Doors Open Toronto is an annual event when approximately 150 buildings of architectural, historic, cultural, and social significance to the city of

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

open their doors to the public for this free citywide event. Doors Open Toronto was developed as a millennium project in 2000, by the City of Toronto (developed from a European model) and has since attracted over 1.7 million residents and tourists. Doors Open Toronto gives people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to learn about Toronto's history, get involved and celebrate Toronto's built heritage. Toronto was the first city in North America to launch this type of program. Many participating buildings organize guided tours, exhibits, displays, and activities to enrich the visitor experience. Due to the

COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto The COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto is an ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Toronto is the most populous city in Canad ...

, the 2020 and 2021 editions of the event were cancelled.

Highlighted buildings

Most buildings are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday; however some only open for limited hours. The public is advised to check the "buildings to visit" section of the official website. The list of buildings is made public on May 1 of the calendar year. Some Doors Open Toronto highlighted buildings include: R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant, Mackenzie House, and TTC carhouses.

Volunteers

Doors Open Toronto is managed by the Cultural Services and Special Events Departments at the City of Toronto. Doors Open Toronto relies on the support, as well as enthusiasm of hundreds of volunteers. Applications are available each fall and can be found on the Doors Open Toronto website.

Awards

* 2009 Canadian Urban Institute at the Urban Leadership awards - City Soul Award * 2010 City Manager's Award for Toronto Public Service Excellence * 2010 The Canadian Museums Association Awards of Outstanding Achievement

Dates and themes

The first Doors Open Toronto was held in May 2000. Since then, Doors Open Toronto has been held on the fourth weekend of May. In recent years, each festival has been curated around a theme. * 2000: May 27, 28 * 2001: May 26, 27 * 2002: May 25, 26 * 2003: May 24, 25 * 2004: May 29, 30 * 2005: May 28, 29 * 2006: May 27, 28 * 2007: May 26, 27 – Sustainability * 2008: May 24, 25 – Sacred Space * 2009: May 23, 24 – Toronto's Literature * 2010: May 29, 30 – Architecture * 2011: May 28, 29 – Photography * 2012: May 26, 27 – 200 Years of Building Our City * 2013: May 25, 26 – Creators, Makers and Innovators * 2014: May 24, 25 – Secrets and Spirits; Exploring the Mysteries Behind the Door * 2015: May 23, 24 – Sports, Recreation and Leisure * 2016: May 28, 29 – Re-used, Re-visited and Revised * 2017: May 27, 28 – Fifteen Decades of Canadian Architecture * 2018: May 26, 27 – Film: The Great Romance * 2019: May 25, 26 – 20 Something * 2020: The event was originally scheduled for May 23 and 24; however, due to the evolving situation surrounding the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

, and with major events and festivals being banned by the City of Toronto until at least June 30, 2020, the event was cancelled. *2021: The event was originally scheduled for May 29 and 30; it was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Complete list of participating venues since 2004

Sources for the above table:

Gallery

Image:Scadding Cabin - CNE Grounds, Toronto (September 1 2005).jpg,

Scadding Cabin Scadding Cabin (or Simcoe Cabin) is a 1794 log cabin on the grounds of Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was constructed for John Scaddinghttps://www.yorkpioneers.com/plaques/ and is now the oldest surviving building in Toronto. H ...

(Toronto's oldest building) Image:Toronto Stock Exchange.jpg,

Design Exchange The Design Exchange (DX) is a Canadian event venue. It is located in Toronto's financial district in the historical Toronto Stock Exchange building, that was incorporated into a skyscraper in 1991, the Toronto-Dominion Centre (222 Bay Street). Th ...

(former

Toronto Stock Exchange The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX; french: Bourse de Toronto) is a stock exchange located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the 10th largest exchange in the world and the third largest in North America based on market capitalization. Based in t ...

) Image:Chum 1050 building.jpg, The Chum Radio Building at 1331 Yonge Street Image:Inuit30.jpg,

Museum of Inuit Art The Museum of Inuit Art (2007-2016), also known as MIA, was a museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada located within the Queen's Quay Terminal at the Harbourfront Centre. It was devoted exclusively to Inuit art and culture. Despite such popularity, it ...

Image:Canadian Music Centre Doors Open Toronto 2010.jpg,

Canadian Music Centre The Canadian Music Centre was founded in 1959 by a group of Canadian composers who saw a need to create a repository for Canadian music. It now holds Canada's largest collection of Canadian concert music, and works to promote the music of its As ...

at Doors Open 2010 Image:BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Toronto.jpg, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Image:MaRSfromCollege.jpg, MaRS Centre

References

External links

*
Toronto Star Doors Open Site
{{Parades and Festivals in Toronto

Buildings and structures A building, or edifice, is an enclosed structure with a roof and walls standing more or less permanently in one place, such as a house or factory (although there's also portable buildings). Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and funct ...

Recurring events established in 2000 2000 establishments in Ontario May events