Latest news with #DoorsOpenOntario
Cision Canada
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
Celebrate Ontario at an Ontario Heritage Trust site this summer Français
TORONTO, May 29, 2025 /CNW/ - Discover Ontario's heritage by exploring an Ontario Heritage Trust site as part of your summer adventures! The Trust offers museums, natural sites and programs to help uncover local gems, explore the past and connect with your community and province. The Trust operates two of Ontario's many intriguing museums and both are now open for the 2025 season — the Josiah Henson Museum of African Canadian History in Dresden and Fulford Place in Brockville. The Josiah Henson Museum shares the stories of people of African descent and their contributions to Canadian culture and society. It is located at the historical home of famed freedom-seeker Josiah Henson. Fulford Place is a grand mansion, built between 1899 and 1901, offering a rare glimpse of the luxurious lifestyle of another era. In Toronto, you can take a tour of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres, the last operating double decker theatres in the world and a National Historic Site. If getting out into nature is more your speed, the Cheltenham Badlands site is also open for the season. This out-of-this-world landscape, formed at the bottom of an ancient sea 450 million years ago, is located just outside of the Greater Toronto Area. today to explore one of Southern Ontario's most iconic and unusual natural heritage landmarks. And thanks to the Trust, admission to the Josiah Henson Museum, Fulford Place and the Cheltenham Badlands is completely free on Ontario Day, this Sunday June 1! This special occasion is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the significant roles that Ontario and Ontarians have played, and continue to play, in Canada. As always, Doors Open Ontario continues to offer free access to historical treasures in communities provincewide. Take a weekend adventure with the whole family to Doors Open Whitchurch Stouffville on June 7, peer behind the scenes in our nation's capital at Doors Open Ottawa on June 7 and 8 or discover some charming Ontario small towns at Doors Open Loyalist Township on June 14. After a short break following Doors Open Owen Sound on June 21, Doors Open Ontario starts up again in early August with 22 more events to come through the end of October! Plan your adventure by visiting About the Ontario Heritage Trust The Trust is committed to preserving our cultural and natural heritage and ensuring its continued relevance for future generations. We are working toward an Ontario where heritage is not only preserved and valued, but is celebrated, enjoyed and used as a source of inspiration. The Trust will be a beacon in an Ontario where heritage is preserved, protected and promoted in ways that are sources of pride for all Ontarians.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Celebrate Ontario at an Ontario Heritage Trust site this summer
TORONTO, May 29, 2025 /CNW/ - Discover Ontario's heritage by exploring an Ontario Heritage Trust site as part of your summer adventures! The Trust offers museums, natural sites and programs to help uncover local gems, explore the past and connect with your community and province. The Trust operates two of Ontario's many intriguing museums and both are now open for the 2025 season — the Josiah Henson Museum of African Canadian History in Dresden and Fulford Place in Brockville. The Josiah Henson Museum shares the stories of people of African descent and their contributions to Canadian culture and society. It is located at the historical home of famed freedom-seeker Josiah Henson. Fulford Place is a grand mansion, built between 1899 and 1901, offering a rare glimpse of the luxurious lifestyle of another era. In Toronto, you can take a tour of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres, the last operating double decker theatres in the world and a National Historic Site. If getting out into nature is more your speed, the Cheltenham Badlands site is also open for the season. This out-of-this-world landscape, formed at the bottom of an ancient sea 450 million years ago, is located just outside of the Greater Toronto Area. today to explore one of Southern Ontario's most iconic and unusual natural heritage landmarks. And thanks to the Trust, admission to the Josiah Henson Museum, Fulford Place and the Cheltenham Badlands is completely free on Ontario Day, this Sunday June 1! This special occasion is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the significant roles that Ontario and Ontarians have played, and continue to play, in Canada. As always, Doors Open Ontario continues to offer free access to historical treasures in communities provincewide. Take a weekend adventure with the whole family to Doors Open Whitchurch Stouffville on June 7, peer behind the scenes in our nation's capital at Doors Open Ottawa on June 7 and 8 or discover some charming Ontario small towns at Doors Open Loyalist Township on June 14. After a short break following Doors Open Owen Sound on June 21, Doors Open Ontario starts up again in early August with 22 more events to come through the end of October! Plan your adventure by visiting Stay connected Follow the Ontario Heritage Trust on Facebook, X, Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Subscribe to the Heritage Matters ... more! e-newsletter. #ONheritage About the Ontario Heritage Trust The Trust is committed to preserving our cultural and natural heritage and ensuring its continued relevance for future generations. We are working toward an Ontario where heritage is not only preserved and valued, but is celebrated, enjoyed and used as a source of inspiration. The Trust will be a beacon in an Ontario where heritage is preserved, protected and promoted in ways that are sources of pride for all Ontarians. SOURCE Ontario Heritage Trust View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Hamilton Spectator
