Step into the shoes of Sir Frederick Banting, a national hero renowned for his groundbreaking discovery of insulin. Through guided tours and expert commentary, you will discover Banting’s significant contributions to art, medicine and military research. Explore the lesser-known aspects of Banting’s legacy through the Forty for Forty Ink exhibit, which showcases items rarely displayed to the public.

This former schoolhouse serving School Section No. 18 was built in 1877 in the classic one-room schoolhouse form. The round arch windows on the front add a touch of Romanesque revival and Italianate styles to an otherwise utilitarian structure. Now used as a community centre, the school was closed in the 1960s with the introduction of centralized schools and bussing.

Discover the Brick Street Cemetery, a cherished pioneer site in London restored to its former glory. Delve into the lives of some of Westminster Township’s earliest settlers with optional guided and self-guided tours. Educational activities are provided for historians old and young, from learning stone masonry to deciphering Christian gravestone symbolism. Become a volunteer to help them preserve their heritage.

One of the most historical and important buildings in Cambridge, Historic City Hall was built in 1857-58. For 167 years, it has been a centre of administrative life for Galt (now Cambridge). City councils have met here since 1858. Explore the second-floor Archives Research Room, gallery, Cambridge Hall of Fame and wedding space, and the third-floor council chambers.

Located on the shore of Muskoka Bay, this site originally contained a small hotel before the Calydor Sanatorium was built to treat tuberculosis sufferers. From 1940 to 1946, it became a German prisoner-of-war camp. Today, the site holds a privately developed subdivision and a public walking trail along the shore with interpretive panels showing the property’s history.

Public School S.S. No. 20, built in 1869, replaced an earlier log schoolhouse to serve the local Mennonite and Presbyterian communities. The current structure is a particularly handsome and well-preserved example of the single-room Victorian-era schoolhouse. Home to students for almost 100 years, it was closed in the 1960s. but continues to serve the local community as a meeting facility.

Visit the London Public Library for a day of hands-on activities! Take a photo with a historical London backdrop, record a digital note for the archives, and explore the Wolf Performance Hall on a behind-the-scenes tour. Discover their exhibits filled with historical photographs, artifacts and documents. Children can also engage in crafts and try out the new outdoor musical instruments. (Photo: Scott Webb)

Discover how dance has shaped London’s local history. Put on your dancing shoes and join this unforgettable dance party. Watch an engaging demonstration showing how the Lindy Hop and West Coast Swing have evolved from social dances of the 1920s-30s and learn the basic steps of swing dance. Then try your new moves alongside vibrant live music.

When criminal charges are laid, young victims and witnesses in Waterloo Region, Guelph and Wellington County are referred to the Child Witness Program. Here, the team ensures that these children, youth and their families are supported throughout the process, with services tailored to each person’s needs. The Child Witness Centre is a partner of the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre.

The Child Youth Advocacy Centre is an innovative wraparound support space that brings a team together to serve children, youth and their caregivers during one of the most trying times of their lives. This trauma-informed haven supports children who share their truth in a supportive and caring environment with an assigned advocate who walks this difficult journey with them.

Experience the magic of Clayworx with captivating wheel throwing demonstrations, pottery displays and hands-on clay activities for all ages. As the home of the London Potters Guild, the historical 1897 building was the only guild-owned and -operated facility in Canada that is dedicated to the clay arts. Through guided tours, discover how the space evolved into a spectacular arts facility.

Den 1880 is a vibrant workspace and event hub housed in a beautifully restored historical bank that previously housed police headquarters, Communitech Data Hub and insurance companies. Today, it offers co-working, private offices and stunning event spaces — blending modern function with timeless style. The entire first floor will be open — including the lobby, theatre, library, meeting rooms and podcast studio.

