The Sheridan neighbourhood is located within the city's most prosperous defined regions in Brampton’s 2040 vision. By 2040, this region will be a hub of economic activity with recreational opportunities and diverse housing. Residents and students are the heartbeat of this community, and their imprint is seen throughout Sheridan. Sheridan also boasts a unique district energy facility, and has initiated an exciting process to develop a bold, innovative and comprehensive Campus Master Plan that will provide a road map to transform Brampton’s built environment over the next 30 years. 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 Simcoe County Museum offers a variety of events, exhibits and programs for all ages throughout the year. Visitors can discover Simcoe County's history through hands-on exploration and interactive displays. From prehistoric to modern times, the museum depicts the people, events and artifacts from Simcoe County's diverse past — everything from mastodons to hair wreaths and wedding gowns to farm machinery.

The neighbourhood of Snelgrove was once a former hamlet. Today, Snelgrove is a large, suburban community with rich swaths of natural space. Conservation Park in particular plays a significant role in the community, giving residents an opportunity to experience the natural world in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city. 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.

Come and tour Spadina House and discover the home of the Austin family from 1866-1982. Period rooms contain furniture and decorative details from the 1920s and 1930s. Co-owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust and the City of Toronto, this site includes three floors, an orchard and the newly created Aki Wiidookaagewin "Ontario Earth Helpers" Indigenous kitchen garden. (No tripods allowed.)

SPECTRUM is Waterloo Region’s first ever LGBTQ/rainbow community space. The small-but-mighty haven created by SPECTRUM is currently located in the historical Boehmer Box building in Kitchener. This poignant episode explores the rainbow community's long struggle to establish safe gathering spaces within Waterloo Region, and includes a walking tour hosted by SPECTRUM's President, Cait Glasson. Watch the episode below from Digital Doors Open Waterloo Region and explore downtown Kitchener from Glasson's perspective.

The neighbourhood of Spring Valley is a community filled with lush pathways, parks, water bodies and many other features. The neighbourhood is considerably newer than most communities in Brampton but maintains pre-existing features and amenities to give residents a glimpse of what once was. A portion of the Huttonville Creek, located in this neighbourhood, was intentionally included in the park's jurisdiction to improve the rehabilitation and naturalization of the creek. 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 original 1794 church was burned by the American army during the War of 1812. A new church was later erected, but was also destroyed by a cyclone. In 1855, the current building was constructed. While major restorations have occurred over the years, the interior and exterior of this architectural gem appear much the same as the 1831 building.

The old county courthouse was built at the corner of James and King streets in 1849. Three years later, town council approved putting a clock into the tower. The clock remains a working engineering marvel and is one of the many landmarks from St. Catharines’ past. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below to learn more about the history of the clock. Today, the courthouse is used by the City of St. Catharines as municipal offices.

St. Mark's is the oldest Anglican church in continuous use in Ontario. Completed in 1804, it was damaged in the War of 1912. The original balconies necessitated the unusual high pulpits. The 1840 East Window is the oldest stained glass in the province and, with the other windows, form the finest collection of stained glass in Ontario.

In 2017, Stephanie Boutari took a big leap to paint big, joining her husband Adam (BOKO Studio) on a path of artistic and design exploration to make ideas happen. Her large-scale murals, often featuring vibrant palettes and geometric shapes, have been commissioned for dozens of public and commercial spaces throughout Waterloo Region. Inspired by the ways in which colour and scale transform the perception of space, Boutari’s work is refining her relationship between art and architecture. Watch the episode below of Digital Doors Open Waterloo Region to learn how Boutari is painting the town big.

