Doors Open Ontario is a provincewide heritage tourism program that gives the public free access to explore fascinating heritage properties all across Ontario. It showcases the buildings, natural spaces, infrastructure, and cultural landscapes that shape and define our communities. Hosting Doors Open Ontario celebrates its identity, generates volunteerism, builds interest in Ontario’s heritage, and drives cultural tourism and economic development opportunities. All sites are FREE to the public. The 2024 Doors Open provincewide theme is adaptive reuse, showcasing heritage sites that have been repurposed to best serve their communities, while retaining their heritage attributes. Through the continued use and reuse of our historical structures, we realize their contribution to the sustainability and the economic and cultural energy of our urban and rural communities. Doors Open Ontario began in 2002 as a means of connecting people to place by facilitating public access to compelling built and natural heritage sites that normally restrict regular access to the public and to ensure that Ontario’s diverse heritage would be free to access by individuals and families of all socioeconomic backgrounds without barrier of cost. Since that time, its tangible impacts have been substantial: 8.6 million visits have been made to thousands of unique buildings and spaces, 15,000+ volunteer hours are generated annually, and participants spend more than $11 million during their travels in a typical year as they learned about heritage conservation, local history and had fun. It is a core principle of Doors Open Ontario to create meaningful shared experiences for all Ontarians to enjoy and appreciate their heritage with as few barriers as possible to their participation. The range of communities and sites that take part stretches across the province and offers something for everyone. The Trust works with communities to design the program and its promotional strategy to reach as many prospective visitors as possible, allowing each to choose their adventure via the Doors Open Ontario website. The website is the central promotional resource for the program and receives an average of about 250,000 visits annually. .The City of Owen Sound is located on the southern shore of Georgian Bay in a valley below the limestone cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment. It lies at the foot of the Bruce Peninsula, famous for its exceptional geography. Known as the Scenic City, Owen Sound features an expansive harbour and bay, winding rivers, tree-lined streets, extensive parks and trails and a thriving, historical River District in the heart of the city. Key natural attractions include Inglis Falls, Harrison Park, Kelso Beach Park and several conservation areas. The Bruce Trail forms a ribbon around the city along the escarpment, connecting waterfalls and revealing a wide array of flora and fauna, including rare ferns. Once named a Cultural Capital of Canada, the city is home to numerous festivals and events, such as the Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival, the Sweetwater Music Festival, the Waterfront Festival, the Salmon Spectacular fishing derby, the Concours d'Elegance and the Festival of Northern Lights. We are thrilled to participate in Doors Open Ontario — a provincewide heritage tourism program that gives the public free access to explore fascinating heritage properties across Ontario. It showcases the buildings, natural spaces, infrastructure and cultural landscapes that shape and define our communities.