Many famous people from Oshawa's and Canada's past are interred in the Oshawa Union Cemetery, formerly Thornton's Burying Ground. Oshawa Museum’s podcast below highlights the history of the cemetery. Today, the site covers 12 hectares (32 acres) and includes private mausoleums and a Gothic-revival chapel. The central mausoleum was built in 1924 and features an ornate marble interior and hand-painted stained-glass windows. As part of Digital Doors Open, explore the online interactive map – a new, searchable resource of burials. The gravestones are also of particular interest: explore the iconography on the monuments and learn about the rare white bronze markers. Listen to a video podcast about Oshawa in the 1860s and learn the story of local blacksmith Captain George Prentice and his involvement in the Fenian Raids.

The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens is a unique attraction. It combines the dedicated gardens of the Parkwood National Historic Site with the scenic terrain of the Oshawa Valley Creek Trail system. A collaboration between students from Durham College’s School of Media Art & Design and TeachingCity, this park features a virtual experience for desktop and mobile. Explore the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens in person or online through QR codes, virtual tours, and point-to-point trail animations. (For Digital Doors Open, you can also watch the YouTube video below on the City’s Virtual Peony Festival.) This immersive experience brings together the beauty of the park with information on the art, history and contributors of its many sites. TeachingCity brings together the City of Oshawa and its teaching and research partners – Canadian Urban Institute, Durham College, Ontario Tech University, Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area, and the University of Toronto’s Facility of Applied Science & Engineering. The partners focus on and address Oshawa’s urban issues through innovation, collaboration, applied research and shared experiential learning opportunities.

Parkwood National Historic Site was home to R.S. McLaughlin and his family. The 55-room mansion is surrounded by a 4-hectare (12-acre) garden. Watch this video for an overall introduction to the site, or view a slideshow of the McLaughlin family enjoying the gardens. In the 1920s, H.B. and L.A. Dunington-Grubb, founders of Sheridan Gardens, created spectacular outdoor garden rooms – including the distinct Sunken Garden and Italian Garden, as well as the Pergola and Sundial Garden. In 1935-36, John Lyle created the Formal Garden, with its terrace, fountains and art deco-style pavilion. Below, Ken Shaw narrates Khaki at Parkwood: Whiskey, Espionage and the Maple Leaf – a dramatization of the McLaughlins and their wartime connection to Camp X, another Digital Doors Open Oshawa site. Note: Parkwood has now reopened for tours. Please visit their website for full details.

The building that now holds the Penetanguishene Centennial Museum and Archives was constructed in 1875 by Carl Beck. Its original function was a general company store for the workers in Beck’s nearby sawmills, and it carried everything from hardware to groceries. The Beck Company employees were paid partly in cash and partly in Beck tokens, which were only redeemable at this store and another similar one on Main Street, a method of payment that increased the company profits. At this museum, you will find Simcoe County's oldest car, a turn-of-the-century general store and other exhibits. This rectangular two-storey building still stands on its original site. Come and learn about the history of one of Ontario's oldest communities. While the museum is currently open, visitation is limited and visitors are encouraged to pre-book their visit through email or phone. For Digital Doors Open, however, explore the site through the video below.

The RiverBrink Art Museum is a fine-art museum featuring changing exhibitions from the renowned art collection of Samuel E. Weir, as well as outstanding works on loan from contemporary artists and Canadian and international collections. Current exhibitions will feature Indigenous beadwork by Samuel Thomas and oil portraits by Mark Crofton Bell. There is also a library and gift shop onsite.