The Detweiler Meetinghouse was built with fieldstone in 1855 and restored to its original in the 1990s. The interior matches what are now Old Order Mennonite meetinghouses. Its amazing acoustics are enjoyed by musicians and singers — and audiences — at public summer music events. In this lovely rural setting is also the adjacent Roseville Mennonite Cemetery, active since c. 1834.

Come to Fanshawe Pioneer Village to experience what daily life was like for Londoners between 1820-1920. Enjoy vintage games, try family chores and learn about trades. Try out a historical printing press and take home your creation as a printer's apprentice. Hindu Legacy adds to the excitement with a spectrum of offerings of interactive cultural activities and educational sessions.

An 1897 fire destroyed Gravenhurst’s town hall and firehall at the corner of First and Brock streets; they were rebuilt that year. In 1969, a municipal building opened at the corners of First and Harvie streets for police/fire services and town staff. Although the town staff later moved to a new building, fire and police services have continued here.

Discover the rich history of this beloved church nestled in the heart of London. Enjoy guided tours of its storied halls and grounds. Immerse yourself in the grandeur of its heritage as organ performances echo throughout the day. Join them for a journey through time and faith, exploring the timeless beauty and significance of their historical sanctuary.

This museum was started by Andy and Lotty van Kasteren, who collected dairy memorabilia since immigrating to Canada in the 1950s. They built the current structure, which was purchased by Gay Lea Foods in 2008. Located on 40 hectares (98 acres) of Carolinian forest, the site hosts school groups, family reunions, community living groups and more with events year-round.

This single-storey board-and-batten one-room schoolhouse was Public School S.S. No. 2 and the focal point for the early German Mills settlement. It’s set back from the main road on the schoolhouse’s original lot and surrounded by lawn and rows of spruce trees planted in the late 1890s. The school was closed in 1962 and is today a local community centre.

Step back in time to the world of a typical grandmother’s wartime kitchen. Learn about how “Gramma” contributed to the war effort through rationing. Discover what kinds of roles women played during wartime — not just in the kitchens but in the fields. As part of Doors Open, explore this kitchen and try some tasty delights from Canada and Great Britain.

A cornerstone of Muskoka’s arts scene since 1901, the Gravenhurst Opera House is considered the birthplace of summer theatre in Canada. With its distinctive architecture, original proscenium arch and deep community roots, it remains a tradition worth coming back for. During Doors Open, go behind the scenes to explore its rich theatrical and cultural history. You might meet their ghost!

On June 3, 2008, the Town of Gravenhurst approved the purchase of the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit property. The 2,400-square-metre facility (26,000 square feet) is shared between municipal offices, the District Health Unit, and the Cottage Country Family Health team. The building includes offices, meeting spaces and the council chambers. Donated historical items are displayed at the Town Hall.

In 1875, the Northern Railroad reached Gravenhurst. The original train station burned in 1913 but was rebuilt during the First World War and opened in 1919 by Edward, Prince of Wales. Three buildings comprised this station: a restaurant, an express office and a ticket office with waiting room. The station, owned by the Town, now houses retail shops and services.

Towering pines here have shaded visitors to boat races, concerts and ball games for almost 150 years. Home to the Gravenhurst Farmers’ Market each Wednesday, Gull Lake Rotary Park also hosts summer Sunday evening concerts — Music on the Barge — officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1959. The stone stairs and retaining wall were built by German prisoners of war.

Heintzman House is one of the oldest buildings in Markham. Originally built as an adobe brick cottage dating from the early 19th century, the house was enlarged by Colonel George Crookshank in 1817. Charles T. Heintzman, grandson of the founder of Toronto’s Heintzman Piano Company, purchased the property in the 1930s and transformed the house into its present, elegant form.

Kitchener’s Homer Watson House & Gallery is the historical home, gallery and studio of Homer Watson (1855-1936) — one of Canada’s most celebrated landscape painters. Featuring Watson’s architectural additions and a painted frieze, this National Historic Site honours his legacy through exhibitions and educational programs, offering insight into his life and artistic contributions.