Anchored under Toronto's Gardiner Expressway, The Bentway is a growing public space — and so much more. Developed through partnerships with the City of Toronto, residents, supporters, artists, city-builders and dreamers, it shows how we can re-imagine the opportunities of urban spaces. Opening for the summer 2023 season during the Doors Open weekend, the site offers free talks, tours and performances.

The Chapel of St. James-the-Less is a mid-19th-century Victorian Gothic revival funeral chapel that is picturesquely set atop a small, landscaped knoll just inside the main gates of Toronto’s St. James’ Cemetery. Designed by Cumberland and Storm, it was designated a National Historic Site in 1990. It is enhanced by its elevated position, surrounded by the peaceful cemetery.

Pearse House (now the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre), occupied by the Pearse family until the 1930s, was eventually acquired by the City for the Metro Toronto Zoo. In 1993, the house was moved to its current location and, after years of neglect, was restored by the Rouge Valley Foundation. Come and explore this house and wander the surrounding trail system.

St. Lawrence Hall was built in 1850 as a meeting place for public gatherings, concerts and exhibitions. Restored to its original grandeur in 1967, the Hall — with its three major rooms — continues to serve as a breathtaking venue for inspired special occasions. On Sunday during Doors Open, Opera Atelier will present three fun, family-friendly and free 20-minute performances.

During Doors Open, take a behind-the-scenes look around Buddies in Bad Times Theatre — the world's largest and longest-running queer theatre. Built in 1912, the building served different purposes before Toronto Workshop Productions opened here in the 1960s. Since then, the space has been a hub for alternative theatre, with Buddies (opened in 1994) being awarded a 40-year lease.

The Ismaili Centre, Toronto, is a place of congregation (Jamatkhana) and a community centre, serving as a symbolic marker of the permanent presence of the Ismaili community in Canada. During Doors Open, explore the Centre’s stunning architecture, enjoy a guided tour — including the prayer hall with its crystalline dome — and stay for a special photography exhibition. (No tripods allowed.)

The legendary El Mocambo has seen some of the world’s top musical acts — including Ronnie Hawkins, Stevie Ray Vaughan and The Rolling Stones. It has become a world-class production and entertainment facility. Come and take a tour of the most legendary music venue in North America! But arrive early to avoid disappointment as the venue closes at 3:45 p.m.

Come and enjoy a delicious adventure at the QUEST XO Chocolate Lab! This industrial three-storey brick-and-wood-beam building, constructed in 1901, is located in the heart of the Liberty Village neighbourhood. As you explore the lab, speak with the knowledgeable chocolate-loving team members stationed along the way who will answer all your questions about chocolate, edible art and the community.

The Second City is the largest improvisational comedy theatre and training centre in Canada. Its list of famous alumni includes John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd, Andrea Martin and many others. In June, they celebrate 50 Years of Funny. During your self-guided tour, knowledgeable volunteers and staff will be available to answer questions. Bring your camera! (No tripods allowed.)

Toronto's Naval Reserve Division, home to 350 sailors and officers, celebrates its centennial this year. Boats, weapons, divers, musicians, marine technicians, intelligence operators and naval warfare officers are all tested here for domestic operations or deployed missions. Come and see the work that they do, check out the boats on display and listen to the marching band throughout the day.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, owned and operated by PortsToronto, is a world-class, award-winning airport. Located on Toronto Island, it offers service to more than 20 cities in Canada and the United States. Doors Open visitors can explore the underwater pedestrian tunnel, the electric ferry, interactive exhibits and a rare chance to get up close with the airport’s safety vehicles.

The Toronto Humane Society (THS) is one of Ontario’s largest animal welfare organizations. With over 135 years of providing care for animals, the THS is an industry leader in shelter care, animal training, behavioural consultations and veterinary services. It is their mission to improve the lives of animals. Knowledgeable volunteers be on hand for tours and questions. Bring your camera! (No tripods allowed.)

This library at the University of Toronto – with four floors of rare books – is something of a hidden treasure. They hold some of the rarest print materials in the world – including manuscripts dating back to the 11th century. Visitors during Doors Open can view this spectacular public space and chat with staff while viewing selected highlights from the collections.

Constructed in the 1930s, this popular Doors Open site is Toronto’s largest water treatment plant, providing 400 million litres of safe drinking water daily. It’s also the largest ensemble of art deco structures in the city. Take a self-guided tour and explore the pump house and filter building, with staff available to answer your questions along the way. (Photo: Samuel Kolber) (No tripods or filming allowed.)

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 a self-guided tour that includes the legislative chamber. There’s even an outdoor scavenger hunt for kids. (No tripods allowed.)

