Peel Village was the first-ever master-planned community to include residential, commercial and industrial uses all in the same neighbourhood, and the first master-planned community in what was then known as Flowertown. The presence of golfing greens, mature trees and the Charles F. Watson Gardens makes you feel like you are entering a residential area within a conservation park. 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.

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.

Built in 1920 at the cost of $1 million, the iconic Piggott Building was Hamilton's first skyscraper. The structure employed a steel skeleton rather than load-bearing walls to achieve the height of 64 metres (210 feet) and 18 storeys. With a limestone veneer façade, its design is art deco/Gothic revival with historical features of pointed arch windows, decorative moldings and rib vaulting over the entrance. In the foyer and lobby are facing stained-glass windows set in medieval-style lancets that depict building technology and construction of the Piggott. In addition, there are decorative ceiling tiles and painted murals in the hall and marble on the floors, walls and surrounding the elevator doors. The tower prospered as an office building until the 1970s when it became vacant. After changing hands a number of times, it was slated for demolition. But heritage advocates called for its protection and preservation and the City of Hamilton designated it in 1984 under the Ontario Heritage Act. The stained-glass windows that had disappeared were found in an antique shop and retrieved by the Heritage Hamilton Foundation for $12,000. In the 1990s, the Piggott Building was converted into luxury condos. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below to learn more about the history of this site.

The earliest mention of Castleton occurs when Joseph A. Keeler (1788-1855), the founder of Colborne and son of the original settler of the township, built a mill there around 1806. In that year, Keeler would have been 18 — young to be in the building business. But this goes to show his ingenuity and pioneer spirit. At first, the settlement was known as Piper’s Corners, given its location on Piper’s Creek, then Centreville and later the British-sounding name of Castleton was adopted. In 1875, Samuel L. Purdy purchased the mill, built the adjacent Gothic farmhouse in 1880, and his family lived there and operated the mill until 1948. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this site through the video below.

Quinte Waste Solutions is the municipal recycling service that has collected for nine member communities for over 25 years. At its Trenton location – known as the Material Recovery Facility – they process over 50 metric tonnes of household recycling each day. During Digital Door Open, watch the video below to see how recycling works - from curbside collection to the sorting line to the finished bales of recycled materials that are then sold to companies for new uses.

The Red Sky Métis Independent Nation (RSMIN) are descendants of the original French voyageurs who settled in the area and the Indigenous women they married. Specifically, they are composed of the descendants of those 84 Métis recognized by the Crown as beneficiaries and annuitants under the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850. RSMIN are culturally distinct from the First Nations people, holding their own traditions, customs and practices. The history of the RSMIN dates back to as early as 1506. As part of Digital Doors Open, through the video below, the RSMIN shares with us their traditional knowledge of preparing birch tea. Birch tea has anti-inflammatory and medicinal properties to it. Different parts of the birch tree found in the Thunder Bay region have been used for centuries for the preparation of this tea.

Once upon a time, the Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) consisted of two grass air strips. Today, it consistently ranks as one of the 20 busiest airports in Canada. YKF is unique in many ways and this behind-the-scenes exploration of its daily operation reveals a thriving aviation community that is passionate about safety and growth. Still enchanted by the magic of air travel, the dedicated staff are planning today to better serve Waterloo Region tomorrow. Find out how in the following episode of Digital Doors Open Waterloo Region.

Join this unique tour of Belleville sites that have had new power systems installed and learn more about these renewable power sources – such as solar panels and new power systems. We start with the Meyers Pier and the Water Treatment Plant, which boast rooftop solar panels. Next is the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre, which has both an extensive solar rooftop array as well as power converters that send AC back to the grid. In addition, the Centre uses Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems – which produce both electricity and heat from a single fuel source onsite. In addition to reducing emissions, CHP systems also improve energy efficiency (up to 90 per cent in some locations), which also means lower costs. Finally, check out Belleville Transit, the Sewage Plant and the City of Belleville’s Human Resources building for more examples of renewable power sources. Learn more about CHP systems here. And, as part of Digital Doors Open, explore these sites – with their aerial views and photos.

Research Casting International is one of the world’s largest providers of museum technical services — specializing in the fabrication of paleontology displays. Their services include specimen mounting and restoration, molding and casting, exhibit fabrication and more. During Doors Open, come and check out some of their current projects, explore their facility and watch the team work on these fascinating displays.

