Built in 1876, this beautifully renovated, rural church has been a musical hub to performers from across Canada and around the world. Known originally as the Johnstown Church, the building served its mainly farming congregation for many years until it fell into disrepair and was abandoned. Saved from demolition and restored by former CBC broadcaster Roy Bonisteel (1930-2013), a member of this community, the Old Church became an intimate setting where musical icons and a wealth of local talent have since performed. Its unmatched acoustics make it the ideal space for live music and theatre performances. Today, the venue is also licensed and offers Ontario craft beers and local Prince Edward County wine in addition to its many live performances. Check out their popular The Beer from Here podcast on their YouTube channel. And, to learn more about this unique Digital Doors Open site, watch the Sean Scally video below.

The Old Stone Mill is Ontario’s only surviving pre-1812, fully automated stone gristmill. Built of local stone and timber after inventor OIiver Evans’ design, it has been revitalized by the Delta Mill Society with authentic equipment and enhanced interpretation. Watch the 200-year-old millstones in action. During Doors Open, there will be blacksmithing demonstrations on Saturday and a special quilt display.

This museum has been an art, culture and heritage hub in downtown Orillia for over 25 years. They strive to provide an inclusive space to engage community, inspire creativity and celebrate culture through art and history. During Doors Open, view remnants of the building’s past as a post office and customs house. There’s even a jail cell in the basement!

Operating since 1973, the Osgoode Township Museum presents the story of Ottawa South’s agricultural and rural heritage. The main museum building is a mid-century two-room schoolhouse that holds the collection of nearly 11,000 artifacts. Explore the galleries, gift shop and research library during your visit. Then step outside and wander through the Agricultural Barn and discover their vast farming collection.

The Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) is home to the art and artists of the Ottawa-Gatineau region, now housing a collection that numbers over 1,450 works — including paintings, sculpture, graphic arts, photographs and new media. In April 2018, OAG opened this modern purpose-built space. The gallery explores and reflects on diversity and social change through a spectrum of visual arts practices.

Built in 2011, the design of the Ottawa Humane Society celebrates its strong community values and commitment to the animals. The Shirley Kearns Memorial Adoption Centre was built to provide easy viewing and visiting of animals available for adoption. In the adoption centre, cats, dogs and small animals are housed in separate areas with rooms and enclosures designed to meet the animals’ daily needs. The education centre – a large, open, naturally lit room – hosts a variety of workshops and camps to teach pet owners about responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. In a modern clinic facility, veterinarians provide regular and emergency medical treatment for animals in shelter care. The clinic includes a critical care unit for Ottawa’s neediest animals, an X-ray room and surgery theatre. Before animals are ready for adoption, they are housed in the holding area. Holding is set up with high-volume/high-changeover air handling systems and full sanitary and wash-down facilities to provide maximum sanitation and to prevent the spread of disease. Administration is adjacent to the adoption centre and holding area to allow ease of access for staff and volunteers to the animal areas. The interconnected design promotes a strong connection between staff of various departments, volunteers and the public. During Digital Doors Open, take a virtual tour of the site and learn more about the important work that they do.

The Ottawa Mission, established in 1906, has been at this location since 1912. It comprises a small network of buildings, including the 1861 grey stone building that was designated in 1991. The red-brick structure is the main shelter building where the dormitories are located. Modern extensions have been added over the years, including a hospice, health clinic and learning centre.

The Ottawa Wedding Chapel was built in 1907 and served most of its life as Castor Valley Baptist church. In 2012, it was restored and opened as a venue for weddings and other gatherings. Check out the stunning stained-glass windows, the beautiful woodwork throughout, and the incredible acoustics. They host 45-50 wedding ceremonies of all sizes here each year.

Public Services and Procurement Canada is delighted to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the work taking place at the Parliament Building (Centre Block) as part of this year’s Doors Open Ottawa. Centre Block is a familiar sight to many Canadians. And construction is well underway to restore and modernize it. Doors Open participants will discover Centre Block like never before!

Public Services and Procurement Canada invites you to visit Parliament Hill during Doors Open Ottawa. Although Centre Block is currently closed, visitors can meet subject matter experts on the Hill and get answers to all their questions. Visitors are free to roam to different stations to learn about the rehabilitation of the Centre Block.

Discover how heritage contributes to community and culture. Explore 19th-century buildings, including a historical courthouse and jail. Then see how they are used today as spaces for empathy and creativity. Check out their latest exhibition, All Aboard! The Railways of Peel. Explore treasures from the archives. And enjoy culture talks with Toronto Art Restoration Inc. and Astrosankofa Arts.

Step back in time at the Penetanguishene Centennial Museum & Archives, featuring an original 1875 general store. Discover the logging industry's role in the town's early days and explore Penetanguishene's cultural history. During Doors Open, the Genealogy & History Research Centre and Archives is open, offering a great chance to delve into their extensive collection to discover your family history!