The Rizzardo Health & Wellness Centre is an innovative health and wellness hub that is transforming how health care is delivered. The purpose of the Centre is to encourage health and wellness, connect with the community, foster a connection to nature, provide safe, accessible and comfortable social spaces, and support environmental responsibility. In this space, health-care providers and services are brought together to provide an integrated and optimized health-care system for the community. Services include family medicine, dentistry, chiropractic, physiotherapy, radiology, pharmacy, health and wellness programs, and more. (Check out the video below, as part of Digital Doors Open, to learn more about the Centre.) It is also home to the Horodynsky Community Kitchen and the Stewart and Betty Fisher Family Community Room. These multipurpose community spaces support the programs offered through the Centre, and are available to community members for business and social rentals. To learn more about the health-care services or virtual health and wellness programs available, visit their website. Or download this Healthy Habits Tracker and children’s activities – with colouring pages, games and more!

The Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is the largest botanical garden in Canada, a National Historic Site, and registered charitable organization with a mandate to bring together people, plants and nature. Recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, RBG plays a vital role in this region, protecting and preserving 1,100 hectares (2,700 acres) of environmentally sensitive areas (including nature sanctuaries, cultivated gardens and an arboretum), to improve the ecosystem from Lake Ontario to the Niagara Escarpment. Through displays, research, tours, demonstrations, trails and conservation activities, the RBG teaches us all about the importance of plants and nature, and how best to become environmental stewards in our own communities. Download a map before you visit, and watch this video to learn about their COVID-19 protocols. The robust RBG at Home program offers videos and activities for all ages. There are lots of activities for families, teachersand life-long learners. Check out the variety of educational virtual events, too. For Digital Doors Open, watch the video below to go behind the scenes of RBG with volunteer archivist and author, Marie Minaker. Learn about when the archives were created and see some of the rare items in RBG's archival collection!

At Scotsdale Farm, you'll have lots of room to hike, enjoy a relaxing picnic, or just get away from it all. A working farm, Scotsdale presents visitors with 215 hectares (531 acres) of pastoral countryside. Superb hiking trails run through the farm's rolling hills and woodlands. The Bruce Trail and the Bennett Heritage Trail cross the property, offering hikers hours of scenic enjoyment in this Niagara Escarpment park. (The special natural heritage features of the Niagara Escarpment prompted the United Nations to designate the escarpment a World Biosphere Reserve.) Scotsdale Farm was bequeathed to the Ontario Heritage Trust by Stewart and Violet (Letty) Bennett in 1982. Bennett had developed Scotsdale into an internationally renowned breeding farm for his Arabian horses and shorthorn beef cattle. As part of Digital Doors Open, explore this magnificent property through the video below.

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 2022 season. Come and learn about the importance of real human connection!

Come and tour Spadina House and discover the home of the Austin family from 1866 to 1982. Period rooms contain furniture and decorative details from the 1920s and 1930s. Co-owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust and the City of Toronto, this site includes a kitchen garden, an orchard and the newly created Aki Wiidookaagewin "Ontario Earth Helpers" Indigenous kitchen garden. (No tripods allowed.)

The original 1794 church was burned by the American army during the War of 1812. A new church was later erected, but was also destroyed by a cyclone. In 1855, the current building was constructed. While major restorations have occurred over the years, the interior and exterior of this architectural gem appear much the same as the 1831 building.

St. Mark's is the oldest Anglican church in continuous use in Ontario. Completed in 1804, it was damaged in the War of 1912. The original balconies necessitated the unusual high pulpits. The 1840 East Window is the oldest stained glass in the province and, with the other windows, form the finest collection of stained glass in Ontario.

The Grange, located in the historical Robinson-Adamson House, tells its unique story through the many fascinating characters who have owned it over the years. Built for the first Chief Justice of Upper Canada, Sir John Beverley Robinson, the Ontario Regency-style architecture and high-quality craftsmanship supported the importance of this building to the area. Changing hands several times, The Grange was eventually deeded to the City of Mississauga in 1978 and restored. It was designated in 1982 as a significant historical and architectural landmark, and is today home to Heritage Mississauga. During Digital Doors Open, there are many experiences that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Download their heritage-themed comic books and learn more about the history of Mississauga from a unique perspective. Discover local history through their Digital Oral History Projects. Download a self-guided walking tour and explore the many historical areas within the city. Follow on their blog for upcoming online events, question-and-answer sessions with local historians, discussions on local history, and more. And check out their extensive video anthology to learn more about the majestic Credit River, Mississauga’s Indigenous heritage, remembrances of the 1979 Mississauga train derailment, and much more!

