Doors Open Waterloo Region

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Consultation has concluded

This project supports the Region of Waterloo's strategic focus area(s):

The Doors Open Waterloo Region official logo

Please engage with us! On this Doors Open EngageWR page you can ask questions, share memories of Doors Open participating sites, complete the visitor's experience survey or sign up for updates. You can also follow Doors Open Waterloo Region on social media.

www.regionofwaterloo.ca/doorsopen , Facebook @DoorsOpenWR, Twitter @DoorsOpenWR, Instagram @DoorsOpenWR, Flickr

What is Doors Open?

One day + 43 fascinating locations + FREE admission = Doors Open Waterloo Region! Visit first-time sites and past favourites, for their architecture, their heritage, or the interesting things going on. Some have all three!

Doors Open Waterloo Region is part of Doors Open Ontario, a province-wide initiative of the Ontario Heritage Trust to celebrate community heritage and architecture. Doors Open Waterloo Region takes place on September 21, 2019. It is a family friendly event and most sites are open between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The local Doors Open theme for 2019 is 'Water' and will explore our region’s unique and long history with surface and groundwater. Water is life. Water is local. Water circles the globe, a single, closed cycle. It is fundamental. Our past, our present, our future.

At 16 theme sites, explore the ways water is at the centre of our lives. Indigenous water teachings, water treatment and distribution, watershed conservation and management, water research and science, natural areas and recreation, rivers, waste water, flooding and floodplains, water efficiency in buildings, waterpower, bridges…all will be included in this year’s Doors Open. Water-themed talks, walks, displays and activities will help you get your feet wet (sorry – we just had to say it)!


This project supports the Region of Waterloo's strategic focus area(s):

The Doors Open Waterloo Region official logo

Please engage with us! On this Doors Open EngageWR page you can ask questions, share memories of Doors Open participating sites, complete the visitor's experience survey or sign up for updates. You can also follow Doors Open Waterloo Region on social media.

www.regionofwaterloo.ca/doorsopen , Facebook @DoorsOpenWR, Twitter @DoorsOpenWR, Instagram @DoorsOpenWR, Flickr

What is Doors Open?

One day + 43 fascinating locations + FREE admission = Doors Open Waterloo Region! Visit first-time sites and past favourites, for their architecture, their heritage, or the interesting things going on. Some have all three!

Doors Open Waterloo Region is part of Doors Open Ontario, a province-wide initiative of the Ontario Heritage Trust to celebrate community heritage and architecture. Doors Open Waterloo Region takes place on September 21, 2019. It is a family friendly event and most sites are open between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The local Doors Open theme for 2019 is 'Water' and will explore our region’s unique and long history with surface and groundwater. Water is life. Water is local. Water circles the globe, a single, closed cycle. It is fundamental. Our past, our present, our future.

At 16 theme sites, explore the ways water is at the centre of our lives. Indigenous water teachings, water treatment and distribution, watershed conservation and management, water research and science, natural areas and recreation, rivers, waste water, flooding and floodplains, water efficiency in buildings, waterpower, bridges…all will be included in this year’s Doors Open. Water-themed talks, walks, displays and activities will help you get your feet wet (sorry – we just had to say it)!


Consultation has concluded
  • Doors Open Waterloo Region 2019 Final Report

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    The Region of Waterloo would like to thank all those who came out to attend Doors Open Waterloo Region 2019, our 43 participating sites hosted over 12,200 visitors!

    326 visitors completed surveys after participating in Doors Open Waterloo Region providing helpful information including:

    • 76% of visitors rated Doors Open Waterloo Region as ‘Excellent’ and an additional 21.5% rated the event as ‘Good’;

    • 12% of visitors were from outside Waterloo Region, the majority of which were from Toronto, but others travelling from Australia, Surrey BC, and London (ON);

    • 38% of visitors were participating for the first time in Doors Open Waterloo Region.

    When asked for comments about the event, visitor responses included:

    • “Opportunity for children to learn about the importance of clean water and history of the development of cities based on the role of water."

    • “It was a great experience. The volunteers at the sites were welcoming and full of information. It was a treat to go inside buildings that usually aren’t open to the public.”

    • “Love this experience. Wish it were possible to see more in a day! Thanks for it!”

    • “I like that we get the chance to visit so many places that aren't usually open to the public. I like the guided tours. The sites are always busy and it shows how many people are interested in learning more about our community.”

    • “It is a good way to introduce folks to places like our hidden treasures like the Fashion Museum and Pioneer Tower. I am always curious about buildings which have local interest but are rarely open to the public.”

    • “Read about Doors Open in the Hamilton Spectator. Thanks so much to the organizers and sites participating. Really appreciate the no-cost to visiting the sites.”

    Planning is already underway for this year’s event, to be held Saturday September 19, 2020. Stay tuned to Engage Waterloo Region for updates and we will see you again in September!

  • Get your Doors Open Waterloo Region 2019 Map and Guide

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    The Map and Guide of Doors Open Waterloo Region 2019 participating sites is now available for pick-up at the following locations:

    In Kitchener:

    Kitchener Public Library

    Region of Waterloo lobby, 150 Frederick St.

    Kitchener Visitor Information, City Hall

    City of Kitchener Community Centres

    Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery

    Schneider Haus National Historic Site

    Waterloo Region Museum and Doon Heritage Village

    In Waterloo:

    Waterloo Public Library

    Waterloo City Hall

    City of Waterloo Community and Recreation Centres

    City of Waterloo Visitor and Heritage Information Centre

    Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery

    Words Worth Books

    Princess Twin Cinemas

    In Cambridge:

    Idea Exchange

    Cambridge City Hall

    McDougall Cottage Historic Site

    Cambridge Visitor Information Centre, 750 Hespeler Rd.

    City of Cambridge Community Centres

    Monigram Coffee Roasters

    Reids Chocolates

    Around the Region:

    Region of Waterloo Libraries
  • Start off Doors Open with a traditional Anishnaabe Water Ceremony

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    Water Ceremony for the Grand River
    7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.
    650 Otterbein Rd., Kitchener (approach from Ottawa St. N.)
    Gather at the Walter Bean Grand River Trail M.R. Good Family Trailway access point

    The Water Ceremony launches Doors Open Waterloo Region 2019. For Water Ceremony etiquette, please read this entire site listing.
    • Please arrive on time.
    • The Water Ceremony begins with a smudge in which all are invited to participate.
    • Women lead the Ceremony, and are asked to wear skirts to honour its protocol.
    • Rain or shine; sturdy footwear recommended.
    • You are invited to bring a chair to be comfortable as we enjoy the Spirit of the Water.
    All Nations are invited to the edge of the Grand River to participate in honouring the Spirit of the Water. This traditional Anishnaabe ceremony is practiced

    as a way to stay connected to the Spirit of the Water, to pray for her, to sing to her, and to feed her. As with the recent Water Walks along the full length of the Grand River, we are asking others to help us re-connect to Creation and to Nibi (water).
    * If you have any of the following ceremonial elements, please bring: tobacco, a drum, a shaker. We can provide tobacco to those who don’t have it.
    Water Theme Site
    • Free Parking
    • Full Wheelchair Access

  • Use the Doors Open Story Map on your moblie device while visiting participating sites

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    Go paperless and use your phone or tablet to plan your day with Doors Open Waterloo Region. Use the Story Map to find participating sites, short descriptions of what you might see and sites offering free parking.