The Friends of St. Giles present their first walking tour: Stewart & Witton Major Works: Stadium Neighbourhood, which will feature the architecture firm behind some of Hamilton’s most beloved landmarks, now in their 150th year. Enjoy four beautiful and irreplaceable Stewart & Witton works: the elegant Playhouse Cinema, the Hendry’s Building (home to Hendry’s Barbershop and the Barton Village BIA), the King George School and St. Giles Church (Stewart & Witton’s Gothic-revival masterpiece). All works on this 1.5-hour self-guided tour were designed in the 1910s by the firm, which operated from 1904 until Lt.-Col. Stewart’s death in France at The Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917. For Digital Doors Open, follow the tour via the map above or visit their website. #StewartWitton150

The Stratford Festival – North America’s largest classical repertory theatre company – has gone digital! Watch full-length productions of past shows, with new shows being added – complete with live-streaming viewing parties. Take one of their virtual tours. Check out their @Home content for exclusive interviews with Stratford production and company members, watch The Meighen Forum “live in conversation” series, and enjoy some behind-the-scenes videos to learn more about props, wigs and makeup. In addition, there is a series of study guides available that will assist both teachers and students as they learn about Shakespeare. Prithee, whilst thou art social distancing, maketh the most of thy time at the Stratford Festival!

The former Carnegie Hamilton Public Library (1913-80), which now houses the Supreme Court of Justice Family Court, was constructed with a grant of $100,000 from American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and officially opened on May 5, 1913 by the Lieutenant Governor (and fellow-Hamiltonian) Sir John Morison Gibson. This library, which offered visitors open shelving for the first time, was moved after six decades of service to its current location on York Street next to the Jackson Square complex. Designed by local architect A.W. Peene in the neoclassical style, its outstanding architectural features include two-storey pilasters, massive corner piers, the entablature with dentillated cornice and a prominent staired entranceway. A central two-storey atrium with marble balustrade, double staircase and skylight unifies the interior and provides a spacious and elegant entrance lobby. In 1987, it was designated by the City of Hamilton as a significant heritage landmark and one of the finest surviving Carnegie libraries in Canada. For Digital Doors Open, learn more about the history of this building through the video below.

The shorelines of the Lakehead have been populated with elevators since the early 1880s, with the construction of Port Arthur’s King Elevator beginning in 1883. The grain industry fuelled much of the development of the twin cities, with the first elevators being built by the Canadian Pacific Railway at Fort William in 1885. Construction of grain elevators proceeded so rapidly that Fort William was called “Elevator City” during the early 20th century. Today, there are seven operational grain terminals at the Port of Thunder Bay. One of these is the Superior Elevator. Grain arrives here by rail where it is offloaded, inspected, cleaned (if needed) and stored until its journey continues east by ship. Watch the video below to see this terminal in operation and learn more about its role in transporting grain to market.

Tapestry Hall is a new skin on old, strong bones. From its foundry roots of 1847 to today's reinvention as a premier event venue in Galt's burgeoning Gaslight District, this new, chic space is a warm embrace with storied limestone bricks, beaten wooden beams and smooth concrete. Voluptuous windows spill light throughout the hall, taproom and onsite brewery as the world's largest living sculpture, called Meander, draws from the ceiling to greet and guide visitors throughout this historical masterpiece. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this unique venue through the video below.

The ArQuives was established to aid in the recovery and preservation of the histories of Canada’s LGBTQ2+ people. Founded in 1973, they have grown to become the largest archive of its kind in the world. Through these collections, you can learn about the history and the struggles faced by – and the resilience of – LGBTQ2+ people. For Digital Doors Open, learn about the kinds of artifacts found in the archives – and the people who collect and preserve them – through the video below. And search their online collections or explore their digital exhibits for more information.

The Grange, located in the historical Robinson-Adamson House, tells its unique story through the many fascinating characters who have owned it over the years. Built for the first Chief Justice of Upper Canada, Sir John Beverley Robinson, the Ontario Regency-style architecture and high-quality craftsmanship supported the importance of this building to the area. Changing hands several times, The Grange was eventually deeded to the City of Mississauga in 1978 and restored. It was designated in 1982 as a significant historical and architectural landmark, and is today home to Heritage Mississauga. During Digital Doors Open, there are many experiences that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Download their heritage-themed comic books and learn more about the history of Mississauga from a unique perspective. Discover local history through their Digital Oral History Projects. Download a self-guided walking tour and explore the many historical areas within the city. Follow on their blog for upcoming online events, question-and-answer sessions with local historians, discussions on local history, and more. And check out their extensive video anthology to learn more about the majestic Credit River, Mississauga’s Indigenous heritage, remembrances of the 1979 Mississauga train derailment, and much more!