The Rose is a magnificent performing arts venue and iconic feature of downtown Brampton. A vital part of the city, it is a destination for local and world-renowned performers, providing opportunities for culture lovers from Brampton and beyond to experience a wide range of talent in an extraordinary setting. Architecturally and acoustically sublime, the venue boasts two performance venues for large shows and intimate experiences. The Rose is where Brampton comes to life. As part of Digital Doors Open, take an exclusive backstage tour of the facility in the video below.

This house, which was converted into a public library in the 1970s under the direction of restoration architect Napier Simpson Jr., fits comfortably into Colborne Street’s historical streetscape. The library was featured in Deborah Kerbel’s 2010 ghost story, Lure. The ghost of Ellen Ramsden, the building’s original owner, is said to make an appearance from time to time. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below to learn more about the site.

Tommy Thompson Park, just minutes away from downtown Toronto, is a unique urban wilderness that offers some of the best bird watching in the city – with more than 300 species. The Leslie Street Spit – the land on which this park now stands – was entirely manmade, composed of landfill, concrete, bricks and rebar. Today, this 250-hectare park (617 acres) is operated by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. It has become an oasis for walkers and cyclists, and remains the habitat of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. As part of Digital Doors Open, download their birder’s checklist, read their research reports on breeding birds, explore the site through the video below, and watch the acclaimed documentary (from CBC’s The Nature of Things, 44:18).

The Toronto Railway Museum, located in the heart of the historical John Street Roundhouse, is a National Historic Site. The Roundhouse was constructed in 1929 by the Canadian Pacific Railway to house and repair its large fleet of passenger locomotives travelling through Union Station. It was an active industrial building – in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week – where steam locomotives were serviced around the clock. In its prime, the John Street locomotive facilities contained 43 structures and several miles of track and covered nearly 6.5 hectares (16 acres). Rail activity at the Roundhouse began to dwindle in 1960s when diesel locomotives began to replace steam, and it eventually closed in 1986. The western portion of the park closest to the Roundhouse features the original, fully restored and operational 37-metre (120-foot) long locomotive turntable. Immediately north of this is a carefully chosen collection of full-sized railway equipment, which now makes up part of the Toronto Railway Museum’s collection. The museum tells the stories of Toronto’s railways through static and interactive exhibits inside Stall 17, as well as by leading guided tours through the rolling stock and rail buildings in the collection (visit the website for details on in-person tours when it is once again safe to do so). For Digital Doors Open, explore this fascinating museum through its many online activities (puzzles, scavenger hunt, colouring pages and an audio guide), or learn more about the history of the site and of our railway heritage through their extensive YouTube collection.

The Toronto Zoo – Canada’s largest zoo, at 287 hectares (709 acres), with over 5,000 animals – has a mission to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction. And that mission has never been more important. While the site was closed due to COVID-19, the Zoo quickly enhanced its online engagement to remain connected with the public. Social media and online storytelling grew significantly, with animal photos and videos keeping everyone connected to their favourite animals. Now safely reopened (see the video below for more information), the Zoo has implemented strict new guidelines – including designated one-way routes, hand-sanitizing stations, mandatory face coverings in most areas, and mandatory advanced ticketing with pre-booked time slots required. Should you visit, check out the new Scenic Safari Drive Thru, Camping at the Zoo, the Wild Encounters behind-the-scenes program, and the return of the successful Terra Lumina: An Enchanted Night Walk. But you can also still enjoy a rich digital experience at the Zoo, including lots of home activities, a new downloadable map, educator resources, Wild for Life podcasts and much more! Don’t forget to join them on Facebook Live at 1 p.m. daily when one of the zoo’s expert keepers will introduce you to one of the animals. Check the website for full details.

