Built at the turn of the 19th century, this building served as The Consolidated Lake Superior Company General Office Building – one of the finest examples of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in Ontario. It was designated in 1993 and is now home to the Algoma Conservatory of Music, a regional centre for music education, performance and recording.

The Appleton Swamp is an extensive riverine swamp and marsh complex associated with the floodplain of the Mississippi River. The Gardiner, Grace and Neilson properties are all managed for the Ontario Heritage Trust by the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority with the purpose of maintaining the natural features and biodiversity of the properties. There is no public access to these properties for that reason. The properties are situated in the Appleton swamp, which is recognized as a provincially significant Class 2 Wetland and Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) due to the unique representation of riverine marsh, swamp and upland forest on clay plain. As part of Digital Doors Open, take a virtual boat ride through the Appleton swamp by watching the video below.

The Community Garden Program was initiated by the City of Belleville Green Task Force in 2012. It gives residents a place to grow vegetables and flowers in designated parks. Anyone living in the Belleville area can apply. No special skills are required. The gardens include the Bayview Heights Community Gardens, the Ponton Park Community Gardens and the West Hill Park Community Gardens. Garden beds are awarded in March each year by lottery. Each name drawn will be assigned a garden bed and given exclusive use for the season (May to October). The program is free. Each garden bed provides 3.7 square metres (40 square feet) of growing space. Learn more about the gardens and the rules of the program and COVID-19 guidelines here. And, for Digital Doors Open, take a virtual tour of these community gardens here.

Most of Belleville's drinking water is treated at the Gerry O'Connor Water Treatment Plant, located in the west end overlooking the Bay of Quinte. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and treats 72 million litres of water daily, which is enough to fill Belleville's water tower 24 times over. Its distribution system serves over 40,000 residents and businesses every day through 224 km (139 miles) of water mains. Energy projects have been done at the plant. Old boilers were replaced with new models to reduce natural gas consumption. Roof insulation was upgraded to R18. And new solar energy products were brought online. Belleville was recognized as a leader in energy conservation in 2015 and 2017 by Save on Energy and Veridian, now Elexicon Energy. As part of Digital Doors Open, you can take a virtual tour and learn more about the Water Treatment Plant here.

Sheave Tower (owned and operated by the Cambridge branch of the Architectural Conservancy Ontario) is the province's last remaining wooden water-powered hydroelectric generator tower – a 19th-century marvel of ingenuity. This local landmark is neatly tucked away under a canopy of Carolinian forest and set within the boundaries of a provincially significant wetland. The 9.5-metre (31-foot) tower has been restored to its original bold oxblood colour. Built in 1876, it was a remarkable feat of engineering that harnessed waterpower via pulley and cable for the nearby gristmill. It was one of the world’s smallest hydroelectric generating projects. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below to learn more about this important historical building.

Named after Colonel John Butler, a hero of the American Revolutionary War, this complex was an integral component of the military facilities built in the Niagara region to replace those destroyed during the War of 1812. Situated inland, out of range of the American artillery across the river, Butler's Barracks comprised more than 20 buildings by 1854. The only structures that survive from this period are the Commissariat Stores, Junior Commissariat Officers' Quarters, Men's Barracks and Gun Shed. The site was used by the British until 1870, after which it became a training camp for the Canadian militia. The barracks near John Street have been fully reconstructed and act as the headquarters for Parks Canada’s Southwestern Ontario Field Unit. The Commons was used extensively over the past two centuries for military training. It was also the site of the Native Council House at the perimeter of Paradise Grove from 1812 until the mid 1820s. For Digital Doors Open, explore The Commons through the video below.

Opened in 1993, The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery in Waterloo has become an integral part of the community while fostering and supporting emerging and established Canadian artists. Join us during Digital Doors Open for a behind-the-scenes tour of the vault, which contains 1,000 contemporary works in ceramics, glass and copper enameling. Curator Peter Flannery selects six pieces from the permanent collection to explore in detail, providing illuminating commentary about the works’ materials, style, esthetics and allure.