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Hundreds visit historic Brantford aircraft factory during Doors Open
Over 500 people visited the site of the former Cockshutt Moulded Aircraft factory during the Doors Open Along the Grand event on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Doors Open Along the Grand is presented in partnership with Doors Open Ontario, an annual program of the Ontario Heritage Trust. Every year, visitors to Doors Open events gain rare access to buildings and spaces that are typically closed to the public or to sites that normally charge admission. This year, 32 municipalities throughout the province took part in the program, and for the first time ever, the City of Brantford, the County of Brant and Six Nations of the Grand River, came together to present Doors Open Along the Grand. During the one-day event, residents and out-of-town visitors alike were given free access to explore 17 heritage buildings and sites across all three communities, including the former Cockshutt Moulded Aircraft factory. Located in the Eagle Place neighbourhood, the Cockshutt Plow Company first built the 148 Mohawk St. facility during the Second World War. At the time, the aircraft division supplied critical military aircraft parts, and the building was specifically constructed to produce airplane fuselages and other components. Hosted by Vincenzo Capotorto (the building's current owner), the Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre (CIHC) and Brant Theatre Workshops, the event featured a host of interpretive displays, historical artifacts, old newspaper clippings, an old documentary film and a reading of the play, 'The Footlocker,' which was written by Brantford's own Vincent Ball. Rob Adlam, a volunteer with the CIHC, said the event was a great opportunity for locals to learn a bit about the building they so frequently drive by. 'The building was built back in 1942 but the Cockshutt Moulded Aircraft division didn't start operating until January of 1943. Following the end of the Second World War, military contracts were canceled, so aircraft production obviously ceased, and it was converted to harvester combine production from the end of the war, until April 1985 when it closed,' he said. 'Having grown up in Brantford and being the fifth generation working in industry in Brantford, there's a lot of history hiding in plain sight. A lot of people drive by this place and have no idea what it is. That's nothing against them, it's just because it's gone uncelebrated, uninterpreted and left to the dust pile of history. We've had former White Farm Equipment employees here today talking about their experiences in this building and those are real people. They're not dusty artifacts, they made their living here and made a difference with innovation… they put Branford on the map.' While the facility was originally known for building various parts for several military aircrafts, the Cockshutt Moulded Aircraft Division's over 6,000 employees (many of whom were women) primarily created the fuselages of two British airplanes, the Avro Anson training aircraft and the de Havilland Mosquito bomber. 'They produced over 600 planes and by the end of the war, they were producing the Mosquito, which was sort of Canada's wonder weapon,' said Peter Muir, CIHC board member and Artistic Director of Brant Theatre Workshops. 'It was the fastest plane in the allied arsenal and it was quite feared by the Germans.' While there were plenty of interesting treasures on display, Tony Cockshutt, a descendent of the Cockshutt family and CIHC board member, said that his favourite artifact of the day was actually the building itself. 'For me, it's the top of the superstructure which is all wooden,' he said. 'Because it was built during the war, the steel presumably all went to manufacturing wartime equipment and so the building has these huge wooden beams. Given that the building is over 80 years old, it's still in great condition, plus, there's these beautiful windows up at the top there, which provide just a lot of great natural light.' While Adlam said he completely agreed with Cockshutt, he said that one particularly interesting artifact was a section of an exhaust manifold for an Avro Anson made right in Brantford with the Cockshutt tag still on it. 'It actually came to us from a flight training school in Quill Lake, Saskatchewan, and so the fact that it's come home to Brantford where it belongs is particularly gratifying,' said Adlam. 'These exhaust manifolds were manufactured for various planes, the Anson being one of them, and you can actually see the original tag is still on it with the parts numbers and when it was made, and it says here 'manufactured by the Cockshutt Plow Company in Brantford Ontario.' Melissa Jones, one of the many Brantford residents who attended the event, said that she had no idea the history behind the building. 'I honestly thought this was just another factory building, I had no idea it was built to specifically help with the war,' she said. 'There's so many cool details all throughout the building like the wooden beams and the track that runs the length of the floor which was used to help move parts from one section to the next; it's really something. I'm originally from Sarnia and so this whole Doors Open event has just been a great opportunity to learn about a few of the places in the community.' Kimberly De Jong's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at .
