The 420 Wing has been in operation since 1948 when returning Air Force veterans formed a "Wing," as did many other cities and towns across Canada. Offering support and encouragement to the Royal Canadian Air Cadet squadrons and individuals involved in various aspects of aviation, it remains a fully accessible vital organization. Light refreshments will be available while supplies last.

Previously the Genosha Hotel, this designated building has an illustrious history. During the Second World War, James Bond creator Ian Fleming was a frequent visitor here. It also hosted several future CIA directors, including J. Edgar Hoover, before they were secretly sent overseas. Additionally, the Canadian rock band Rush performed here. The site has been redeveloped as luxury apartments.

Balfour House is Hamilton’s last great escarpment estate. Several prominent Hamiltonians have called it home since 1836, most recently the family of St. Clair Balfour. Owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust and managed by the City of Hamilton, the building and garden are spectacular. Exhibits related to the commitment to music of the Southam family will be on display.

Established in 1940, the Biltmore Theatre was built by the Okum Bros. of Toronto. Under different names over the years, it has operated as a movie theatre, nightclub and music venue. When the last movie house here closed in 1989, the site was renovated to what you see today — a public hall for touring concerts, special events and community rentals.

The Canadian Automotive Museum was established in 1962 to promote the history of the automotive industry and tourism in the area. Currently, it is home to the world's most significant collection of Canadian vehicles. Located in a former 1920s auto dealership building across from Memorial Park, more than 70 vehicles are on display —including Lighting McQueen from Disney/Pixar’s Cars.

The former Alger Press Building was renovated and refurbished in 2010 by Ontario Tech University. Today, it is one of the university's key academic hubs. Charles Hall's features include extensive classroom spaces, lecture halls, research labs and common areas for students and faculty. It also houses the faculties of Social Science and Humanities, as well as the Education Library.

This church opened in 1892. The adjacent Hannah Public School was purchased in 1906 and served as the parish hall until it was destroyed by fire in 1990. Drawn to service, the congregation decided to build an affordable housing complex on the site. Today, the church has a thriving connection to music in the church and community.

Opened in 1956, the Dundas Museum & Archives is a private, non-profit museum that collects, interprets and celebrates the unique identity of the Valley Town. As part of Doors Open Hamilton, they welcome the public to tour its permanent galleries. As well, you can visit the historical c. 1848 Doctor's Office and the 1873 Pirie House.

Durham College — Oshawa Campus, a leader in teaching and learning, boasts a vibrant campus culture, serving more than 13,700 full-time and 14,600 professional and part-time students. During Doors Open, guided campus tours (registration required) will showcase the campus and its state-of-the-art learning spaces. If you can’t make it on May 4, register for their May 7 Program Information Night.

The East Flamborough Township Hall is a masterpiece of adaptive reuse. Almost all the original features of the original Georgian building were restored while the interior was sensitively reworked to provide comfortable office space for legal and financial offices (Brown Lawyers and Brown Financial Security respectively), while still displaying the architectural features of the original building.

Oshawa’s newest fire station is a 992-square-metre (10,675-square-foot) single-storey building, designed to complement the historical legacy of Windfields Farm. Built on the former Windfields Farm land (the birthplace of champion racehorse Northern Dancer), the building also reflects the area's agricultural history. Tour this unique space, explore a collection of Windfields Farm memorabilia and view fire safety information.

Situated in a park-like setting, Grace Anglican Church is known for many things: the beautiful building, the surrounding cemetery and its wide-ranging charitable works. The sanctuary has been updated many times to include stained glass, an organ and other details. The grand hall offers community functions, often including music. This idyllic small-town community church thrives in Waterdown.

The Halo Studio is a one-of-a-kind recording studio that offers professional audio engineering services in the heart of downtown Hamilton. Their custom-built live room offers outstanding tone and the perfect vibes for creating great projects. Their control room also boasts the perfect listening environment, featuring a console that has recorded Bruce Springsteen and Kanye West.

Tisdale House is the oldest home in Ancaster. In the 1820s, the building was occupied by "Charcoal Burner" John O’Neil and housed two charcoal kilns. Later, the house became an undertaker’s parlour run by George Moore. The house has been fully retrofitted and is now home to the Ancaster Community Policing Centre and the Hamilton Police Museum.

The Port of Oshawa is Durham Region's gateway to the world, handling more than 500 vessels carrying over 3 million metric tons of cargo. Oshawa is one of the few cities that has an airport, rail lines, a deep-sea port and a 400-series highway all within proximity, offering importers and exporters a competitive edge. Come and join this shuttle-bus tour.

The Islamic Centre of Oshawa is the first purpose-built mosque built in Oshawa. Reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire, it features ornamental crescent moons in the main prayer hall dome and the dome atop the minaret. Over the years, Muslims and non-Muslims have used the premises for meetings, lectures, studies and community and educational purposes. Shoes must be removed to enter.

Following the Presbyterian tradition, Knox in Waterdown is an important community hub responding to the needs of the parish. The older Georgian hall is used for food service and community gatherings. The Edwardian sanctuary is fitted out with a stage and a full set of musical instruments that are played for Sunday mass, as well as other occasions.

This innovative concert hall has a virtual acoustic system. It advances research on human interaction and music's impact on health. It is also used to assist Parkinson's patients, improve music listening for the hard of hearing, and enhance creativity in performances. This acclaimed national treasure offers a unique contribution to understanding the power of music. Limited availability. Registration required.

The Oshawa Union Cemetery, formerly Thornton's Burying Ground, is the final resting place of many famous individuals from Oshawa and Canada. Recently designated, the site spans 12 hectares and includes private mausoleums and a Gothic-revival chapel. Enjoy a walking tour of 1920s Oshawa available at 2 p.m., courtesy of the Oshawa Museum, starting at the King Street Gates.

An 1876 murder ... the killer hanged ... rumours of a ghost. Historical facts or backdrop for great theatre? The Players’ Guild of Hamilton has been a leader in the local community theatre scene since 1875, making it North America’s oldest community theatre group. Enjoy guided tours and a cash bar (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages). Open rehearsals may also occur.

The Regent Theatre's façade, built in 1919 for Famous Players theatres, has Georgian architectural lines. One of the town's few remaining examples of this classically inspired style, the building reopened in 2010 as a lecture theatre for Ontario Tech University, as well as for community and cultural events. Still in use for film screenings, the site has been sensitively restored.

The Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG) was founded in 1967, expanded in 1987 and designated in 2024. It is the largest public art gallery in Durham Region with a collection of over 4,700 works, focusing on the continuing story of Canadian abstraction. During Doors Open Oshawa, try some hands-on artmaking from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

This outdoor, city-owned area, run by the Friends of Second Marsh, connects people with nature through interpretative, educational and stewardship services. It is a coastal wetland that features marshes, meadows and woodlot habitats. Visitors arrive at the adjacent McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve. Discover this incredible natural area that is unknown to most citizens of Oshawa.

Founded in 1826, St. Andrew's has been at the heart of the historical Ancaster Village for almost 200 years. The stone Gothic revival church was completed in 1875; the bell dates from 1835. There were renovations in 1961 and 1990, then again in 2018. The main entrance was redesigned and an elevator was installed.

St. John's Anglican Church is a Gothic revival structure in a beautiful park setting. It has a thriving choir and offers many community activities. The original wooden church burned down in 1868, replaced in 1869 by this local stone building, which is noted for its red front doors, central square tower, magnificent stained-glass windows and interior.