Doors Open Ontario

Every year, from April through October – Doors Open Ontario invites you to visit and explore participating towns’, counties’ and city’s museums; places of worship; public, cultural or institutional buildings; private businesses; trails and natural areas; and more. In-person and digital access to sites are available, including spaces that aren’t usually open to the public or that would otherwise charge an admission fee. Events take place in person and online. This is a family-friendly event, with free admission.

Close-up of an arch above a historic red brick building, the words Gooderham Building carved into the stone, surrounded by decorative details.

(Photo credits: Doors Open Ontario. Gooderham Building, Toronto. Photo by Ashley Duffus. This image also appears on the Events page.)

Choose your own adventure!

A province-wide heritage tourism program that gives the public the opportunity to explore fascinating heritage properties across Ontario, Doors Open Ontario showcases the buildings, natural spaces, infrastructure and cultural landscapes that shape and define Ontario’s communities.

For example, sites you can visit include historic architecture, like the Foy-Smith House in Toronto; private businesses like Grant Avenue recording studio in Hamilton; examples of modern architecture, like the Roxy Theatre in Owen Sound; churches, like St. Paul’s Chapel in Caledonia and historical landmarks like the Old Stone Mill in Delta.

A man wearing a large backpack on his back stands on a rounded rock as he looks out over the water and green space along the horizon, below a lightly clouded blue sky.

(Photo credits: Doors Open Ontario. Huckleberry Rock Lookout Trail, near Bracebridge. Photo by David Campbell.)

Find a participating site or related event in your area or nearby – or make a road trip out of it – and explore! Most locations offer self-guided tours, so you can wander and discover at your own pace. With over 200 in-person sites on offer – in small towns like St. Marys (near Stratford) and counties like Simcoe, to smaller cities like Burlington and Orillia, and larger metropolitan areas like Toronto – there is so much architecture, history and nature to take in, not to mention cities, towns and counties awaiting your discovery!

Engage with Digital Doors Open Ontario through the virtual experiences on the web page, featuring many of Ontario’s treasured places, and the stories behind their doors that draw people together and inspire a strong sense of community. This digital experience includes photo tours, virtual tours, videos, searchable collections, and online games and activities.

For more information on how Doors Open Ontario works (including getting involved as a participating site), visit their FAQ page.

Close-up of blue geometric panels on a modern building.

(Photo credits: Doors Open Ontario. Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), Toronto. Photo by Nick Stanley.)

About Doors Open Ontario

Doors Open Ontario began in 2002 as a means of connecting people to place by facilitating public access to compelling built and natural heritage sites that normally restrict regular access to the public, and to ensure that Ontario’s diverse heritage would be free to access by individuals and families of all socioeconomic backgrounds. They aim to create meaningful shared experiences for all Ontarians, as well as visitors, to enjoy and appreciate the heritage of the province with as few participation barriers as possible. The range of participating communities and sites stretches across the province and offers something for everyone. The annual program is organized by the Ontario Heritage Trust, an agency of the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, which works with communities to design the program and its promotional strategy to reach as many prospective visitors as possible.

Interior of an old church taken from the balcony at the back. Rows of wooden pews between decorated pillars, a mural in the dome above the altar area.

(Photo credits: Doors Open Ontario. St. Stanislav, Hamilton. Photo by Alex Meoko.)

Event details

Hosted by: Ontario Heritage Trust, in partnership with participating geographic locations & sites

Type of event: building & natural site tours

Dates & times: Annually, from April – October; please refer to the specific sites you wish to visit for exact dates. Each city/town/county will host for a day or a whole weekend, often the same weekend every year (for example, Hamilton Region hosts the first weekend in May; Toronto during the last weekend in May; and Ottawa, the first weekend in June).

Cost: Free

Location: All over Ontario. Please refer to the specific city/town/county and sites you wish to visit. Participating places include Toronto, Ottawa, London, Hamilton Region and Guelph.

Booking link: Please note that some tours may require advance booking. Please refer to the site you wish to visit.

Contact details: Ontario Heritage Trust, 10 Adelaide Street East, Toronto, ON, M5C 1J3, Canada; 416-325-5000, doorsopenontario@heritagetrust.on.ca, heritagetrust.on.ca

Accessibility: Please refer to the specific site you wish to visit.