With nearly 50,000 items capturing life in Waterloo Region, the collection at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum is the most comprehensive of any local museum in Canada. These artifacts’ origins range from the 1500s to the modern era and are lovingly obtained by, and preserved in, the museum’s state-of-the-art Curatorial Centre. The acquisition and safekeeping of these items provides a comprehensive visual history of the region and its stories. But the effort to preserve the past also serves the community in understanding the present and navigating the future. Explore the Curatorial Centre in the video below.

One of Brampton's best-kept secrets is its picturesque lakes and rivers. Behind the thousands of homes and busy roads, visitors and residents alike will find a wonderful oasis of peaceful lakes and flowing rivers in the Brampton area. Brampton is home to both natural and man-made lakes, including Professor’s Lake, Heart Lake Conservation Area, Loafer’s Lake, Esker Lakes and Norton Place Park. Brampton’s rivers were also used thousands of years ago as transportation routes. Since then, they have been sources of power to drive mills and sources of water for farms. Today, they are a tremendous asset to both the natural landscape and wildlife of Brampton. As part of Digital Doors Open, you are invited to relax and enjoy Brampton’s beauty. Discover their many lakes and rivers by taking this self-guided tour. And, while you’re outside, bring along the Nature Rubbings Activity and discover all the treasures that nature has to offer.

Welcome to the Lester B. Pearson Memorial Theatre, a creative hub for local performing arts groups, schools, education programs, dance recitals and professional presentations. The facility includes a 400-seat auditorium and adjacent studio space. Located in the Brampton Civic Centre, the theatre, affectionately known as LBP, has been home to community organizations and productions since 1973. The venue reopened in October 2019 with enhanced accessibility and health and safety features, upgraded technical equipment, and a more attractive, welcoming space. Take a virtual tour through the video below and learn more about this popular theatre venue.

In 2016, Lett Architects purchased this historical building, which has seen many uses since 1875. Much of the existing interiors, and previous renovations, were demolished and taken down to the original structure, bringing life to a building that had been abandoned for three years. Elements of the original building were re-used, and energy efficient systems were added in the renovation. Learn more about this fascinating structure - and its history - through the video below.

Levi Carroll is best known for a log schoolhouse built in 1820 that was Waterloo’s first educational institution. Once the community outgrew the 5-metre by 6-metre (16-foot by 20-foot) schoolhouse, Carroll lived in it for more than 50 years. This important historical structure now rests in Waterloo Park and provides a backdrop for exploring more about Carroll – an ex-slave from Maryland who, despite the odds, lived into his 90s and was described in his 1897 obituary as “a citizen whom almost everyone knows.” But that familiarity has been lost to time. Author and social historian Joanna Rickert-Hall is working to resurrect Levi Carroll’s narrative and its ties to other lost local stories and important conversations. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below to learn more about Levi Carroll and this iconic landmark.

The Lieutenant Governor's Suite comprises several state rooms and offices inside the northwest wing of the Legislative Building at Toronto’s Queen’s Park. It is the working office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, currently the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell. It is the venue of many significant constitutional events, such as the appointment and resignation of Premiers of Ontario, the swearing-in of cabinet ministers, and the granting of Royal Assent for bills passed by the Legislature. Her Honour hosts foreign heads of state and government, diplomatic and consular representatives, and distinguished visitors in the Suite; it is also a place to host community groups for awards ceremonies, receptions and meetings. During Digital Doors Open, as you learn about the role of the Lieutenant Governor through the above links, enjoy a virtual tour of the Suite in the video below.

Ottawa’s first high school has occupied this prime downtown location alongside the Rideau Canal since 1874. The Gothic revival building has been extended and renovated several times. It has many distinct architectural features – including an impressive 660-seat auditorium that maintains much of its original character, and an attic that students used as a shooting range during the Second World War.

The Local History Branch is an important link to Windsor’s rich and diverse heritage. Located in historical Sandwich, the archives contains information that dates from the late 1700s – including newspapers, magazines, photographs, city directories, yearbooks and a rich collection of published material on the history of Windsor and area. The multimedia collection also includes paper documents (journals, letters, diaries), posters, audio tapes and memorabilia. The branch also contains a variety of genealogical resources – census records, birth, marriage and death records, passenger lists, church registers, cemetery listings and baptismal records. The holdings of the Essex County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society are housed here, too. While this branch is currently closed to the public, the archives remain available so that you can continue to do your research. Simply email us for assistance. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below for an introduction to the genealogist and archivist who are both onsite to answer your questions.