Here stands the eight-sided house constructed by Reuben Bartlett Scott on the occasion of his marriage to Maria Huyck in 1850. Scott was an industrious young man who operated a grist mill, a soap factory, an iron foundry and an evaporator. He clearly espoused the theories of Ogden Squire Fowler — the American eccentric who touted the virtues of an eight-sided house versus a square house, which had corners that were thought to be “intrinsically evil.” Scott and his wife had 12 children and their descendants still live in the area. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this house in the video below.

Waterloo Region has had, over the past 150 years, sightings of two so-called river monsters. Join us as we explore these Loch Ness Monster-like creatures that are part of the region’s history. Sightings of the infamous Nithy of the Nith River were reported in newspapers throughout Ontario in the 1950s. The lesser-known Doon Monster of the Grand River bubbled up a century before. Both of these river monsters generated a groundswell of interest that united and divided neighbours in a wave of debate about con versus phenomenon. As part of Digital Doors Open, the video below begins at what is today the Homer Watson House & Gallery, where a young Homer Watson is regaled with tales of when the sea serpent came to Doon in 1857. In 1929, he shares these stories with a local newspaper, and that article becomes the starting point for this local legend.

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 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 Rose is a magnificent performing arts venue and iconic feature of downtown Brampton — a destination for local and world-renowned performers, providing opportunities for culture lovers to experience talent in an extraordinary setting. Architecturally and acoustically sublime, the venue boasts two performance venues for large shows and intimate experiences. As part of Doors Open, take an exclusive backstage tour.

The Royal Ontario Museum has been a beloved Toronto institution since it opened in 1914. For Doors Open, only the Daphne Cockwell Gallery – dedicated to First Peoples’ art and culture – and the recently reimagined Weston entrance with its iconic mosaic-domed rotunda will be free to visit. Admission will be required to see other galleries.

This year, the people of Sacred Heart Church are unable to provide in-person tours of this beautiful Gothic-style church. But they invite you to enjoy this virtual tour (see video below) and learn more of the history of the building. Erected in 1880 after a design by architect George Durant, this place of worship includes original stained-glass windows by Robert McCausland, ornate sculptures, vaulted ceilings and more.

The large, residential community of Sandalwood is located near the northern border of the City of Brampton. This community is home to a healthy mix of land uses and spaces. Trails and parks cut through the neighbourhood, allowing for strong connectivity between various areas. 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 old post office building, the Sault Ste. Marie Museum showcases artifacts that illustrate the city’s history. Over three floors of exhibit space and one and a half floors of archival space, exhibits include the Walter Wallace Military Gallery, Skylight Gallery, Marine Gallery, Music Gallery, Sports Gallery and the Durham Gallery, which features rotating exhibits. As part of Digital Doors Open, take a self-guided walking tour of this site using the On This Spot app (download from the App Store or Google play) or watch the video below to learn more about this site.

Come and learn about Sault Ste. Marie through this informative walking tour and hear some of the fascinating stories behind many of the city’s iconic buildings — including the Algonquin Hotel, Precious Blood Cathedral, the cenotaph, the Old Stone House and Blockhouse, the Sault Ste. Marie Museum, the courthouse, several banks, the former YMCA and the Memorial Tower. As part of Digital Doors Open, take a self-guided walking tour of this site using the On This Spot app (download from the App Store or Google play).

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.

The Senate of Canada Building is full of history, art, architecture and parliamentary treasures. It is the Senate’s temporary home in downtown Ottawa, while its permanent home (the Centre Block building with the Peace Tower) is closed for major rehabilitation work. Over the years, this building has hosted many important national events (the repatriation of the Canadian constitution) and has served many different functions (it opened in 1912 as a train station). Today, as the temporary home of the Senate, you can explore – through this virtual tour – where the Senate works.

In the 1850s, Seymour Township became the home of Scottish stone masons and other Scottish settlers. Limestone was a common local building material. These settlers replicated the homes they had left in Scotland and created a legacy of new stone homes in Seymour Township. Take this driving tour around the township and see some of these remarkable structures for yourself – from stone cottages to two-storey homesteads.

Despite its location in the neighbouring municipality of Centre Wellington, the Shand Dam has been vital to the health and wellbeing of Waterloo Region since it opened in 1942. In this episode of Digital Doors Open Waterloo Region, the Grand River Conservation Authority provides web visitors with exclusive access throughout the dam’s superstructure, explaining the marvellous wartime feats of engineering that created it, and the balance of technology and human knowledge required to maintain it.

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!

This 1885-86 building in the heart of Dundas has been a foundry, indoor skating/curling rink, bus depot, warehouse and, since 2016, this brewery. The wood post-and-beam/brick masonry structure has been preserved yet modernized with the latest in craft beer equipment. The brewery focuses on German-style lagers with an emphasis on quality and authenticity.