Westminster Presbyterian is a large facility that is humming year-round. Constructed over four decades in a mix of architectural styles, the building today features an education wing, a gym and a popular pre-school. It has also been used for private parties, exercise classes and square dancing. Of note are the historical flags, the beautiful stained-glass windows and the organ.

Wallis House enjoys a rich and complex history. Constructed in 1873 as one of Ottawa’s first hospitals, it has been repurposed over the years as a seminary for aspiring priests, the Women’s Royal Canadian Navy Service and a shelter for veterans returning from the Second World War. It was saved from possible demolition and converted into loft-style condos/rentals in 1996.

The Studio at the University of Ottawa Press is a dynamic place for ideas, creation and encounters. Located at the downtown Sun Life Financial Centre with accessible facilities, the Studio is home to publishing professionals who work alongside authors. This downtown Ottawa base serves as a forum for the university community, members of government, non-profit organizations and the reading public.

Unitarian House is a not-for-profit retirement residence and seniors' apartments. This five-storey residence, located on a tranquil treed property on the Ottawa River, offers affordable living in a unique home-like atmosphere. Residents enjoy many gardens, a well-appointed courtyard and safe walking areas. Walk through the doors and learn how this facility has gained it a long-standing reputation.

The Rideau Club occupies the penthouse of the Sun Life Financial Centre in downtown Ottawa. The club, which pre-dates Confederation by nearly two years, has entertained many distinguished visitors — including royalty and many governors general and prime ministers. This is its third home. It outgrew the first by 1911 and the second was destroyed by fire in 1979.

The Maplesoft-Jones building is home to Ottawa's only Community Cancer Hub, where they are transforming supportive cancer care through dynamic collaborations with diverse community partners. They empower people living with, and impacted by, cancer on every step of their journey. And the Cancer Survivors Park is a beacon for those making their way to The Ottawa Cancer Foundation.

The Bytown Fire Brigade Historical Society is a volunteer-based non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving, interpreting and celebrating the history of firefighting in Ottawa. They collect and maintain historical firefighting artifacts — including vintage fire trucks, uniforms, equipment and photographs — illustrating the evolution of firefighting technology. Through its efforts, they help preserve Ottawa’s firefighting heritage for future generations.

Although St. Mary the Virgin, Blackburn no longer offers Sunday services, it is available for use as a venue for musical presentations, art shows, a coffee house and more. Over the years, many changes and upgrades have been made. The stained-glass window was donated following the World Wars. The adjacent cemetery, too, pays homage to generations of area settlers.

St. Margaret’s Anglican Church Vanier was the first Ottawa-area church to feature an apse. The ceiling of the sanctuary with its 12 apostle panels was painted by artist J.W.H. Watt, who also created the painting behind the altar. The pews were repurposed from a chapel at the University of Ottawa. Note the brass plaque commemorating Canadian landscape poet Archibald Lampman.

This red brick building is a familiar Ottawa landmark. Note the separate entrance for the community thrift shop, while another door is the way into The Well — a day program for women. Throughout the summer, their Indigenous Engagement Coordinator offers smudging each Sunday. The bell can be heard throughout the neighbourhood. Music can also often be heard when passing by.

This church was built a few years after the congregation was granted full status. The Christian Education Centre was added in 1955. A hall and offices were set up across the street, but that building was sold. Note the plaque that is dedicated to members of the congregation who served or were killed in the Second World War.

Having outgrown an earlier church, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian was constructed in 1872 with wood provided by Ottawa lumber baron, J.R. Booth. Of note are the splendid stained-glass windows and the high vaulted ceilings. The raised pulpit is uniquely placed along the west wall. This placement follows the Scottish Presbyterian tradition that sees the ministers as teachers, with children around them.