Built in 1920 at the cost of $1 million, the iconic Piggott Building was Hamilton's first skyscraper. The structure employed a steel skeleton rather than load-bearing walls to achieve the height of 64 metres (210 feet) and 18 storeys. With a limestone veneer façade, its design is art deco/Gothic revival with historical features of pointed arch windows, decorative moldings and rib vaulting over the entrance. In the foyer and lobby are facing stained-glass windows set in medieval-style lancets that depict building technology and construction of the Piggott. In addition, there are decorative ceiling tiles and painted murals in the hall and marble on the floors, walls and surrounding the elevator doors. The tower prospered as an office building until the 1970s when it became vacant. After changing hands a number of times, it was slated for demolition. But heritage advocates called for its protection and preservation and the City of Hamilton designated it in 1984 under the Ontario Heritage Act. The stained-glass windows that had disappeared were found in an antique shop and retrieved by the Heritage Hamilton Foundation for $12,000. In the 1990s, the Piggott Building was converted into luxury condos. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below to learn more about the history of this site.

Quinte Waste Solutions is the municipal recycling service that has collected for nine member communities for over 25 years. At its Trenton location – known as the Material Recovery Facility – they process over 50 metric tonnes of household recycling each day. During Digital Door Open, watch the video below to see how recycling works - from curbside collection to the sorting line to the finished bales of recycled materials that are then sold to companies for new uses.

Join this unique tour of Belleville sites that have had new power systems installed and learn more about these renewable power sources – such as solar panels and new power systems. We start with the Meyers Pier and the Water Treatment Plant, which boast rooftop solar panels. Next is the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre, which has both an extensive solar rooftop array as well as power converters that send AC back to the grid. In addition, the Centre uses Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems – which produce both electricity and heat from a single fuel source onsite. In addition to reducing emissions, CHP systems also improve energy efficiency (up to 90 per cent in some locations), which also means lower costs. Finally, check out Belleville Transit, the Sewage Plant and the City of Belleville’s Human Resources building for more examples of renewable power sources. Learn more about CHP systems here. And, as part of Digital Doors Open, explore these sites – with their aerial views and photos.

Research Casting International is one of the world’s largest providers of museum technical services — specializing in the fabrication of paleontology displays. Their services include specimen mounting and restoration, molding and casting, exhibit fabrication and more. During Doors Open, come and check out some of their current projects, explore their facility and watch the team work on these fascinating displays.

The RiverBrink Art Museum is a fine-art museum, open since 1983, featuring changing exhibitions from the renowned art collection of lawyer Samuel E. Weir (the museum is his former home), as well as outstanding works on loan from contemporary artists and Canadian and international collections. Exhibitions change throughout the year. There is also a library and gift shop onsite.

Located in the old post office building, the Sault Ste. Marie Museum showcases artifacts that illustrate the city’s history. Over three floors of exhibit space and one and a half floors of archival space, exhibits include the Walter Wallace Military Gallery, Skylight Gallery, Marine Gallery, Music Gallery, Sports Gallery and the Durham Gallery, which features rotating exhibits. As part of Digital Doors Open, take a self-guided walking tour of this site using the On This Spot app (download from the App Store or Google play) or watch the video below to learn more about this site.

Come and learn about Sault Ste. Marie through this informative walking tour and hear some of the fascinating stories behind many of the city’s iconic buildings — including the Algonquin Hotel, Precious Blood Cathedral, the cenotaph, the Old Stone House and Blockhouse, the Sault Ste. Marie Museum, the courthouse, several banks, the former YMCA and the Memorial Tower. As part of Digital Doors Open, take a self-guided walking tour of this site using the On This Spot app (download from the App Store or Google play).

Visit this unique museum to view collections that show how scouting contributed to Canada’s heritage while helping to develop youth into valued citizens. See displays of photos, uniforms, badges, scrapbooks, diaries and other memorabilia. The museum also houses their own amateur radio station (VE3SHQ), which allows youth to participate in the largest on-air and on-the-internet scout gatherings in the world.

Curious about where Seaforth’s drinking water comes from? Come and tour the Seaforth Water Treatment Plant to see how water from three wells is tested, treated and made safe and reliable to drink. Explore the pipes, treatment process and computerized monitoring system that ensures clean water flows from the plant to your tap. Note: Closed-toe shoes required for the tour.

The Senate of Canada Building is full of history, art, architecture and parliamentary treasures. It is the Senate’s temporary home in downtown Ottawa, while its permanent home (the Centre Block building with the Peace Tower) is closed for major rehabilitation work. Over the years, this building has hosted many important national events (the repatriation of the Canadian constitution) and has served many different functions (it opened in 1912 as a train station). Today, as the temporary home of the Senate, you can explore — through this virtual tour — where the Senate works.

At 856 seats, the Festival Theatre is the Shaw's largest venue. Built in the modernist style, it was designed to provide a spacious yet intimate audience experience. While touring backstage, you will hear stories from docents about the history of the theatre, the ensemble, and secrets of the 2024 season. Come and learn about the importance of real human connection!

This 1885-86 building in the heart of Dundas has been a foundry, indoor skating/curling rink, bus depot, warehouse and, since 2016, this brewery. The wood post-and-beam/brick masonry structure has been preserved yet modernized with the latest in craft beer equipment. The brewery focuses on German-style lagers with an emphasis on quality and authenticity.

This museum brings history to life for visitors of all ages. Step back in time and explore the evolution of life in Simcoe County through interactive galleries, heritage buildings and an extensive artifact collection. Nestled within 132 hectares (327 acres) of lush, forested grounds, it boasts a remarkable collection of over 30,000 artifacts spanning from prehistoric eras to modern times.