The main house here is considered to be one of the oldest homes in Ottawa. The Billings family lived here for five generations. Once a large agricultural property, parts of the estate were given to different family members or sold off. Today, what remains is a museum, several outbuildings and a cemetery for more than 140 community and family members.

The Billy Bishop Museum remains an Owen Sound landmark. Boyhood home of the eponymous First World War flying ace, this museum invites you to explore the Bishop family and to honour the contributions of service men and women, past and present. Dedicated as a museum in 1987, this site became a National Historic Site in 2002.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, owned and operated by PortsToronto, is a world-class, award-winning airport. Located on Toronto Island, it offers service to more than 20 cities in Canada and the United States. Doors Open visitors can explore the underwater pedestrian tunnel, the electric ferry, interactive exhibits and a rare chance to get up close with the airport’s safety vehicles.

Nestled among mature trees in a quiet, park-like setting, Bishophurst is one of Sault Ste. Marie’s architectural treasures. Built in 1876 from red sandstone, this gracious neo-Georgian residence has served as the home of the Anglican Bishop of Algoma for nearly 150 years. Highlights include the elegant front entrance framed by a classic columned portico and the beautiful Lady Chapel.

This artistic collective presents a professional and engaging environment in which completed artworks are exhibited alongside live painting and drawing sessions. Visitors have a unique opportunity to observe the artistic process and gain a deeper appreciation of the techniques, discipline and creativity behind each work. Audiences are invited to experience art as an evolving and living process.

Visit this neo-Gothic church and North Toronto landmark during Doors Open as the parish marks its 100th anniversary this year. Among the church’s features are beautiful stained-glass windows, statues, iconography and a Casavant organ. Blessed Sacrament has a diverse congregation of both local parishioners and those who have come to Toronto from every continent. Tours, performances, exhibits and light refreshments.

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.

Visit Borlak Law, operating from the circa 1895 home of William Todd, village carriage maker. Admire the architecture and some of the original stained-glass windows while learning about what the business offers today.

Originally a farm purchased in 1840 by Thomas Fenby Boynton, the Boynton family built the current brick house in 1875 to replace a log home. Boynton House is a community art exhibition space: explore Viewpoints 2026, the annual juried art show of the Markham Group of Artists showcasing a broad spectrum of artistic styles. The works reflect strong artistic integrity and celebrate ingenuity, inventiveness, and imagination.

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Western Centre for Brain and Mind at Western University. This core research facility brings together experts in cognitive neuroscience to explore how the brain works. A limited number of public tours on September 19 offer a rare opportunity to see cutting-edge research spaces and shared scientific resources in action.

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.

Constructed in 1961, this is one of two treatment plants operated by the City of Ottawa to supply drinking water to almost one million people. Its source water is the Ottawa River. The treatment process removes undesirable substances — such as colour, suspended particles, algae, bacteria and viruses. Over the years, the site has seen significant expansion and modernization.

This church was built in 1889 for the West Side Methodists. They soon outgrew this little chapel and, in 1911, they sold it and it became the British Methodist Episcopal Church (originally known as “the coloured people's church”). Today, this diverse congregation continues to carry on the legacy of the original Black families who settled in Grey County.

The Brown Homestead was settled by United Empire Loyalists in the 1780s and ran as a family farm for almost 200 years. Explore our historic site, be inspired by heritage craft demonstrations, learn through hands-on activities and view two new community exhibits. Grab lunch or a snack from Char in the Kitchen and spend time enjoying our pastoral setting.

Burr House, the oldest building in Richmond Hill on original foundation, was constructed in 1820 by Roland Burr. In 1975, it was adapted for the Burr House Tearoom and Craft Shoppe. Today, it hosts the Burr House Spinners and Weavers Guild and The Hill Potters’ Guild. Visit the former shop and tearoom to see examples of fibre and clay work using a variety of techniques and styles.

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Ottawa’s oldest stone building. 2026 is the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Lieutenant Colonel John By in the region and the founding of Bytown. Learn something new about Ottawa's story during the city's 200th anniversary year.

The ByWard Market has been Lowertown’s focal point since 1848. This particular site has served as a market since 1875. The present building is the fifth to house the market. Home to food merchants, specialty boutiques and artisans operating in indoor and outdoor spaces, the ByWard Market Building is a landmark. For Doors Open, enjoy special tours, displays and presentations.

Learn about local train history and explore this station and museum, built in 1908, now an event and rental space. The museum hosts a historical water tower and a restored caboose train car that is being transformed into a museum exhibit that displays the massive restoration project that took place in 1996.

Campbell House — built for William Campbell, the sixth Chief Justice of Upper Canada — is the oldest surviving building from the Town of York. Fifty years ago, it was rescued from demolition and moved to its current location, where it continues to operate as a museum. This vibrant public space inspires and educates visitors through its history and collections.

Join us at Canada Life on Sunday, September 20th, to mark the building’s 100th anniversary and celebrate Spanish-speaking and Latin-American cultures. Explore the Dufferin Avenue lobby exhibit and Canadian art collection, enjoy music, dance, fashion, community booths and bilingual tours, presented in partnership with Simple Reflections for Artists Collective. Fun for all ages!

The Canadian Automotive Museum was established in 1962 to promote the history of the automotive industry and local tourism. It currently showcases the most significant collection of Canadian automotive history worldwide. Located in a former 1920s auto dealership across from Memorial Park in downtown Oshawa, there are more than 70 vehicles on display, including Lightning McQueen from Disney/Pixar’s Cars.

The Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) and the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN), part of the Department of Canadian Heritage, were created in 1972 to advance and promote the conservation of Canada’s heritage collections. The building houses over 20 laboratories, metal and wood workshops and over 100 offices. Don’t miss “Captain Conservation,” an imposing fiberglass sculpture over the front entrance.

This former industrial site is now a 3,962 square-metre (13,000-square-foot) modernized museum featuring artifacts and displays honouring Canadian men and women who served, are serving and who did not return, focusing on Brantford, Brant County and Six Nations, from 1812 to Afghanistan. See also special displays commemorating Canadians in Hong Kong and Walls of Honour for area residents lost in war.

The Interactive Hub at the Canadian Museum of Water is a dynamic space where visitors of all ages can explore humanity's relationship with water through technology, storytelling, science and play. Located within the Midland Cultural Centre, the Hub reflects the museum's mission to position water not simply as a resource, but as a relationship essential to life, culture and community.