Francis H. Clergue arrived in the Sault in 1894 and established the Lake Superior Power Company and the Sault Ste. Marie Pulp and Paper Company Limited, building his own machine shop and foundry to create the machines he needed to run the businesses. Today, the property features pubs, restaurants, event spaces, The Rink and the train station.

John Henry Reycraft owned this property from 1854-99. The house was built during this period, probably in the 1860s. In 1899, John Alexander Anderson bought the house. At the time, Anderson was the proprietor of the adjacent general store. Vintage photos show the house, the store and the absence of the Methodist church, which was built in 1910. The photo shows a woman in Chinese garb, an intriguing image in the era. It also appears that there is another building to the north of the store where Morganston Road is now. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this site in the video below.

This episode of Digital Doors Open Waterloo Region features a conversation with Clarence Cachagee, the visionary behind Crow Shield Lodge – a place for reconciliation, Indigenous land-based teaching and healing. Filmed at the Lodge’s peaceful and remote location near New Hamburg, Cachagee shares his vision for a thriving community that is founded on unity, equality and understanding.

In 1846, Cuthbert Cumming and his wife Jane McMurray acquired a portion of this property, and they bought the balance in 1852. Cumming was born in Scotland and, after working in the Canadian west and Québec, he retired as a Chief Trader for the Hudson Bay Company. He remained in Colborne for many years, listed in the census records as “a gentleman” until his demise in 1870. He is buried in the Trinity Anglican Church cemetery where headstones tell a tale of Cumming family tragedy with the deaths of multiple children. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this house in the video below.

Author and historian Marion Roes has been surrounded by death her entire life. Her family founded Dreisinger Funeral Home in Elmira in 1904. Roes has written a 500-page book titled Death as Life’s Work, which lovingly and painstakingly documents an illustrated history of more than 120 undertakers and funeral businesses throughout Waterloo Region from 1850 through 2020. As part of Digital Doors Open, join Roes on this journey through the video below.

In 1898, the Cataract Power Company (now Ontario Power Generation) began generating and transmitting electricity from St. Catharines to Hamilton. The entrepreneurial project resulted in the transmission of electricity a staggering 56 kilometers (35 miles) – the longest distance that electricity had been transmitted in Canada at that time, and the second-longest distance in the world! The station remains a working piece of Canada’s hydroelectric heritage. Check out the video below as part of Digital Doors Open and learn more about this fascinating site.

Doyle House has a fascinating history. Michael John Doyle is listed in the 1878 Atlas of Northumberland and Durham as an agent and assessor. Conservative Party members often gathered here, and their vigorous political discussions influenced the Doyles’ daughter, Iva. She came to believe strongly in the idea that every Canadian citizen should endeavour to render some form of public service. Her work led to her appointment to the Senate in 1935, under Prime Minister R.B. Bennett, as Canada’s first female Conservative senator. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this house in the video below.

The Galt Arena Gardens is the oldest continuously operating arena in the world. Built in 1921 and refurbished in 1997, it is an imposing structure, representative of the epic achievements within its storied walls. It has been home ice to some of the hockey greats. A celebration of its 100th anniversary in June 2022 brought generations together to revel in its heritage as a landmark at the heart of a community. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this historical local landmark through the video below.

If you attended high school in Waterloo Region, you might be mortified to learn that your high school yearbook (and that hairdo) may be preserved as a historical resource in the Grace Schmidt Room at the Kitchener Public Library. Local yearbooks are one of 10 favourite items that are explored as part of Digital Doors Open by Karen Ball-Pyatt, Manager of the Grace Schmidt Room’s vast collection, which has been documenting the area's history and families since it opened in 1984.

On his Instagram account @beautyandruin, Cambridge photographer and history buff Michael Johnston showcases more than 1,000 images of heritage homes and stunning structures that illustrate the fascinating past, present and future of Waterloo Region. In this episode of Digital Doors Open Waterloo Region (entitled Beauty and Ruin in Waterloo Region, shown below), Johnston shares a selection of his favourite images and the stories behind the structures. Sites include: the Dickson Park grandstand, Preston Free School, Jacob Beck home, homes built by architect Ray Hall, Preston Springs Hotel and a selection of churches ranging from Gothic to mid-century modern in design.

