This year's event starts Saturday in Guelph and wraps up in St. Thomas and Niagara Oct. 17-18. In between, there are 48 chances to tour heritage buildings, architectural showpieces and landmarks, some of which have never been open to the public.
Six sites are new this year: Lake of Bays, Richmond Hill, Minden, East Elgin, Milton and St. Thomas, said Liane Nowosielski of the Ontario Heritage Trust, which organizes the events. There is also a new "bi-national event in Niagara," that features sites in Ontario and New York, she added.
"Since the inception of Doors Open Ontario in 2002, nearly three-million visits have been made to heritage sites," trust chairman Lincoln Alexander said.
This year's line up includes:
- Guelph Correctional Centre, a former provincial penitentiary that was built in 1909 and considered Canada's best-equipped jail.
- Aurora Readiness Centre/Bunker. The former Cold War Emergency Control Headquarters for Toronto. Established in 1962, it's located beneath a farmhouse.
- Great Lakes International Marine Training Centre at Georgian College in Owen Sound. Called an "IMAX theatre on steroids," it has Canada's most-advanced marine training simulators.
Along with the correctional centre, Doors Open Guelph has 10 places to visit on April 25.
"At each site, knowledgeable tour guides will talk about the history and important architectural features," said Sally Wismer of the Guelph Arts Council.
Other Guelph sites are Alma Gallery in the 1868 Alma Block; the City Hall; St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church with its three onion domes and decorative interior; 1875 Hastings House; and Tiger Boys Museum, home to 32 vintage aircraft at Guelph Airpark.
On May 9, Doors Open Chatham-Kent has 28 sites open ranging from Wheatley to Cedar Springs, Dresden and Blenheim along with many in Chatham.
"You might catch the fully restored hearse at Classic Coachworks in Blenheim or tempt your taste buds with a truffle or other chocolate delight at Eve Chocolatier," publicist Sheila Gibbs said.
Visitors can also see the ceiling paintings at St. Peter's Roman Catholic church and find out how turbines generate wind power at Van de Wynckel farm near Merlin.
Doors Open Oxford, on May 23, features 12 sites including the Woodstock Peace Lighthouse gallery, which houses an extensive collection of religious icons.
For Doors Open info, see doorsopenontario.on.ca or call Ontario Tourism at 1-800-ONTARIO (668-2746). For Guelph, contact guelpharts.ca/doorsopenguelph or 519-836-3280. For Chatham-Kent, contact doorsopenchatham-kent.com or 1-800-561-6125. For Oxford, contact doorsopenoxford.ca or 519-539-9800.
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