Doors Open Ontario 2014 kicks off May 3

TORONTO, May 2, 2014 /CNW/ - Doors Open Ontario 2014 is just around the corner! The season officially kicks off on May 3 with events in four communities – Guelph, Peterborough, Whitby and Hamilton.

Every year from May to October, communities across the province open the doors to hundreds of historical buildings, places of worship, museums, private homes, industrial areas, green buildings, heritage gardens and other interesting venues – some of which are rarely accessible to the public. Many of the participating sites offer special activities, such as tours, exhibitions and demonstrations – all free of charge!

Trails Open 2014 – supported by TD Bank Group – features special tours and activities to showcase Ontario's breathtaking natural heritage along thousands of kilometres of walking, hiking and cycling trails.

Visit www.doorsopenontario.on.ca for detailed event information, highlights and site details. The website also offers interactive tools to help users plan their Doors Open Ontario experience – social networking tools to share information with friends and family, a "My Favourites" feature to help create a travel itinerary and keep track of favourite sites, and a quick links tool to help narrow site searches.

Doors Open Ontario is a program of the Ontario Heritage Trust, with funding support from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation, and TD Bank Group.

QUOTES
"Through our agency, the Ontario Heritage Trust, our government is proud to help make Ontario's rich heritage and historical sites open and accessible to the public. Doors Open Ontario is an exciting opportunity to share and celebrate our unique identity and vibrant cultural landscapes. I encourage people in communities across the province to explore and experience Ontario's hidden heritage treasures."
— Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

"The Ontario Heritage Trust is pleased to present Doors Open Ontario, now in its 13th year. The theme for 2014, Remembering the First World War: Ontario in transition, recognizes that the people of Ontario were profoundly impacted by this conflict in meaningful and measurable ways. Venues such as armouries, Legion halls and war memorials play a vital role in fostering a sense of the impact of the war. I do hope that you will take the time to experience these and other interesting sites that are participating in the Doors Open program for 2014!"
— Thomas H.B. Symons, Chairman, Ontario Heritage Trust

QUICK FACTS

• Doors Open Ontario 2014 features hundreds of communities participating in 49 events across the province.
• Two new communities have joined Doors Open Ontario this year – Wellington North and Trails Open London.
• Nine out of 10 Ontarians live in a community that has hosted a Doors Open Ontario event.
• In total, nearly 5 million visits have been made to 5,150 Doors Open Ontario sites since the program's launch in 2002.
• Visitors to Doors Open Ontario events have spent over $45 million to support local economies.

LEARN MORE
Find out more about Doors Open Ontario 2014 and the Doors Open Ontario 2014 photo contest, and search for participating communities.

Doors Open Ontario 2014 calendar of events

Community Name	Date
Guelph	May 3
Peterborough	May 3
Whitby	May 3
Hamilton	May 3-4
Richmond Hill	May 10
Orillia	May 24
Brockville-Thousand Islands	May 24-25
Toronto	May 24-25
Owen Sound	May 31-June 1
Stratford	June 7
Whitchurch-Stouffville	June 7
Huronia	June 7-8
Northumberland	June 7-8
Ottawa	June 7-8
Smiths Falls	June 8
Clarington	June 14
NEW! Trails Open London	June 14-15
Fergus-Elora	June 21
Kingston	June 21
Lambton County	June 21-22
Aurora	August 16
Gravenhurst	August 16-17
Headwaters	August 16-17
Thunder Bay	September 6
Haliburton	September 6-7
Kawartha Lakes	September 7
Bay of Quinte	September 13
Huron County	September 13-14
Middlesex	September 13-14
Perth	September 20
Port Stanley-Sparta	September 20
Waterloo Region	September 20
Haldimand County	September 21
Ajax	September 27
Burlington	September 27
Grimsby	September 27
Markham	September 27
Mississauga	September 27
Muskoka Lakes	September 27
Parry Sound	September 27
Walkerton and Area	September 27
NEW! Wellington North	September 27
Gananoque	September 27-28
Halton Region	September 27-28
London	September 27-28
Oshawa	September 27-28
Windsor	September 27-28
Bradford-West Gwillimbury	October 4
St. Thomas	October 18

The Trust is an agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's heritage.

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SOURCE: Ontario Heritage Trust

For further information: Niya Bajaj, 416-325-5074 or [e-mail].