The Lorne Scots Regimental Museum opened in 1980 in what was once the old Brampton firehall. Come and explore the collection of historical and military artifacts that showcases the rich history of the regiment from 1792 to today. After your visit, walk up nearby Carnegie Lane for a preview of the museum’s new home in the former Carnegie Library.

This house was built around 1812 for Jabez Lynde, an early Whitby pioneer. It is a rare example of the Georgian or Loyalist architectural style. It has been a museum since 1972 and was moved to its current location in 2014. Enjoy the digital tour below and learn more about the history of this site.

In 1813, after 19 years as a fur trader with the North West Company, John Macdonell (1768-1850) retired to Hawkesbury Township with his wife, Magdeleine Poitras – a Métis born on the Manitoba section of the Qu'Appelle River – and their children. Macdonell's home, known as Poplar Villa, is a graceful adaptation of the Palladian style. It served as a centre for his milling, general merchandising, warehousing and freight-forwarding business. Macdonell died in Pointe Fortune in 1850. In 1882, the Williamson family bought the house. It remained in the Williamson family until the early 1960s. The Ontario Heritage Trust acquired it in 1978 to save it from demolition, and conducted extensive architectural and archaeological investigations on the property. The site is operated by the Friends of Macdonell-Williamson House/Les Amis de la maison Macdonell-Williamson. For Digital Door Open, explore this unique heritage property and its fascinating history through the video below.

The MacNab Presbyterian Church was completed in 1857 during a cholera epidemic. The exterior is solid stone masonry with an updated slate roof. After the First World War, nine-window stained-glass windows by the Scottish artists William Wilson and James Ballantyne were installed. The sanctuary has stone walls and columns, blonde wood and a magnificent Casavant organ.

Seven generations have farmed the land in Woolwich Township that is now home to Martin’s Family Fruit Farm - one of the largest apple growers, packers and shippers in Canada. While the business has blossomed with innovation and expansion in the past decade, each one of the orchards’ millions of apples is still picked carefully by hand, and locals continue to buy apples in the onsite Orchard Market. With the help of up to 300 employees, the Martins still run this family business, and they do so according to their core values that support their mission of growing for healthy communities. During Digital Doors Open, learn more about this family and their thriving business through the video below.

Freemasons are proud of their heritage and the principles by which they live: brotherly love, relief and truth. The Masonic Hall in Timmins, built in 1915, is governed by the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario and is one of more than 650 lodges in the jurisdiction. Read the Golden Beaver Lodge pamphlet to find out more about the history of Freemasonry in Timmins or view the slideshow to take a virtual tour of the Lodge Room.

Opened in 1922, Windsor's Masonic Temple is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Designed by architect J.C. Pennington in the neoclassical revival style, it was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1995. Many of the furnishings in the lodge rooms date back to the late 1800s. The Temple has a large ballroom and is a popular spot for banquets and meetings.

The McMaster Museum of Art has developed a self-guided walking tour that highlights architecture on the campus, with information about the history, evolution and styles of architecture along the way. Access the tour here, with photographs sourced from McMaster’s digital archives. You can follow the text descriptions or use headphones and be guided by recorded audio.

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection, located on 40 hectares (100 acres) of forested land along the Humber River, is a major public gallery devoted to collecting the art of Canada. Located on the original lands of the Ojibwe Anishinaabe people, the McMichael is uniquely situated along the historical Carrying Place Trail. The McMichael’s permanent collection consists of over 6,500 artworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, their contemporaries, and First Nations, Métis, Inuit and contemporary artists who have contributed to the development of Canadian art. While the McMichael has reopened, there are restrictions in place for visitors. Check their website for details. Digital visits, however, are also encouraged. Explore their eMuseum – a searchable online collection. Wander the grounds – lush forests, a sculpture garden and scenic hiking trails – with the aid of their downloadable map and audio guided tour. For budding young artists, the McMichael offers the ArtVenture Online program, which includes free art activities, videos, tutorials and more. Watch and learn through a series of curatorial talks and virtual studio visits. Take an online art class. Or discover their many educational resources – from virtual classrooms and tours to workshops and teacher retreats. With Digital Doors Open, there is much to see and do.

