Step through these doors and see how pharmacists practised their profession over 100 years ago. The apothecary opened in the late 1860s at this location and closed in 1964. The Ontario Heritage Trust acquired the property, led its restoration and opened it as a museum in 1971. Operated by volunteers from the Ontario College of Pharmacists.

Constructed c. 1847, this courthouse served as the official county seat of Niagara District until the judicial courts were moved to St. Catharines in 1862. Its large courtroom interior was home to the Shaw Festival’s Court House Theatre until 1973. Today, Parks Canada and the Chamber of Commerce have offices here. It was designated a National Historic Site in 1981.

Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, known both for its scenic beauty and its immense force (which generates an enormous amount of hydro-electric power). While you can now visit Niagara Falls again in person, there are still many digital experiences that are available and worth experiencing from your backyard. Take a virtual helicopter ride over the falls, experience a zipline ride to the falls, enjoy the much-loved Journey Behind the Falls, or even look ahead to the annual Winter Festival of Lights. Don’t forget your VR glasses to make these experiences pop! But if an in-person experience is what you’re looking for, check out the Niagara Parks COVID-19 Information Centre. Stay safe but have fun!

The Niagara Parks Power Station – the first major power plant on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls – was completed in 1905 to produce hydroelectricity by leveraging the power of the Niagara River. A marvel of engineering and architecture, the station’s generators were the largest of their kind. Power generated from CNP was used to service Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York; the plant remained in operation until 2006 when it was decommissioned. The Niagara Parks Commission acquired ownership in 2009. The station was built with a rusticated stone exterior from Queenston limestone, with stunning, rounded window arches depicting restrained Romanesque design. The water-filled forecourt is the most prominent feature of the building setting, acting as a reflecting pool that enhances the pattern of the arches. The interior also features significant detail, from the massive bronze doors on the north side to the marble and bronze detailing of the office area. Renovations for adaptive reuse are underway – the first phase will open to the public in 2021 – will transform the facility into an extraordinary new multi-faceted visitor experience, which will preserve and showcase this culturally significant landmark while creating an iconic new attraction for Niagara Falls. For Digital Doors Open, explore the interior through the video below, and relive Fall 2019's special Doors Open event held at the station.

Located on the banks of the Niagara River in a heritage building that formerly supplied water to Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre connects the community through visual arts programs, exhibitions and events. The Niagara Pumphouse Art Centre Association was formed in 1990, and the building was restored and converted to this visual arts centre in 1994.

The Niagara Historical Society, founded in 1895, opened the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum in 1907. The museum collects, preserves, researches, educates and promotes the history of Niagara-on-the-Lake and its communities — inspiring an appreciation of local history through engaging programs and exhibitions. In October, the exhibition will be "Bound and Determined." During Doors Open, they’ll be offering special tours throughout the day.

From its headquarters on Blair Road in Cambridge, the rare Charitable Research Reserve works to discover the most inclusive practices and answers to environmental issues, stewarding the reserve’s diverse network of natural landscapes for ecological integrity and future generations. rare offers Waterloo Region a diverse network of connected natural areas, protected intact in perpetuity. Its leadership in conservation, research, restoration and education is encompassed in North House, an aspirational 60-square-metre (650-square-foot) solar-powered home and working model of green technology. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below for a behind-the-scenes experience of this fascinating structure.

Located within close proximity to Bramalea City Centre, Bramalea Woods and Highway 410, the Norton Park neighbourhood represents one of Brampton’s most accessible neighbourhoods by various methods of transportation, including walking and cycling. The neighbourhood is also home to a hidden gem — Norton Place Park! This park features a boardwalk recreational trail along a small lake tucked behind the Lisa Towers (apartment buildings) and a community garden. Children can chase the ducks, climb in the playground and enjoy nature. As part of Digital Doors Open, enjoy a virtual tour of this park in the video below.

Where nature meets history! The O’Hara legacy began in 1789 when Patrick O'Hara arrived from Ireland and busied himself with starting a sawmill and creating a thriving homestead. Today, the O’Hara Mill Homestead is an opportunity to relive the day-to-day hardships and rewards of early pioneer life. Come and explore the restored original farmhouse, sawmill, carriage-house, shed and woodworking shop.

