The Heart Lake North neighbourhood provides great outdoor activities in nature for all to enjoy and experience. This neighbourhood features the Etobicoke Creek Trail – a space to enjoy outdoor recreation and the sounds of nature. Heart Lake North is home to the Heart Lake Conservation Area with 170 hectares (418 acres) of parkland to be explored. Here, you’ll find biking and walking trails, and a lake with a designated swimming area, boat rentals and fishing. The neighbourhood also hosts planned annual tree plantings with local elementary students. Additionally, Heart Lake North includes two recreation centres, a library and is accessed by seven different transit routes. Discover more about the neighbourhood of Heart Lake North in Brampton and the natural amenities that it has to offer such as Loafers Lake and Heart Lake Conservation Park. To begin, enjoy the trail at Loafers Lake – featuring outdoor fitness equipment, ball diamonds, soccer fields and a playground. This beautiful trail boasts spectacular cherry blossoms in the spring, stunning fall colours during the autumn and sledding in the winter. Then, at the Heart Lake Conservation Park, enjoy outdoor fun with the beauty of nature as your backdrop. From fishing in the lake or frolicking at the new pool and splash pad, to speeding above the water on one of their twin zip lines, Heart Lake offers all the best in outdoor entertainment. During Digital Doors Open, enjoy a virtual tour of this spectacular area through the video below.

Heintzman House – a treasured asset of the Thornhill community – is one of the area’s oldest buildings. This historical building has a fascinating story. What began as a simple farmhouse in 1798 is now an important piece of Markham’s history and a gathering place for the community. Originally built as an adobe brick cottage, the house was enlarged by Colonel George Crookshank in 1817. Charles T. Heintzman, grandson of the founder of Toronto’s Heintzman Piano Company, purchased the property in the 1930s and transformed the house into its present, elegant form. Heintzman House was Markham’s most-visited site during Doors Open Markham 2019 and is a beautiful space for any occasion. From the preserved original architecture to the impressive seasonal gardens, Heintzman House offers something for everyone. There are also tales of prominent owners, spirits that dwell inside, and a community’s determined efforts to recognize the heritage site. During Digital Doors Open, learn about the history of this remarkable place through the video below.

Historic Bovaird House is an exceptional example of a mid-19th-century Ontario farmhouse, built in the Georgian style. Volunteers have endeavoured to restore the house to its original appearance. Authentic artifacts and period craftsmanship demonstrate the history of this house, which contains five fireplaces, original plank flooring and hand-blown windowpanes imported from England. Michael Avis, from the Friends of Historic Bovaird House, has been active in caring for the property for 22 years by maintaining its stories and history. As part of Digital Doors Open, join him on a tour of the house in the video below, as well as the log cabin and grounds, where you will experience Brampton’s pioneer heritage first hand. You will also meet long-time volunteer, gardener and groundskeeper, Gail Armstrong.

Now in its 45th year, this award-winning museum has become the focus of the Oxford County Cheese Trail and the hub of cycling in Ingersoll. Beginning as a cheese museum, it has since become a community museum, home of the recreated Oxford County Museum School. Start your Doors Open adventure here and pick up your guidebook and shopping vouchers.

The Innisfil ideaLAB & Library is an award-winning space that is known for its innovation, community-led programming and hacker ethic. With many programs, events, resources and stories, the ideaLAB & Library invites you to experience everything that they have to offer – books, DVDs, e-resources, free Wi-Fi, music recording, graphic design, community gathering space, 3D printing, soldering, business resources, community events, a butterfly nursery, pollinator gardens, jewelry making, robotics and much more! 2020 marked a big year for the ideaLAB, as they moved to a fine-free service model, expanded their digital collections and virtual programming opportunities, and launched new programs to address public safety and social isolation. This was also the first year that the library participated in Simcoe Reads, along with public libraries from Barrie, Bradford, Essa and Midland. Visit their extensive YouTube channel to learn more about the kinds of things they do. And check their website for more COVID-related updates.

This memorial is dedicated to the men and women employed at the British spy training school located here during the Second World War. Over 500 agents trained here to go behind enemy lines and “set Europe ablaze,” as dramatized in CBC Television’s X Company. During Doors Open, join expert Lynn Philip Hodgson for a guided tour (terrain can be difficult).

The Jean-Baptiste Lainé Site was home to a remarkable late-16th-century ancestral Wendat community. Of all the sites in Southern Ontario that have been almost completely excavated, it is considered one of the largest and most complex. Explore and learn about this amazing archaeological site with self-guided tours and a staffed interpretation table.