Built to serve Ottawa’s growing German-speaking Lutheran community, this church replaced an earlier wood-frame structure. It still retains some of the original stained-glass windows, the altarpiece, and its beautiful woodwork and beams. One of Ottawa’s earliest organs, a Casavant pipe organ, was installed in 1888. Sir John A. Macdonald and Governor General Lord Lansdowne made donations to the new construction.

This church was built after Old St. Mary's at Pinhey's Point was deemed structurally unsafe. Many of the pews and other interior fixtures are from the former church. Old St Mary's was the first Anglican church in the Ottawa diocese and is the oldest church in the Ottawa area. Of note are the stained-glass windows and the lovely wooden interior.

The exterior of the Southminster United Church is Nepean sandstone, the same stone used for the Parliament Buildings. The entrance ends at a pointed arch gate that leads into the church porch, which opens into the narthex. Beyond is the nave, which consists of five bays on each side, a central aisle and smaller aisles on each side.

The South Nepean Muslim Community Mosque is excited to participate in this year’s Doors Open Ottawa, welcoming visitors to explore their beautiful and vibrant community space. Come and tour the facilities, including the spacious prayer halls, serene meditation areas and versatile community spaces that serve as hubs for learning, worship and social engagement. Light refreshments will be provided.

This is one of Ottawa’s monuments of religious architecture. The church boasts two bell towers — the largest of which showing Norman influence while the smaller is more Orthodox-inspired. Known for its exceptional acoustics, it hosts regular concerts by the Ottawa Chorale Society and Pro Organo Ottawa. Explore the site, noting its magnificent organ and the bells that came from France.

The Public Works Big Wheels Expo offers kids of all ages an exciting chance to get a closer look at the trucks and equipment behind the city’s public works. Come and explore some of the city’s mightiest machines. Meet the fleet and climb into the driver’s seat — from garbage trucks and snowplows to sidewalk sweepers and road painting trucks.

This sailing club is a family-oriented, volunteer-based organization dedicated to promoting and encouraging active participation in the sport of sailing and recreational boating. Since opening, the club has provided a range of cutting-edge public and member programs, as well as hosting important aquatic events and national regattas. The terrace offers stunning views of the Ottawa River.

Knox Presbyterian Church is known for its high-quality building materials, beautiful interiors and gorgeous stained glass. The interior features Italian marble, British Columbia cedar and redwood, and British lantern lights in the sanctuary. Two stained-glass windows are illuminated from the east and west, highlighting the life of Jesus and the Book of Revelation. Nepean fieldstone was used for the exterior.

Since the late 1940s, this building has housed three embassies — the Uruguayan Embassy, the Embassy of the Hungarian People’s Republic, and the current one. In 1995, the mansion was purchased and donated to the Republic of Armenia by a prominent Armenian-American businessman and philanthropist. Each year, they welcome hundreds of visitors interested in architecture and Armenian history.

In 1866, Mother Marie of the Order of Our Lady of Charity came to Ottawa to conduct mission work in a building on this site. By 1877, a spacious new monastery building was constructed, which was further expanded in 1895. Following a devastating 1938 fire, the monastery was rebuilt. In 1972, the Chinese government purchased it as Chinese Embassy’s chancery.

This church, designed by architect Konstantinos Zourdoumis and constructed in 1975, is a fine example of the neo-Byzantine style with its classic domed structure. Highlights include hand-painted Byzantine icons on the domed ceiling and walls, a hand-carved wooden iconostasis wall in front of the altar, and beautiful mosaic tiles.

The Dominion Observatory Campus consists of several scientific buildings used for astronomy, seismology, gravity and geo-magnetism. In 1904, the first building was constructed to house the retractable telescope. In 1905, a transit house was added to the western wing for the meridian circle telescope and transit instruments that were used to determine time, longitude and star positions.

The Rideau Township Archives began as North Gower’s town hall in 1876 until new township offices opened in 1967. It is interesting for its history and its architecture – featuring an unusual cupola. After being restored, it was among the first of the township’s buildings to be designated. The current exhibit features this initial revitalization in the 1980s.