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a garden with the words May 6 and a door icon

Doors Open Oshawa

Home...Festivals and EventsCity EventsDoors Open Oshawa
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Saturday May 6, 2023

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.*

This year's Doors Open theme is FOOD, exploring Ontario’s food traditions and history of food production as well as the spaces that shape and define our culinary traditions today.

Doors Open Ontario is a province-wide celebration that provides a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy sometimes hidden and always interesting places and spaces in cities across Ontario - free of charge from May to October.

Explore Doors Open Ontario 2023

Doors Open Oshawa is an annual event providing an opportunity to explore Oshawa's diverse heritage and cultural sites. Spend a day discovering local history first-hand and celebrating our community heritage.

While visiting our sites use #DoorsOpenOsh when posting to Facebook or Twitter or fill out our Visitor Survey in-person or online for a chance to win a prize!

* some sites may have alternate times

view of the gardens at Alexandra's Bounty, concentric circles garden beds
Alexandra's Bounty Garden

Address: 364 Simcoe St. N.

Tours: Self-guided. Volunteers will be on-site to answer questions.

Description: Alexandra's Bounty Garden was created in 2016, The Garden is operated by the Oshawa & Durham Region Metis Council, to provide fresh herbs and vegetables to the community. 

Parking: Off-site

Washrooms: No

Accessible: Yes

Other: Volunteers will have cultural items on display, and will present the ingredients for Three Sisters soup.

Alexandra's Bounty
bars on either side with tables and chairs looking out from a stage
Biltmore Theatre

Address: 39 King St. E.

Tours: Yes,

Description: Est. in 1940, Biltmore Theatre was built by the Okun Brothers of Toronto. The theatre has operated as a movie theatre, nightclub, and music venue before its current state as a hall for touring concerts, special events, and community rental space.

Parking: On street

Washrooms: Yes, no accessible washroom onsite

Accessible: Main floor only

Other: Basic refreshments available for sale.

Biltmore Theatre
Flags and memorial sign for Intrepid Park/Camp X
Camp X - Intrepid Park

Address: 2000 Boundary Rd. (between Unifor/LCBO distribution plant)

Tour: 1:30 p.m. only - meet at the flag poles

Description: Walking tour of the famous top-secret spy camp; 

Parking: Unifor parking lot - east of Intrepid Park

Washrooms: No

Accessible: No

Other: Books by the author available for sale on-site

Camp X
Red car with eyes and a mouth - Lightning McQueen
Canadian Automotive Museum

Address: 99 Simcoe St. S.

Tours: Self-guided and guided

Description: Built in c. 1920, this museum is home to the world's most significant collection of Canadian cars. The museum is located in a former 1920's auto dealership building with more than 70 vehicles on display including Lightning McQueen from Disney/Pixar's Cars 3!

Parking: Yes

Washrooms: Yes

Accessible: Main floor only

Other: Gift shop will be open

Canadian Automotive Museum
trees and shrubs in front of a red brick building
Charles Hall

Address: 61 Charles St.

Tours: Yes, every 15 to 20 minutes.

Description: The former Alger Press Building (cir. 1903) was renovated and refurbished by Ontario Tech in 2010 and is one of the University's key academic hubs.

Parking: Yes

Washrooms: Yes

Accessible: Yes

 

Charles Hall
Greenhouse with flowers and plants
City of Oshawa Greenhouse

Address: 919 Farewell St. S.

Tours: Self-guided

Description: The City of Oshawa is proud of our glass greenhouse built in 1964, where we grow and over-winter many varieties of plants that make our City beautiful. The greenhouse consists of 4 fulltime gardeners and 12 seasonal staff. Our Gardeners take pride in design, growing and maintenance of our extraordinary gardens.

Parking: Yes

Washrooms: No

Accessible: Yes

 

City of Oshawa Greenhouse
a laker ship at a port
Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority

Address: 1621 Simcoe St. S.

Tours: Shuttle bus tours: 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. from the parking lot at Lakeview Park Ave. and Simcoe St. S.

Description:  This federal marine port in Oshawa services Ontario. The Port is one of the few cities that can boast an airport, rail lines, a deep-sea port and 400-series highway all within close proximity, offering importers and exporters a competitive edge.

Parking: Yes

Washrooms: No

Accessible: No

Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority
Islamic Centre building from the outside
The Oshawa Islamic Centre
Address: 23 Lloyd St.

Tours: Yes

Description: The Islamic Centre of Oshawa is the first purpose-built mosque in Oshawa, which was opened to the public in early June 2012. It is open to visitors throughout the year. They receive many visitors from schools, colleges, universities, and other institutions wishing to learn more about the mosque and the Islamic faith for projects and studies. Over the years, Muslims/non-Muslims have used the premises for meetings, lectures, studies, community, and educational purposes.

Parking: Yes

Accessible: Yes

Islamic Centre
Building exterior with flowers
McLaughlin Branch

Alternate hours: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Address: 65 Bagot St.

Tours: No

Description: Forming part of Oshawa's Civic Centre, the Library was a gift of Col. R.S. McLaughlin in 1954. Architect Arthur Eadie was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright in his design of the McLaughlin Public Library, it is our central branch.

Parking: Yes

Washrooms: Yes

Accessible: Yes

Other: There will be a display in the Local History room about the history of food shopping in Oshawa,

McLaughlin Branch
stone work cottage
Henry House - Oshawa Museum

Address: 1450 Simcoe St. S.

Tours: No

Alternate time: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Description: Built in 1840, this was the family home of Thomas Henry, a local minister, farmer, and harbourmaster. Henry House is portrayed as a period home, typical for the late 1800's. Visit the home and see period costumed characters in the home including a Victorian kitchen with demonstrations throughout the day.