In 1798, King George III granted the Mohawk and British army captain land on what’s now known as Burlington Bay for his services to the Crown during the Seven Years War and the American Revolution. The museum was built in recognition of Joseph Brant “Thayendanegea” (1742-1807) as Burlington’s first citizen. Over the years, the museum has undergone a series of transformations. The current museum, which reopened in September 2019 after a significant restoration, features three permanent galleries and a space for travelling exhibitions. The white house atop the hill is an approximate replica of Joseph Brant’s original home, which served as the museum from 1941 to 2017. For Digital Doors Open, watch the video below as Director of Museums, Kimberly Watson, shows us where and how artifacts are stored in the newly built Joseph Brant Museum. Learn how the recently reopened museum has managed to maintain a small carbon footprint while adding 1,115 square metres (12,000 square feet) of space. In addition, there are online galleries to explore, school programs and resources (including education kits, home-school programs and virtual field trips), virtual “badge” programs (based on the Girl Guides and Scouts), lectures, a mix of in-person and virtual kids’ camps, and a variety of both in-person and virtual events.

One of Brampton's best-kept secrets is its picturesque lakes and rivers. Behind the thousands of homes and busy roads, visitors and residents alike will find a wonderful oasis of peaceful lakes and flowing rivers in the Brampton area. Brampton is home to both natural and man-made lakes, including Professor’s Lake, Heart Lake Conservation Area, Loafer’s Lake, Esker Lakes and Norton Place Park. Brampton’s rivers were also used thousands of years ago as transportation routes. Since then, they have been sources of power to drive mills and sources of water for farms. Today, they are a tremendous asset to both the natural landscape and wildlife of Brampton. As part of Digital Doors Open, you are invited to relax and enjoy Brampton’s beauty. Discover their many lakes and rivers by taking this self-guided tour. And, while you’re outside, bring along the Nature Rubbings Activity and discover all the treasures that nature has to offer.

One hundred years ago, the McLaughlin family bought 17 hectares (44 acres) of lakefront in the name of General Motors and deeded it to the Town of Oshawa for $1 – to be used as a public park. A streetcar travelled down Simcoe Street to the lake, a zoo was established in 1924, and a dance pavilion was built in 1927 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Confederation. A museum opened in 1960 and has since grown to include three original buildings dating from the 1840s and 1850s. The park now hosts the annual Canada Day celebrations as well as sports tournaments and beach volleyball. View the 100th anniversary activities or listen to a YouTube podcast below with even more historical tidbits. Be sure to visit the Oshawa Museum’s Lakeview Park – Celebrating 100 extensive online exhibit and be sure to share your memories.

Levi Carroll is best known for a log schoolhouse built in 1820 that was Waterloo’s first educational institution. Once the community outgrew the 5-metre by 6-metre (16-foot by 20-foot) schoolhouse, Carroll lived in it for more than 50 years. This important historical structure now rests in Waterloo Park and provides a backdrop for exploring more about Carroll – an ex-slave from Maryland who, despite the odds, lived into his 90s and was described in his 1897 obituary as “a citizen whom almost everyone knows.” But that familiarity has been lost to time. Author and social historian Joanna Rickert-Hall is working to resurrect Levi Carroll’s narrative and its ties to other lost local stories and important conversations. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below to learn more about Levi Carroll and this iconic landmark.

The MacNab Street Presbyterian Church was completed in 1857 during a cholera epidemic. The exterior is solid stone masonry with an updated slate roof. After the First World War, nine-window stained-glass windows by the Scottish artists William Wilson and James Ballantyne were installed. The sanctuary has stone walls and columns, blonde wood and a magnificent Casavant organ.

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection, located on 40 hectares (100 acres) of forested land along the Humber River, is a major public gallery devoted to collecting the art of Canada. Located on the original lands of the Ojibwe Anishinaabe people, the McMichael is uniquely situated along the historical Carrying Place Trail. The McMichael’s permanent collection consists of over 6,500 artworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, their contemporaries, and First Nations, Métis, Inuit and contemporary artists who have contributed to the development of Canadian art. While the McMichael has reopened, there are restrictions in place for visitors. Check their website for details. Digital visits, however, are also encouraged. Explore their eMuseum – a searchable online collection. Wander the grounds – lush forests, a sculpture garden and scenic hiking trails – with the aid of their downloadable map and audio guided tour. For budding young artists, the McMichael offers the ArtVenture Online program, which includes free art activities, videos, tutorials and more. Watch and learn through a series of curatorial talks and virtual studio visits. Take an online art class. Or discover their many educational resources – from virtual classrooms and tours to workshops and teacher retreats. With Digital Doors Open, there is much to see and do.

Merrick Thomas House is a fine example of a settler’s house. This one-and-a-half-storey clapboard structure – with the saltbox roofline typical of its period – is constructed of white pine logs squared into 12-inch-by-12-inch timbers on a fieldstone foundation. The Oakville Historical Society now operates the house as a museum. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this house through the video below, or check out their YouTube playlist for more content.

Since 1960, the Museum on the Boyne has shared stories of the people and places that make up South Simcoe. In 2020, they are celebrating their 60th anniversary (see the video below) with exhibits that trace the growth of South Simcoe from early settlement to present day – featuring a 1914 agricultural fair building, an 1865 log house, and an 1858 barn. The museum is a stop on the Simcoe County Honey Trail. Stop by to learn about D.A. Jones – the Bee King of Canada – and pick up a Honey Trail map, or download a copy. Note: During COVID-19, the Museum on the Boyne is open to visitors by appointment only.

