Gibson House is a 19th-century farmhouse hidden among North York’s highrises. Step into the 1850s kitchen, where you will be met by the warm aroma of wood smoke and beeswax. Explore how David Gibson — a Scottish immigrant, land surveyor, farmer, politician and rebel — put his mark on the community, city and province. Come and taste, smell and touch history.

The Franklin Carmichael Art Centre is a unique building that sits atop the Humber River ravine in north Etobicoke. The two-storey log structure is surrounded by a small park. The site was gifted to the then-Township of Etobicoke in 1959. The Centre is home to the Franklin Carmichael Art Group, which offers visual-arts instruction to adults and children.

Ukrainian immigrants bought land in Kensington Market to build a synagogue. Completed in 1927, Kiever Synagogue’s exterior features twin-domed towers crowned with stars of David and two main staircase entrances. The interior includes a hand-carved Torah ark, paintings of biblical animals and signs of the zodiac. In 1979, the Kiever became the first building of Jewish significance to be designated.

Built in the 1890s as a Foresters' Hall, this building served as home to Toronto’s first English-speaking Mennonite congregation. The First Narayever congregation, founded in 1914, bought the building in 1943, It has been an orthodox synagogue ever since, evolving into the egalitarian-traditional congregation it is today. From 2020-23, the shul completed a major renovation, making the building fully accessible.

Located in the city’s west end, near Kipling Avenue and Rexdale Boulevard, this is a three-bay fire station. It houses a pumper truck and aerial truck, and is where the District Chief is based. Come and explore a real fire station and see how Toronto firefighters work to keep our communities safe.

Station 334 is Toronto Fire's waterfront station, down near Harbourfront. It is home to two fireboats and Pumper 334, and the site of the moving Toronto Fallen Firefighter Memorial. Come and explore a real fire station and see how Toronto firefighters work to keep our communities safe.

Located in the Markham Road and Lawrence area, this three-bay fire hall is the headquarters for Toronto's East Command. It houses a rescue truck, air/light truck, aerial truck, a District Chief and a Platoon Chief. Come and explore a real fire station and see how Toronto firefighters work to keep our communities safe.

Located in the Yonge and Lawrence area, this two-storey, two-bay building is the sister station to Fire Station 424. It was extensively retrofitted in 2003 to accommodate a taller, aerial ladder truck. Come and explore a real fire station and see how Toronto firefighters work to keep our communities safe.

The Etobicoke Lawn Bowling Club sits on the east side of Mimico Creek just south of Montgomery's Inn. Founded in 1950, with roots back to 1941, it has been a source of joy and camaraderie for generations of Torontonians. Nestled in the beautiful Tom Riley Park, it is one of the most charming clubs in Ontario.

Estonian Museum Canada presents its home, Tartu College, as part of Doors Open Toronto 2025. Built in 1970, the college is known mostly as a student residence. But, for local Estonians, it is one of their most important cultural community centres, featuring diverse and lively programs. Their collection has grown into what is now the largest Estonian-themed collection outside Estonia.

Run out of Glen Rhodes United, the East End Food Hub showcases the building's ongoing community role. A partnership involving Applegrove, the Leslieville Farmers' Market, Nourish East End and East End United Regional Ministry, with support from the City of Toronto, enables them to offer fresh food markets, emergency food support and community programs. Weekly worship services continue here.

Daniels Spectrum is a vibrant cultural hub located in the heart of Regent Park. It celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the local community while welcoming global perspectives. Since opening in September 2012, it has fostered social and community development, playing a pivotal role in transforming the neighbourhood into an inclusive, livable, healthy, safe and thriving community.

When this church was constructed in 1911, the surrounding area was mostly farmland. But it quickly grew and was settled by English, Irish and Scottish immigrants. Despite a major renovation in 1993, the elevation from the street looks much the same — even with the new addition. Set back from the sidewalk, the site offers gardens, benches and a Little Library.

The Danforth Carhouse began servicing streetcars in 1915. In 1921, the Toronto Transit Commission took over and expanded it to accommodate the then-new streetcars. After the 1966 opening of the Bloor-Danforth subway, the carhouse was converted into an all-bus garage. Garage operations lasted here until the site closed in 2002. Today, the barns are the TTC’s marketplace and studios.

In 1874, British immigrants Jemima and John Howard donated their land to the City of Toronto to become High Park. Their home, Colborne Lodge, is now one of the Toronto History Museums. Historical records indicate that the Howards were avid players of board games. During Doors Open, rarely displayed historical board games and parlour games will be showcased and played.

This is a stunning cultural facility located in Guild Park and Gardens. It features five art studios and a corridor gallery on each level. Built around an existing designated heritage building, a third floor was added to transform a former office and storage facility into a distinctive cultural landmark. Today, the Centre offers diverse and accessible arts and culture programs.

Opened in 1992, the City of Toronto Archives building was designed to be a safe, secure and efficient archives space, as well as an inviting research facility. The Records Centre houses 130,000 boxes of records. It also features a public research hall (used by researchers from around the world), conservation and digitization labs and changing exhibitions highlighting Toronto's rich history.

St. Andrew by-the-Lake Anglican Church is a lovely neo-Gothic wood-framed church surrounded by parkland and lagoons on Toronto Island. It holds services year-round on Sunday mornings. The building has beautiful acoustics and some stunning stained-glass windows. St. Andrew's is the last remaining church on Toronto Island and will celebrate its 141st anniversary this year.

Originally called Uplands, this was the summer home of the Cummings family. In addition to the main house are various cottages, now the Carriage House Studios. In 1927, the house was purchased by John Fraser, a Toronto financier, who enhanced the gardens. In 1978, the property was acquired by the City. It has operated as an arts centre/gallery since.

The Canoe Landing Community Recreation Centre is a new, state-of-the-art recreation facility that opened in June 2020. It is a beautiful, universally accessible site with great views inside and out. Through consultations, the community had a big say in what they wanted to see featured in the building. Today, it is the place to be.

Windfields Estate was the principal residence of E.P. Taylor (1901-89). The family bequeathed the property to the municipality in 1987. Toronto filmmaker Norman Jewison (1926-2024), founder of the Canadian Film Centre, made the estate the Centre’s permanent home. Since 1988, they have delivered advanced training in film, television and screen acting to more than 2,000 creators from across Canada.

The Assembly Hall is a cultural community hub and rental facility. Built in 1898 as part of the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital, it was redesigned in 2001 to meet a variety of cultural and community needs, while still preserving its historical charm. Today, it is a performance venue with community rooms for art classes, meetings, workshops and rehearsals.

This is the birthplace of James Shaver Woodsworth, one of the founders of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. A Member of Parliament during Mackenzie King’s term, Woodsworth was instrumental in enacting old-age pensions and unemployment insurance. The house was rescued from demolition in 1980 and moved to its current location. Today, it is largely used for weddings, special events and filming.

All Ours Studios has converted a stand-alone warehouse and retrofitted eight shipping containers to host private art-production spaces and shared community space. Each container features a full glass façade that is insulated, drywalled and powered to be warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. The site also has a communal tool-use workshop, gardens, courtyards and test-out mural walls.

Alliance Française was founded in Paris, France, in 1883 by Louis Pasteur, Ferdinand de Lesseps and Jules Verne. It was established in Toronto in 1902. Alliance Française Toronto embodies the modern values of humanism with a respect for linguistic and cultural diversity. Now the largest French-language school in Canada, it offers many classes and presents over 100 events a year.