Experience the birthplace of the telephone at the Bell Homestead National Historic Site. Tour the furnished family home of the Bell family from 1870 to 1881, where Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1874. The site also features the Henderson House, Canada’s first telephone business office from 1877, and an exhibit gallery showcasing early telecommunications.

The Belleville Art Association is an artistic community committed to educate, create and exhibit. Showcasing award-winning local artists as well as exciting new creators, their monthly shows bring together stunning visual works, handcrafted pieces and innovative designs. Whether you are looking to enrich your collection or searching for that unique gift, their art is sure to inspire and delight.

This facility is a community resource centre that provides hands-on instruction about street, pedestrian, fire, rail and internet safety skills for children, youth, teens and their parents. Over 150 local businesses, service organizations and individuals contributed either time, money or both to build it. The village features miniature buildings with detailed roadways, traffic lights, operational railway crossings and mini vehicles.

Constructed in 1872-73 by architect John D. Evans (the builder was John Forin) as Belleville’s market building and town hall, this attractive structure — with its tall clock tower — has dominated the downtown landscape for over 150 years. Architect Bill White’s imaginative renovations (1987-88) preserved many original interior architectural features, while adding 929 square metres (10,000 square feet) of new space.

This fascinating, modern fire station houses administration, communication and fire prevention services. There is a museum attached that shows the history of Belleville fire services, where you can explore memorabilia and view the interesting Loyalty, Tradition and Progress exhibit. You can also see the Firefighter Memorial Rose Garden outside the main entrance, which was unveiled on September 11, 2022.

The Belleville Masonic Temple was built in 1950 to provide a new meeting place for community events for the then-four active lodges and their concordant bodies. This hall can seat up to 150 guests and contains a fully serviced kitchen and a fully licensed bar. During Doors Open, enjoy this rare opportunity to explore inside a Masonic temple.

First occupied by the Calvary Church, this building has housed the synagogue since 1946. Named for Ezekiel Cadesky, a Russian immigrant who settled here in the early 1900s, the structure draws from the tradition of simple, turn-of-the-20th-century Georgian meeting halls. Intricate stained-glass windows tell the story of many member families. Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1990.

Betty’s Marketplace was founded out of a love for local businesses, meaningful products and community connection. What began as a vision to unite unique local finds has grown into a vibrant marketplace where shoppers and sellers connect beyond a single transaction. Proudly supporting small businesses, it is a welcoming hub where entrepreneurs shine and quality products are discovered.

Celebrate the York Regional Forest at this innovative building that creates more energy than it uses. Functioning as the hub for York Region Forestry’s educational programming, this centre was built using local and recycled materials. In 2018, the building became the first LEED Platinum-certified building in Canada. During Doors Open, visit the displays and take a tour of the facility.

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.

For the first time since taking possession of the Bishop's House in 2026, Glengarry Fencibles Trust can host guests with accessibility needs. Please note that because of the front lawn's rolling topography/stone retaining wall, the lift is accessed via the 4739 Frog Hollow Road entrance. There, guests will also find parking and a veranda that opens to the central hallway.

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.

Dating from 1813, this pioneer cemetery represents over 200 years of settlement in Westminster Township, with monuments by local artisans. Historical research has revealed fascinating stories behind those buried here, including early settlers and War of 1812 veterans. Ground Penetrating Radar surveys have also uncovered numerous unmarked graves. Learn about Victorian symbolism through self-guided or personal tours. Enjoy musical performance!

Bridge Street United Church is a welcoming and active community in Belleville. This historical church is the second building constructed for a Methodist congregation dating to 1815. An earlier church, built in 1884, was the site of the union of Methodist denominations. Bridge Street continues its tradition of worship, outreach and fellowship as “a church with a heart of the village.”

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.