This was Hamilton’s first theatre built expressly to show “talkies” — motion pictures with sound. The beautiful art deco building was fully restored in 2017 by the Westdale Cinema Group and has become a cinematic, cultural and economic hub. The excellent film series Hamilton Originals will be shown on Saturday, while the site will be open for tours on Sunday.

Reputed to be among the oldest dwellings in Colborne, this was the home of Scottish immigrant John Steele and his wife Mary Spalding from 1831-43. Some feel that the house pre-dates 1820 because of a letter from Mary Spalding arranging for a housemaid. Steele, a founder of Queen’s University, held many other posts — including a magistrate, a newspaper man, a member of the local Board of Education, and with various agricultural societies. In 1843, the Steeles moved to Grafton and sold their house to Cuthbert Cumming. Cumming in turn sold it in 1858 to the Scougale family, who lived there for over 100 years, next door to their haberdashery business. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this house in the video below.

Built as Fort William’s police station and courthouse, the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society opened its major exhibit gallery here in 1997. Visit the Thunder Bay Museum during Doors Open Thunder Bay 2022 for back-of-house artifact collection storage tours, artifact displays on the early foodways and agricultural development in the area, as well as a museum-wide family-friendly scavenger hunt.

Since its inception in 2002, The Timeless Material Company has operated in the true spirit of salvage. While preserving and repurposing wood and other building products from historical and iconic local structures, this Waterloo family business has simultaneously diverted tons of quality material from landfill. Working with its sister company Kieswetter Demolition, The Timeless Material Company promotes and facilitates a modern afterlife for the building components of our past. During Digital Doors Open, explore this unique site through the video below and learn more about its spirit of salvage.

The Timmins Fire Hall was built in 1957 to replace the old station that was adjacent to the Municipal Building on Algonquin Blvd. Porcupine established its first organized fire department shortly after the Great Fire of 1911. This tragic fire destroyed the mining settlement and took more than 70 lives. During Digital Doors Open, learn more about the fire hall by exploring the photo archive from the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre, and read more about the department’s history on the City of Timmins website. The jurisdiction of this hall’s fire chief includes six other fire halls: Mountjoy, South Porcupine, Schumacher, Whitney, Connaught and Victor M. Power Airport. Watch the video below to see their firefighters in training! (Coming soon!)

The old Catholic Cemetery (1912-16) was moved from the churchyard on Fifth Avenue to this location in 1917, under direction of Father Theriault. Check this map to see how, historically, Protestants were buried on adjacent land, as well as the position of the Legion site, which was established in 1937. All sites were amalgamated into the Timmins Memorial Cemetery in 1966. It remains one of three cemeteries under management by the City of Timmins. Points of interest include a monument to victims of the 1928 Hollinger Mine Disaster, the headstone of hometown hockey hero Bill Barilko (watch the 2016 Tragically Hip’s performance of Fifty Mission Cap), and graves bearing the names of several well-known families and early pioneers of the Porcupine area.

The Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre is a public resource dedicated to the presentation, promotion and preservation of heritage. As part of Digital Doors Open, take a peek into the back room through a slide show that features pieces from the collection. The museum is pleased to report that it is now open to visitors once again. You can explore their new permanent exhibition “Where We Stand: Stories of the Land” and visit the temporary exhibition “Gemstones or Not?,” on loan from Minéro : le musée Thetford Mines. Find out more about visiting the museum and hours of operation on their website.

High ceilings and soaring timber columns make this an architectural gem and community haven. Timber was chosen as the primary building material to reflect the importance of the forest products sector in the heritage, culture and economy of Timmins. Find out more about the history and background of the Timmins Public Library here. The library houses a comprehensive local history collection but, due to COVID-19, access is presently limited. You can still, however, explore the rich history of mining in Northern Ontario through a digitized version of the Porcupine Advance (1912-50).