It is nearly impossible to notice at first glance, but an underground bunker known as MEGHQ-FREEPORT sits along the Grand River in Kitchener’s Schneider Park. Owned by the Region of Waterloo, it was conceived and crafted to serve as a Cold War fallout shelter to protect key officials following a nuclear attack. Now, 55 years after its construction, this unique and crumbling piece of local history is sparking debate about its future. Should it be demolished? Or should the space be restored, preserved and reimagined? As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below for a behind-the-scenes experience of this Cold War fallout shelter.

Merrick Thomas House is a fine example of a settler’s house. This one-and-a-half-storey clapboard structure – with the saltbox roofline typical of its period – is constructed of white pine logs squared into 12-inch-by-12-inch timbers on a fieldstone foundation. The Oakville Historical Society now operates the house as a museum. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this house through the video below, or check out their YouTube playlist for more content.

The Mount Pleasant Community Centre is in a restored historical Canadian Pacific Railway station that has been converted into a cultural facility in the Mount Pleasant Village Square. Shared with the Peel District School Board and the local library, this landmark building is now an integral part of the community, connecting the past with the future. Located in Mount Pleasant Village Square are one-of-a-kind sculptures created for the City of Brampton by renowned artist Ron Baird. As part of Digital Doors Open, join Baird as he speaks up close and personal about The Ghost Train (see the video below) as well as three unique metal structures: Time, Tracks and Trestle Bridge.

Nestled within the large Mount Pleasant community in northwest Brampton is Mount Pleasant Village. Just steps from the GO Train station, this transit-oriented urban village provides a unique experience in Brampton. At the heart of this community is the village, featuring a public square, a playground, art features, spaces to relax and chat, and a reflecting pond that is transformed into a skating rink in the winter. Next to that is the village's landmark cultural and education centre, which includes a community centre (located within a reconstructed Canadian Pacific Railway station), a library and a two-storey elementary school. The Nurturing Neighbourhoods Program aims to connect residents with resources, improve civic engagement and empower residents to play an active role in enhancing their neighbourhood. We want to have meaningful conversations in our neighbourhoods. As part of Digital Doors Open, residents can enjoy a virtual neighbourhood walking experience and share what they love about their neighbourhood and what can be changed using the online survey and mapping tools. Though the city is there to support, the strongest neighbourhoods are made by the people who actually live there.

Located in the northeastern corner of the City of Brampton is the uniquely designed Mount Royal/Pavilion Neighbourhood. Within the centre of this community, residents find natural spaces, a park and two educational facilities. One of Brampton’s most desirable neighbourhoods, and an exclusive community in Castlemore, is just minutes away from downtown Brampton. The Nurturing Neighbourhoods Program aims to connect residents with resources, improve civic engagement and empower residents to play an active role in enhancing their neighbourhood. We want to have meaningful conversations in our neighbourhoods. As part of Digital Doors Open, residents can enjoy a virtual neighbourhood walking experience and share what they love about their neighbourhood and what can be changed using the online survey and mapping tools. Though the city is there to support, the strongest neighbourhoods are made by the people who actually live there.

On its official opening in 1938, the Municipal Building in Timmins was feted in the Porcupine Advance as “one of the most modern municipal centres in Northern Ontario.” Read more from the June 6, 1938 article in the Porcupine Advance. Explore the view from the city hall webcam. And learn about the most recent addition to the city hall – the staircase mural by artist Mique Michelle, completed in 2019 – part of the Indigenous Teachings Murals Project. You can read more about this project in the 2022 Timmins Tourism Guide.

The Museum on the Boyne houses a large collection of household, agricultural, industrial and archival artifacts with exhibits that trace the growth of South Simcoe from its early settlement to present day. It features a 1914 agricultural fair building, an 1865 log house and an 1858 barn. Come for a tour, explore the site and check out the gift shop!

Myseum is Toronto’s museum, complete with engaging programs and experiences that showcase the history, spaces, culture(s), architecture and the people that represent Toronto’s unique place in the world. Myseum is ideally suited to Digital Doors Open because it doesn’t exist in just one place, but in all places throughout the city. Check out their ever-changing events, their unique Quarantine Edition exhibit called Images of Resistance: An Archive of Action (shown below), as well as their many online tours – interactive experiences that you can enjoy from the comfort and safety of your home or in the palm of your hand. Tours include Brought in Bondage, Women of the Ward, the Evergreen Brickworks and a Movie Theatre Tour.