Barrie's history and heritage shape the city’s distinctive character and provide a sense of place. Their distinct historical neighborhoods reflect their natural and cultural heritage. Experience these detailed virtual walking tours and learn about Barrie's most iconic historical destinations. Locations include Downtown East, Downtown West, Allandale, Grand Homes, H-Block and Court House Hill, Rodney and Blake Street and the Barrie Waterfront. Check out the video below to get a taste of Barrie’s past. (Photo: Dunlop Street)

The Ingenium Centre houses Canada’s science and technology collection, with more than two million archival, trade literature and library materials, and more than 116,000 artifacts. The Centre provides a controlled environment to protect the artifacts for the benefit of generations to come, designed to properly house artifacts made of materials such as plastic, wood, paper, textiles and ivory.

Established in 1864, this cemetery has been the final resting place for folks born from the 18th to 21st centuries. A quiet space for contemplative walks, the cemetery offers the chance to study the lives of hundreds of people who once called Ingersoll home. A special feature for Doors Open Oxford-Ingersoll will be the opportunity to explore the mausoleum.

Construction of the inner range lighthouse began in 1898. It is 16 metres (52.5 feet) high and has a tapered eight-sided frame that supports a 12-sided lantern and beaver-shaped weathervane. Access to the lantern is provided by four very steep and narrow wooden staircases. Today, the lighthouses in Port Dalhousie serve as a symbol of St. Catharines and its maritime history. Explore this fascinating lighthouse as part of Digital Doors Open through the video below.

In 1820, this fine neoclassical gem was built by Joseph Abbott Keeler, founder of Colborne, Castleton and Norwood, and the son of Joseph Keeler, the original American settler. Joseph Jr. established several mills, a newspaper, and a store with a post office, and he oversaw the incorporation of Colborne village in 1859. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this site in the video below.

The newly renamed Kawartha Lakes Museum & Archives is located in the former Lindsay Jail, constructed in 1863, and showcases historical artifacts from Lindsay and the surrounding area. Come and experience the history of Kawartha Lakes with their range of exhibits as well as aspects of the former jail, such as the cell blocks that still exist inside the museum.

The Keefer Terminal was conceptualized in 1957 by the Canadian Lakehead Port Association, a co-operative consisting of the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and the cities of Port Arthur and Fort William. The terminal stands out as a major feature of the Thunder Bay Port, and is an integral part of the region's shipping. It was built to augment existing bulk cargo-handling capabilities at the Lakehead with modern facilities for lake vessels carrying freight for Western Canada, and berthage for ocean-going vessels for handling import and export trade. With the transition of package freight movement to the Trans-Canada Highway in the 1980s, marine activity decreased at Keefer Terminal. Since 2004, the Port of Thunder Bay has revitalized the terminal as a supply-chain gateway for heavy, oversized breakbulk and project cargo. Keefer Terminal’s regular cargoes, primarily destined for Western Canada, include steel products, windmill components, electrical infrastructure and bulk phosphate fertilizer. Capital infrastructure investment of $30 million has modernized Keefer’s cargo handling assets, providing value for shippers using the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system. Learn more about this fascinating site through the video below.

Joseph Keeler’s (1763-1839) ancestors date back to 1560 in Scotland. In 1795, Keeler left the American colonies and landed on Lake Ontario shores, with 40 United Empire Loyalist families in tow, at Cat Hollow, now Lakeport. He built a sawmill and grist mill and established the economic foundations of the area. Keeler built significant homes, including this one, and ran the local tavern. The Keeler dynasty was carried on by Joseph II and Joseph III and via judicial land grants. These pioneers were the first developers of Lakeport, Colborne, Castleton and Norwood. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this site in the video below.