. Each stop tells a historical tale of mischief, mystery, mayhem or murder: the Bean Puzzle tombstone (the poisoning by chocolate of Meta D. Cherry), ghostly nights with the founder of Castle Kilbride, and a bodysnatching in Kitchener. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below for a tour of these four heritage cemeteries: Trinity Anglican Cemetery on 72 Blenheim Road in Cambridge, First Mennonite Church and Cemetery at 800 King Street East in Kitchener, Rushes Cemetery at 1915 Hutchison Road in Wellesley, and Fairmount Cemetery at 1062 Brewery Street in Baden (Wilmot Township).

Waterloo’s first educational institution was a simple log schoolhouse, built in 1820. As the region expanded and outgrew the school’s modest capacity, this 5-metre by 6-metre (16-foot by 20-foot) structure served as a residence for the next 50 years. This important landmark now rests in Waterloo Park. Thanks to the efforts of many individuals and collectives over its 200-year history, it continues to serve the community. Among its many admirers is social historian Joanna Rickert-Hall who has written extensively about this historical gem and its relationship to other important local narratives. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below for a behind-the-scenes experience of this historical gem.

The Waters Passive House is the most energy-efficient home in Innisfil. Built in 2015, the house combines thick insulated walls, low air leakage, south-facing windows, energy-efficient windows, and a ventilation system for energy efficiency. Fun fact: The house has no furnace and is heated entirely by the heat generated by appliances, warm bodies, and the sun shining through the windows! It also has a 5-kilowatt solar generating system that provides electricity. (This video explains how this system was installed.) There are also lush natural gardens surrounding the house. So, what is a passive house? Watch this video for a 90-second explanation!

Built in 1860 along the shores of the Rideau River, Watson’s Mill remains active as a water-powered flour mill. Nearby Dickinson House, built in 1867, displays the heritage home of the past mill owners. Dickinson Square is the only industrial heritage site in Ottawa. The site comes to life through tours by costumed interpreters and milling demonstrations.

Westfield Heritage Village, a living history museum, consists of over 35 restored historical buildings dating from the early 1800s. Various building types are positioned as a small village within a natural conservation area of over 202 hectares (500 acres). The village was started by two high school teachers – D. Glenn Kilmer and Golden L. MacDonell – who purchased the original 12-hectare (30-acre) site to create an outdoor museum preserving 19th-century rural life. They purchased their first building, the Jerseyville Train Station, outbidding a local farmer who wanted it for his farm as an outbuilding. Six more buildings were added before it was officially opened in 1964. Some 30 buildings later, the village is a thriving cultural centre that features educational programs and events year-round. Take a virtual tour of this spectacular site in the video below.

The Westover property (also known as Williams Caves) is located on the west side of Isthmus Bay on the northern Bruce Peninsula. The property is owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust and managed by the Bruce Trail Conservancy. The most significant features on the Westover property are four distinct sea caves created by wave action, which extend into the main escarpment bluff. As part of Digital Doors Open, take a virtual hike along this part of the Bruce Trail and see this property from the air by watching the video below.

The William Street Pumping Station is an architectural landmark of uptown Waterloo and a symbol of the region’s innovation and industrial spirit. Built in 1899 as the site of the first groundwater wells in Waterloo, it provided access to a clean and reliable water supply that contributed greatly to the social welfare of the community. A point of pride for those who work to protect and provide water for our booming municipality, William Street Pumping Station is a reminder of the parts we all play in protecting the community’s public health. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below for a behind-the-scenes experience of this historical pumping station.

Olivetti. Olympia. Remington. Royal. Smith-Corona. Underwood. Typewriters are enjoying a big revival and Waterloo resident Currie Russell is swept up in the nostalgia revolution. What began as a pandemic passion project has evolved into a thriving side-hustle for this Waterloo collector. Russell is one of a handful of people in Ontario currently equipped to buy, sell and repair these majestic machines, but he is also part of a global movement spanning all corners of the planet where enthusiasts are connecting to share knowledge and learning that will keep these vintage marvels alive for others to discover into the future. Learn more about these machines and about Russell's passion as part of Digital Doors Open through the video below.

The style and construction of the Custom House, one of Canada’s oldest remaining federal public buildings, reflect the rise of Hamilton as a major railway and port. Often cited as one of Hamilton’s foremost architectural landmarks, it currently houses the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, a community museum dedicated to celebrating all working people through art, history and culture.

The Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre in Tay, Ontario offers 1,214 hectares (3,000 acres) of national wildlife area and provincially significant wetlands. Its mission is to be a centre of excellence for wetlands research, interpretation and education based on the principle of stewardship and the importance of environmental awareness. Open 362 days a year, visitors of all ages and abilities are encouraged to discover raptors and reptiles, explore hiking, cross country ski and snowshoe on its trails, experience canoeing and kayaking through the marsh channels, and visit the observation tower, floating boardwalks, waterfowl monitoring platform, wildflower gardens, the bee house and so much more! But Wye Marsh is more than a tourist attraction. More than 6,000 students take part in educational programs every year, and the stewardship program initiatives include monitoring of wildlife populations and habitat conservation. As part of Digital Doors Open, check out their “at home activities” – including nature journaling, how to build a bee hotel, making sweet bannock, playing games, making masks, and much more. The Wye Marsh is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. but you are encouraged to check their website before visiting as some programming is not available during the COVID-19 pandemic.