The Toronto Railway Museum, located in the heart of the historical John Street Roundhouse, is a National Historic Site. The Roundhouse was constructed in 1929 by the Canadian Pacific Railway to house and repair its large fleet of passenger locomotives travelling through Union Station. It was an active industrial building – in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week – where steam locomotives were serviced around the clock. In its prime, the John Street locomotive facilities contained 43 structures and several miles of track and covered nearly 6.5 hectares (16 acres). Rail activity at the Roundhouse began to dwindle in 1960s when diesel locomotives began to replace steam, and it eventually closed in 1986. The western portion of the park closest to the Roundhouse features the original, fully restored and operational 37-metre (120-foot) long locomotive turntable. Immediately north of this is a carefully chosen collection of full-sized railway equipment, which now makes up part of the Toronto Railway Museum’s collection. The museum tells the stories of Toronto’s railways through static and interactive exhibits inside Stall 17, as well as by leading guided tours through the rolling stock and rail buildings in the collection (visit the website for details on in-person tours when it is once again safe to do so). For Digital Doors Open, explore this fascinating museum through its many online activities (puzzles, scavenger hunt, colouring pages and an audio guide), or learn more about the history of the site and of our railway heritage through their extensive YouTube collection.

A popular addition to the architectural renewal of the University of Toronto’s downtown campus, the Isabel Bader Theatre has become a staple of the city’s film festival circuit, while serving as a lecture hall and learning space for student groups. It is an outstanding venue for concerts, theatrical productions, conferences and filming events. It’s busy schedule keeps the 500-seat theatre occupied throughout much of the academic year. It is also, however, in high demand by external clients. As part of Digital Doors Open, explore this theatre space through the video below.

The Archives of Ontario is the largest provincial archives in Canada, with a vast collection that includes textual (paper) items, photographs, maps, architectural drawings and audio, video and film recordings. Located at York University's Keele Campus, this purpose-built facility includes a large reading room with digital microfilm readers, audio and video booths, digitization and conservation labs, a large exhibit gallery and a classroom for educational programming. The Archives is also home to the Government of Ontario Art Collection. If you’re interested in researching at the archives, check out the Researching Our Records Online or the Tracing Your Family History videos on the Archives’ YouTube channel. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about the Archives of Ontario through the video below, browse their many online exhibits or piece together Ontario’s history by trying out an online jigsaw puzzle.

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.

The Toronto Zoo – Canada’s largest zoo, at 287 hectares (709 acres), with over 5,000 animals – has a mission to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction. And that mission has never been more important. While the site was closed due to COVID-19, the Zoo quickly enhanced its online engagement to remain connected with the public. Social media and online storytelling grew significantly, with animal photos and videos keeping everyone connected to their favourite animals. Now safely reopened (see the video below for more information), the Zoo has implemented strict new guidelines – including designated one-way routes, hand-sanitizing stations, mandatory face coverings in most areas, and mandatory advanced ticketing with pre-booked time slots required. Should you visit, check out the new Scenic Safari Drive Thru, Camping at the Zoo, the Wild Encounters behind-the-scenes program, and the return of the successful Terra Lumina: An Enchanted Night Walk. But you can also still enjoy a rich digital experience at the Zoo, including lots of home activities, a new downloadable map, educator resources, Wild for Life podcasts and much more! Don’t forget to join them on Facebook Live at 1 p.m. daily when one of the zoo’s expert keepers will introduce you to one of the animals. Check the website for full details.

Tommy Thompson Park, just minutes away from downtown Toronto, is a unique urban wilderness that offers some of the best bird watching in the city – with more than 300 species. The Leslie Street Spit – the land on which this park now stands – was entirely manmade, composed of landfill, concrete, bricks and rebar. Today, this 250-hectare park (617 acres) is operated by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. It has become an oasis for walkers and cyclists, and remains the habitat of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. As part of Digital Doors Open, download their birder’s checklist, read their research reports on breeding birds, explore the site through the video below, and watch the acclaimed documentary (from CBC’s The Nature of Things, 44:18).

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.

Come and tour Spadina House and discover the home of the Austin family from 1866 to 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 a kitchen garden, an orchard and the newly created Aki Wiidookaagewin "Ontario Earth Helpers" Indigenous kitchen garden. (No tripods allowed.)

Osgoode Hall — home of the Law Society of Ontario and the highest courts of the province — opened in 1832 and remains a Toronto landmark and a symbol of the law in Ontario. The 1867 fence, renowned for its peculiar gates, surrounds the property and its landscaped grounds. Download the self-guided tour or speak with one of their knowledgeable volunteers. (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!