As part of Digital Doors Open, you can follow along with knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides from the Guelph Hiking Trail Club as they explore the new Radial Line Trail from downtown Guelph to the Arboretum in the virtual tour below. Starting at the Covered Bridge, you will follow the path of the old Guelph–Toronto Suburban Railway. See the new walking bridge, which was funded by the Trail Club campaign, find out about the flora and fauna along the way, and climb the limestone cliffs. You can end your hike by wandering the 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) of trails and explore the amazing collection of trees at the Arboretum. Experience this hike digitally from the comfort of your own home.

The stunning Warsaw Caves, located near Peterborough and operated by Otonabee Conservation, were created by glacial activity over 10,000 years ago. Today, they offer some of the province’s best spelunking opportunities. Due to COVID-19, however, the caves and the cave trail remain closed. But all other trails – as well as camping and canoeing – are available. The Warsaw Caves Conservation Area has a number of downloadable resources – including maps for hiking and camping, plus detailed brochures for canoeing and spelunking. During Digital Doors Open, explore the caves and the cave trail through the video below.

Waterloo’s first educational institution was a simple log schoolhouse, built in 1820. As the region expanded and outgrew the school’s modest capacity, this 5-metre by 6-metre (16-foot by 20-foot) structure served as a residence for the next 50 years. This important landmark now rests in Waterloo Park. Thanks to the efforts of many individuals and collectives over its 200-year history, it continues to serve the community. Among its many admirers is social historian Joanna Rickert-Hall who has written extensively about this historical gem and its relationship to other important local narratives. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below for a behind-the-scenes experience of this historical gem.

The Waters Passive House is the most energy-efficient home in Innisfil. Built in 2015, the house combines thick insulated walls, low air leakage, south-facing windows, energy-efficient windows, and a ventilation system for energy efficiency. Fun fact: The house has no furnace and is heated entirely by the heat generated by appliances, warm bodies, and the sun shining through the windows! It also has a 5-kilowatt solar generating system that provides electricity. (This video explains how this system was installed.) There are also lush natural gardens surrounding the house. So, what is a passive house? Watch this video for a 90-second explanation!

Westfield Heritage Village, a living history museum, consists of over 35 restored historical buildings dating from the early 1800s. Various building types are positioned as a small village within a natural conservation area of over 202 hectares (500 acres). The village was started by two high school teachers – D. Glenn Kilmer and Golden L. MacDonell – who purchased the original 12-hectare (30-acre) site to create an outdoor museum preserving 19th-century rural life. They purchased their first building, the Jerseyville Train Station, outbidding a local farmer who wanted it for his farm as an outbuilding. Six more buildings were added before it was officially opened in 1964. Some 30 buildings later, the village is a thriving cultural centre that features educational programs and events year-round. Take a virtual tour of this spectacular site in the video below.

The Westover property (also known as Williams Caves) is located on the west side of Isthmus Bay on the northern Bruce Peninsula. The property is owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust and managed by the Bruce Trail Conservancy. The most significant features on the Westover property are four distinct sea caves created by wave action, which extend into the main escarpment bluff. As part of Digital Doors Open, take a virtual hike along this part of the Bruce Trail and see this property from the air by watching the video below.

In 1927, R.S. McLaughlin (President of General Motors Canada) established these lands as Parkwood Stables and sold it in 1950 to E.P. Taylor, who bred championship horses at Windfields Farm. Ontario Tech University now owns the land. The Windfields Farm Legacy aims to preserve and educate by telling the story of E.P. Taylor, Northern Dancer, Northern Dancer Cemetery, Trillium Cemetery and the Windfields Stone House. Northern Dancer, one of the most recognized names in horse racing to this day, was a Windfields Farm-born, Canadian-bred thoroughbred racehorse who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness stakes, among other races, and became the most successful sire of the 20th century. He is the only equine to be inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Northern Dancer’s death.