The offices of the Oakville Historical Society are located in the cottages on the north side of the Erchless Estate grounds. The great-granddaughters of Oakville’s founder, William Chisholm, had the cottages built in the 1950s. During Digital Doors Open, explore their new exhibit on the history of education and schools in the Oakville area through the video below, or discover more on their YouTube channel. You can also search their online photo database and explore their plaque database.

The Erchless Estate was once the home of Oakville’s founding family, the Chisholms. It is now the setting for the community's museum. For Digital Doors Open, discover an extensive virtual tour that takes you inside each room of the property – don't miss the Underground Railroad exhibit upstairs! After your virtual tour, take in the video tour on YouTube below (led by the museum's very own Julian Kingston), which features some of the Town of Oakville's online collections – including hundreds of artifacts and historical photos of the town.

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.

Housed in the former Lindsay Gaol, the Old Gaol Museum tells the story of Lindsay and Kawartha Lakes. It houses a wide range of permanent and temporary exhibitions, and also retains intact portions of the gaol for you to visit. Explore the museum from home through their new virtual tour. The museum is also open for in-person visits. Please check their website for hours as they may change seasonally.

Explore the Ontario Heritage Centre, the headquarters of the Ontario Heritage Trust, built in 1909. It features two gallery spaces with mezzanines, an oak-panelled oval board room, a restored manually operated elevator, and period washrooms. Often chosen for filming locations, it has appeared over the years in various productions like Cinderella Man, Queer as Folk and Serendipity.

Come and explore Ontario’s Legislative Assembly — an impressive structure that has been home to the province’s legislature since 1893. Alongside oak floors and Italian marble finishes is artwork from the Government of Ontario Art Collection. During Doors Open, visitors can enjoy several exhibits on self-guided tours that include the legislative chamber. There’s even a kid-friendly scavenger hunt. (No tripods allowed.)

To mark Canada’s centennial, the Ontario Science Centre was built as one of the first interactive science museums in the world. Since it opened in 1969, the Science Centre has become a significant cultural attraction where visitors of all ages can learn through play. As part of Digital Doors Open, there is a lot to see and do at the Science Centre. Their Do it Yourself series will inspire your inner scientist – from games to experiments. Regular Facebook Live events connect you with Science Centre educators and hosts – learning about everything from snakes and bees to paper planes and outer space. And don’t forget to check out their Teacher Resources and Science at Home activities with easy-to-follow educational videos and downloadable resources and activities. This year, while they're working to reopen, let them bring the Science Centre to you!

The Oriental Hotel was built in the 1890s to serve the village of Castleton, which was the township seat and a principal crossroads of agriculture. As well as the usual hotel services, it has housed a doctor’s office, the library and a branch of the Imperial Bank of Commerce. A family called Wolfraim owned and managed the hotel from 1903 to 1986, while another member of the same family owned the Brunswick Hotel on King Street in Colborne. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this site through the video below.

The Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH) is the steward for the Sir Sam Steele Memorial Building in downtown Orillia. The museum brings people together, providing a safe space for collaboration to inspire creativity and celebrate history. The museum is responsible for the ongoing development and preservation of the cultural vitality in Orillia and surrounding areas.

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 Muslim Association and the Ottawa Mosque was incorporated in 1964 as a charitable organization, with its first phase completed in 1970. The Ottawa Mosque is the first and the oldest mosque in the city, and is one of the oldest in Canada. Its distinct architectural design includes a two-storey prayer hall, library, minaret, central dome and multi-purpose basement.

Some of the finest homes in Ingersoll can be found on Oxford Street. We invite you to get out of your vehicle, stretch your legs and marvel at the magnificent mansions along this tree-lined route. With this self-guided walking tour, thanks to the Ingersoll Public Library, you can explore the architecture – and the people – from Ingersoll’s past.

The death industry is changing and Parkview Crematorium in Waterloo is one of just a handful of crematoriums still owned and operated by municipalities in Ontario. In 2019, it seemed Parkview might also close amidst competition from private operators. But the community rose to save it from the ashes.

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!

Come and visit this plaza during Doors Open Ottawa. Construction is underway to restore and modernize the Centre Block and advance construction of Canada’s new Parliament Welcome Centre. Though the Centre Block is currently closed, visitors during Doors Open can view a special exhibit featuring videos, images and information about the design plans for the building and the Parliamentary Precinct.