The Lister Block features an L-shaped interior shopping arcade with terracotta and brick façade. Built in 1923 and restored in 2012, it is one of Hamilton’s first multi-purpose office and retail buildings. Explore Tourism Hamilton’s Visitor Experience Centre featuring the 2026 Exhibit: "Punching In: The Work of Hamilton Music". 

Wallis House enjoys a rich and complex history. Constructed in 1873 as one of Ottawa’s first hospitals, it has been repurposed over the years as a seminary for aspiring priests, the Women’s Royal Canadian Navy Service and a shelter for veterans returning from the Second World War. It was saved from possible demolition and converted into loft-style condos/rentals in 1996.

Explore Waterloo Region’s oldest buildings — the 1852-53 Gaol (jail) and the 1878 Governor’s House (jail warden’s home) — and learn how community action saved them from demolition. Closed in 1978, this heritage site has been given new purpose. By combining designation with adaptive reuse, the granite Gaol now houses Provincial Offences courtrooms, and the Governor’s House is home to legal offices.

Waterloo Pioneers Memorial Tower commemorates the arrival of Pennsylvania-German pioneers to the Waterloo region. The 18.9-metre tower (62 feet) is located along the banks of the Grand River. A viewing platform at the top provides a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. Visitors will have access to the viewing platform for a short time as part of Doors Open.

This building once housed a market, police station and public library. Decommissioned in the early 1920s, it sat vacant for over a decade until the city turned it into the Waterworks Building as part of an initiative to create jobs during the Great Depression. The designated building was redeveloped in 2016 for mixed-use condos, a YMCA and food hall.

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.

The location of the former Wawanosh Indian Residential School is now a place of quiet reflection. The school began in 1887 and closed in 1901 when the girls were moved to the Shingwauk Residential School. The intent of this sacred space is to create visibility and curiosity for passersby to help create awareness of the history of Residential Schools. (Photo: City of Sault Ste. Marie)

The Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care is a leading academic hospital specializing in mental health and addictions. Explore its historical roots (the Administration Building was built in the 1860s and has been a hospital since 1904) and learn how Waypoint now delivers innovative care — including Ontario’s only high-secure forensic program, regional geriatric services and youth and community supports.

Built in 1881, Wesley United Church contains beautiful stained-glass windows and other unique features - including planks from the original log church. Jeremy Marchese, Wesley's Minister of Music will be performing on the church's newly acquired ALLEN MDS 40-S organ. Visitors can take tours of the building and the adjacent cemetery, and view scrimshaw carved into ivory piano keys.

Nestled beside the Royal Botanical Gardens with a backyard apiary, this 1930 church, whose congregation was established in 1871, is a welcoming place of worship and thriving performing arts venue for music and theatre. Come discover its beautiful sanctuary with exquisite stained-glass windows, and its hidden gem of a black box theatre. 

The West Toronto Lawn Bowling Club is a Junction original, having occupied a corner of Baird Park since 1912. On its two lush greens, people have been enjoying the fun, easy-to-learn game of lawn bowls for 110 years. The clubhouse is architecturally unique, with six Tuscan pillars on its porch. It is the only clubhouse of this design in Canada.

This home studio showcases the works of Laurel Douglas Shugarman. It showcases drawings and paintings in graphite, acrylic, watercolor, oil, and mixed media, along with art cards, reproduction photos and archival prints. The studio is primarily a jewelry making studio, with both traditional metalsmithing workstations and precious metal clay. A selection of silver, bronze and gold jewelry will be on display. (Partial accessibility via stairs).

This building, one of the few remaining Masonic sites in operation in Toronto, is home to the Humber Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (instituted in 1874). The main lodge room and banquet hall are steeped in the history of the area with furnishings, photos and other items that date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Visit the Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum to engage with a special featured exhibition, Beyond Words: Dictionaries and Indigenous Languages, on loan from the Canadian Language Museum. Visitors will engage with interactive language activities and learn how Indigenous languages and dictionaries have shifted from colonial tools to community resources that help share elders’ knowledge with youth.

Enjoy a self-guided tour through this mid-19^th century urban estate. Built in 1848 and expanded in the 1930s, Whitehern was lovingly maintained by the McQuesten family for three generations and is now a museum. Step back in time as you discover original furnishings from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras, set against the backdrop of beautiful gardens.

Step inside Widowspeak Bed & Breakfast and experience the charm of this beautifully restored home. Blending historic character with modern comfort, the unique space invites visitors to explore its thoughtfully designed rooms and preserved architectural details. Learn about the story behind Widowspeak, and its connection to local heritage. A warm, intimate stop, it offers a glimpse into hospitality, history and design.

Come and visit this beautiful national historic site, Willowbank, which was built in 1834-36 in the Greek classical revival style. Since 2006, Willowbank has been home to the School of Restoration Arts. The school’s Heritage Conservation diploma program has trained students in the theory and practice of this unique field, helping shape a new generation of heritage conservation leaders.

Willowgrove inspires kids and families to get outdoors, learn, and grow together. Established in 1968, it has grown into a vibrant day camp and education centre. Explore the hayloft, enjoy wagon rides, visit the animals, roast marshmallows at a campfire, browse the pop-up market and stop by the camp information booth. No pets allowed, service animals are permitted.

Since 1867, the Wilton Cheese Factory has been a hub of cheese production. In 1921, a farmers’ co-operative took over, ramping up production to 226,800 kilograms (500,000 pounds) annually. In 1978, Arne M. Jensen purchased the factory, where they still continue the old-world curing process. Visit during Doors Open Loyalist Township to explore their history and savour their renowned cheese!

This charming 19th-century opens into the Ruth Upjohn Gallery and the Dignam Art Gallery, named after the founder and first president, Mary Ella Dignam, who was a pioneer in Canada’s arts and crafts movement. The gallery spaces and formal sunken garden are great for exhibits and receptions, parties and weddings. There is also a formal library and many studios.

This remarkable example of contemporary architecture is home to the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism, which promotes inner spiritual development through the practice of tai chi. The temple serves as a modern sacred space for a vibrant Taoist community and was awarded the Governor General’s Medal for Architecture in 2016.

Woodland Cemetery offers a peaceful, calming ambiance, full of wildlife, visually stunning scenery and historic sites. It is the final resting place for many prominent local community members. Please join us for an historical QR code tour and self-guided tours throughout the property, as well a glimpse inside the historical mausoleums.

The Woodland Cultural Centre was established in 1972 by the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians on the closure of the Mohawk Institute Residential School. Their focus began with research and artifacts, expanding to include art in 1975 and a language program in 1984. With over 50,000 artifacts, it is one of the largest Canadian facilities managed by First Nations.

The Woodstock Art Gallery (WAG) celebrates artwork from local, regional and national artists over two floors. The site’s location is the former John White Company (1901-54) and Walkers of Woodstock (1964). This year, WAG is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Stop by to explore the current exhibitions, including an anniversary exhibit. And join them for their Fall Open House.

Come and explore the Old Town Hall, constructed in 1853 as Woodstock’s first public market, council chamber and concert hall. Serving later as the fire hall and jail, the building became the home of the Oxford County Museum in 1947. For Doors Open Woodstock, take a behind-the-scenes tour of this fascinating site.