Parking: On-site, free

Washrooms: No

Accessible: Yes

Henry House
Regent theatre exterior brick and windows
Regent Theatre Ontario Tech.

Address: 50 King St. E.

Tours: Self-guided

Description: The façade was built in 1919 for Famous Players theatres and has Georgian architectural lines. One of the City’s few remaining examples of this classically inspired style, the building reopened in 2010 as a lecture theatre for Ontario Tech University, as well as for community and cultural events.

 Parking: On-street parking

Washrooms: Yes

Accessible: Yes

Other: Free popcorn and movie passes while supplies last!

Regent Theatre Ontario Tech.
Regiment Museum sign with military vehicles in the back
Regiment Museum

Address: 1000 Stevenson Rd. N.

Tours: Available for free upon request

Description: The Ontario Regiment (RCAC) Museum commemorates the history of Durham Region's very own Canadian Army unit, the Ontario Regiment (RCAC), and is home to Canada's largest collection of operational historic military vehicles.

Parking: On-site, free

Washrooms: Yes

Accessible: Yes

Other: Vehicle rides will be available at an additional cost. The museum's gift shop will be open.

Regiment Museum
Aerial view of the gallery
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery

Address: 72 Queen St.

Tours: Guided: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. or self-guided

Description: The original gallery (1969) was a modernist stone structure. In 1987, Arthur Erickson designed an expansion that added 36,000 square-feet to meet the growing needs of the RMG and the community. He incorporated the original façade into his design.

Parking: Yes

Washrooms: Yes

Accessible: Yes

Other: Gift shop open

Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Church building exterior
Simcoe St. United Church

Address: 66 Simcoe St. S.

Tours: Yes

Description: Built in 1867 for a Methodist congregation, this church is a fine example of the Gothic Revival style by Gundry & Langley. Lancet-arched openings and a polygonal spire with pinnacles and dormers embellish the exterior. Oshawa’s oldest existing church building. Historical displays will highlight some of congregation’s and the building’s storied past.

Parking: On-street

Washrooms: Yes

Accessible: Main floor

Simcoe St. United Church

Virtual Sites:

Oshawa Union Cemetery

Many famous people from Oshawa's and Canada's past are interred in Oshawa Union Cemetery, formerly “Thornton's Burying Ground”. Oshawa Museum’s podcast highlights the history of the cemetery. Today, the site covers 32 acres and includes private mausoleums and a Gothic-revival chapel. The mausoleum was built in 1924 and features an ornate marble interior and hand-painted stained-glass windows. The on-line interactive map is a new, searchable resource of burials. The gravestones are of particular interest; explore the iconography or the rare White Bronze markers. Listen to a video podcast about Oshawa in the 1860’s and the story of George Prentice and the Fenian Raids.

Oshawa Union Cemetery Map interactive map

 

Oshawa Museum podcasts

  • White Bronze markers - In our latest episode, Executive Director and gravestone enthusiast Laura Suchan, examines the history of the Monumental Bronze Company and looks at the remarkable number of 'White Bronze' markers in Oshawa's Union Cemetery 10 minutes, very slow
  • Our latest podcast highlights the history of Oshawa's Union Cemetery, located at the northeast corner of King Street and Thornton Road, today spanning over 30 acres in size.
  • Oshawa in the 1860s – this one touches a little bit about the cemetery and looks at one person who is buried there who died due to the Fenian Raids
  • Memento Mori: A look at Gravestone Iconography
Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens

“Exploring the beautiful OVBG is fun and easy!

You can now use you smartphone to scan QR Codes placed on signage to learn about the park, points of interest and use a navigation guide between landmarks.

Durham College students designed and created an augmented reality platform as part of TeachingCity partnership with the City Of Oshawa. Visit the park, scan a QR Code and try it for yourself!

Or view the virtual map.

Trent University Durham GTA

Trent University Durham GTA began delivering courses in 1974 at various facilities in the Oshawa community. In 2010, a standalone campus opened its doors at the site of the former St. Michael’s Catholic Elementary School on Thornton Road. An extensive renovation was undertaken to modernize the building at that time. It leveraged existing brick archways and cedar planked ceilings, which were complemented by a new modern and spacious light-filled atrium.

In fall 2020, a new academic and residence building officially opened its doors. Adorned with striking copper-clad columns, state-of-the-art learning and living spaces, and wood themes that tie the two campus buildings together, this new addition to the campus continues in the University’s traditions of beautifully curated architectural features. Explore the beautiful spaces and campus amenities through the virtual tours.

Trent University Durham GTA sees education unfold on a personal scale and is a close knit, scholarly community in a diverse, urban environment with a robust offering of in-demand and unique academic programs.

Waterfront Trail
TeachingCity Oshawa is proud to announce the launch of new interactive experience to encourage the community to get out, explore and learn!

Now people walking along the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail in Oshawa can use their smartphone cameras to scan Quick Response (QR) codes placed on signage, to learn about the various parks, points of interest and amenities on the Trail, while also using a navigation guide to link you to other points of interest along the way. 

Durham College (DC) students in the School of Media, Art and Design researched, designed and created the interactive information portal that includes a wayfinding tool as part of a City Idea Lab course through TeachingCity Oshawa.

The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail stretches 3,600 km along the Canadian shores of the Great Lakes region, and connects 155 communities, including those of the First Nations. Oshawa’s portion of the Trail stretches 11 km along the shoreline between the borders of Whitby and Clarington. This portal helps guide and inform exploration of the trail, parks, natural areas and points of interest along the way.

Learn more about TeachingCity at www.teachingcityoshawa.ca

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© 2022 City of Oshawa

Service Oshawa
1st Floor, West Wing, City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7

Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: [email protected]

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