In 1765, British naval craftsmen from Fort Niagara erected a barracks on the opposite side of the Niagara River. Over the years, several buildings – known collectively as Navy Hall – evolved into a key military supply facility for British forts on the upper Great Lakes. During the American Revolution, the Provincial Marine wintered at Navy Hall and, in 1792, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe converted one of the buildings into his residence. The Lieutenant Governor's home in the first capital of the Province of Upper Canada later served as a dining hall for the officers at Fort George. Navy Hall was destroyed by American forces during the War of 1812. After the war, the British rebuilt some of the buildings, of which one still survives today. As part of Digital Doors Open, you can learn more about this site’s remarkable history through the video below.

Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, known both for its scenic beauty and its immense force (which generates an enormous amount of hydro-electric power). While you can now visit Niagara Falls again in person, there are still many digital experiences that are available and worth experiencing from your backyard. Take a virtual helicopter ride over the falls, experience a zipline ride to the falls, enjoy the much-loved Journey Behind the Falls, or even look ahead to the annual Winter Festival of Lights. Don’t forget your VR glasses to make these experiences pop! But if an in-person experience is what you’re looking for, check out the Niagara Parks COVID-19 Information Centre. Stay safe but have fun!

The Niagara Parks Power Station – the first major power plant on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls – was completed in 1905 to produce hydroelectricity by leveraging the power of the Niagara River. A marvel of engineering and architecture, the station’s generators were the largest of their kind. Power generated from CNP was used to service Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York; the plant remained in operation until 2006 when it was decommissioned. The Niagara Parks Commission acquired ownership in 2009. The station was built with a rusticated stone exterior from Queenston limestone, with stunning, rounded window arches depicting restrained Romanesque design. The water-filled forecourt is the most prominent feature of the building setting, acting as a reflecting pool that enhances the pattern of the arches. The interior also features significant detail, from the massive bronze doors on the north side to the marble and bronze detailing of the office area. Renovations for adaptive reuse are underway – the first phase will open to the public in 2021 – will transform the facility into an extraordinary new multi-faceted visitor experience, which will preserve and showcase this culturally significant landmark while creating an iconic new attraction for Niagara Falls. For Digital Doors Open, explore the interior through the video below, and relive Fall 2019's special Doors Open event held at the station.

Located on the banks of the Niagara River in a heritage building that formerly supplied water to Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre connects the community through visual arts programs, exhibitions and events. The Niagara Pumphouse Art Centre Association was formed in 1990, and the building was restored and converted to this visual arts centre in 1994.

The Niagara Historical Society, founded in 1895, opened the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum in 1907. The museum collects, preserves, researches, educates and promotes the history of Niagara-on-the-Lake and its communities — inspiring an appreciation of local history through engaging programs and exhibitions. In October, the exhibition will be "Bound and Determined." During Doors Open, they’ll be offering special tours throughout the day.

Located within close proximity to Bramalea City Centre, Bramalea Woods and Highway 410, the Norton Park neighbourhood represents one of Brampton’s most accessible neighbourhoods by various methods of transportation, including walking and cycling. The neighbourhood is also home to a hidden gem – Norton Place Park! This park features a boardwalk recreational trail along a small lake tucked behind the Lisa Towers (apartment buildings) and a community garden. Children can chase the ducks, climb in the playground and enjoy nature. As part of Digital Doors Open, enjoy a virtual tour of this park in the video below.

Where nature meets history! The O’Hara legacy began in 1789 when Patrick O'Hara arrived from Ireland and busied himself with starting a sawmill and creating a thriving homestead. Today, the O’Hara Mill Homestead is an opportunity to relive the day-to-day hardships and rewards of early pioneer life. Come and explore the restored original farmhouse, sawmill, carriage-house, shed and woodworking shop.

The offices of the Oakville Historical Society are located in the cottages on the north side of the Erchless Estate grounds. The great-granddaughters of Oakville’s founder, William Chisholm, had the cottages built in the 1950s. During Digital Doors Open, explore their new exhibit on the history of education and schools in the Oakville area through the video below, or discover more on their YouTube channel. You can also search their online photo database and explore their plaque database.

The Erchless Estate was once the home of Oakville’s founding family, the Chisholms. It is now the setting for the community's museum. For Digital Doors Open, discover an extensive virtual tour that takes you inside each room of the property – don't miss the Underground Railroad exhibit upstairs! After your virtual tour, take in the video tour on YouTube below (led by the museum's very own Julian Kingston), which features some of the Town of Oakville's online collections – including hundreds of artifacts and historical photos of the town.

Come and explore Ontario’s Legislative Assembly — an impressive structure that has been home to the province’s legislature since 1893. Alongside oak floors and Italian marble finishes is artwork from the Government of Ontario Art Collection. During Doors Open, visitors can enjoy several exhibits on a self-guided tour that includes the legislative chamber. There’s even an outdoor scavenger hunt for kids. (No tripods allowed.)