Cision Canada
24-04-2025
- Cision Canada
Indulge your curiosity and discover your province with Doors Open Ontario in 2025 Français
TORONTO, April 24, 2025 /CNW/ - Doors Open Ontario is the perfect way to explore Ontario's historical hidden gems this year! The Ontario Heritage Trust supports municipalities and other groups across the province to present Doors Open Ontario events in their communities each year, providing visitors and locals with opportunities to explore behind normally closed doors. In 2025, you can explore 32 participating communities — starting with Guelph on April 26 and finishing with Niagara-on-the-Lake and Whitby on October 18. Is there an old local building that you've always wondered about, or a heritage structure that has caught your eye on your travels? Are you looking for that perfect photo moment inside an inspiring historical space? Or maybe you're a history buff looking to learn more about intriguing heritage sites. Doors Open Ontario provides you with access to places and the freedom to explore that you can't get any other way. Plan your adventure via the Doors Open Ontario website. It's your destination to learn more about Doors Open events happening this year in your community and all around the province. New sites and events are added to the website each month. "Ontario is your province, and Doors Open Ontario is the key that unlocks hundreds of its fascinating historical sites," said John Ecker, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Heritage Trust. "Every year, Doors Open Ontario provides you with an opportunity to explore what makes Ontario special — and this year will be no exception." "Doors Open Ontario is a unique opportunity to explore the rich and diverse heritage that defines our province," said Graham McGregor, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. "I encourage everyone across Ontario to take part and discover the remarkable sites that have helped shape our communities and our collective story." Indulge your curiosity and find a Doors Open Ontario experience near you. 2025 community event dates are as follows. April Guelph (April 26) May Oshawa (May 3) Hamilton Region (May 3-4) Along the Grand (May 10) Richmond Hill (May 10) Toronto (May 24-25) June Whitchurch-Stouffville (June 7) Ottawa (June 7-8) Loyalist Township (June 14) Owen Sound (June 21) August Seaforth (August 1-2) Burlington (August 9) St. Marys (August 9) Cornwall and SDG Counties (August 16-17) Rideau Lakes (August 16-17) September Belleville (September 13) Peterborough (September 13) Simcoe County (September 13) Aylmer and Area (September 20) Gravenhurst (September 20) Markham (September 20) Waterloo Region (September 20) London (September 20-21) Aurora (September 21) Barrie (September 27) Mississippi Mills (September 28) October Quinte West (October 4) Sault Ste. Marie (October 4) Woodstock (October 4) Niagara-on-the-Lake (October 18) Whitby (October 18) Date to be confirmed Brampton TD Bank Group is the presenting sponsor for the program. Doors Open Ontario is also supported by thousands of volunteers in communities and at sites provincewide whose service makes these events possible. Learn more Find events and plan your Doors Open Ontario experience by visiting the Doors Open Ontario website. About the Ontario Heritage Trust The Ontario Heritage Trust (the Trust) is an agency of the Government of Ontario. The Trust conserves, interprets and shares Ontario's heritage. We conserve provincially significant cultural and natural heritage, interpret Ontario's history, celebrate its diversity and educate Ontarians of its importance in our society. The Trust envisions an Ontario where we conserve, value and share the places and landscapes, histories, traditions and stories that embody our heritage, now and for future generations. SOURCE Ontario Heritage Trust
