Doors Open Ontario celebrating unique public spaces in Oshawa

Doors Open Ontario, an annual celebration of public spaces not always available to visitors returns to Oshawa on Saturday, May 2, providing a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy sometimes hidden and always interesting places and spaces for free.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (some locations may vary) and gives both residents and out-of-town visitors a chance to explore nearly two dozen of Oshawa’s diverse heritage and cultural sites while discovering local history.

Canadian Tank Museum and 420 Wing – 1000 Stevenson Rd. N.

The Canadian Tank Museum is home to North America’s largest collection of operational historic military vehicles, and the official museum of Durham Region’s own Canadian Forces unit, the Ontario Regiment (Royal Canadian Armoured Corps).

This year, visitors will enjoy one of the museum’s world-renowned Tank Saturday live military vehicle shows for free. Tank Saturday: Evolution’ will demonstrate the innovation and development of armoured vehicles since their inception in 1916, showing how tank designs have changed and improved to meet new threats and demands on the battlefield. The live demonstration will begin at 1 p.m. and throughout the rest of the day, visitors will enjoy free access to the museum’s exhibit galleries, including a ‘Kids’ Zone’ with military-themed activities for families with young children. Rides in selected vehicles, including the M548 Battle Bus and M113 armoured personnel carrier, will be available at additional cost, and the museum’s gift shop will be open for merchandise sales.

The 420 Wing was built as part of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan, known as Building 10. Oshawa Airmen joined the Air Force Association of Canada and took over the building and it has been enjoyed by veterans and their families since then.

420 Wing

Alexandra’s Bounty Community Garden – 68 Simcoe St. N.

The Oshawa and Durham Region Metis Council Community Garden, established in 2016, offers free vegetables, berries, and herbs during the summer months to Metis citizens and members of the community in need.

Bead a red dress during Doors Open to support Red Dress Day (May 5), raising awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Canadian Automotive Museum – 99 Simcoe St. S.

The Canadian Automotive Museum, founded in 1962, preserves Canada’s automotive heritage in a restored 1920’s dealership in downtown Oshawa. The museum reflects Oshawa’s industrial legacy and houses the world’s most significant collection of Canadian cars.

Enjoy museum tours, a gallery scavenger hunt and children’s colouring activities during Doors Open.

Canadian Automotive Museum

City of Oshawa: Art and Culture in the Hall – 50 Centre St. S. (NEW)

Art and Culture in the Hall at City Hall is an exhibit program that celebrates local artistic and creative talent. The current exhibits on display were created by Friends of Second Marsh and visual art students at Maxwell Heights Secondary School.

City of Oshawa: Greenhouse – 919 Farewell Street

Explore the city’s greenhouse, one of the few remaining city-run glass greenhouses in Ontario. It is dedicated to housing tropical collections and producing annual bedding plants for city parks, gardens, City Hall, the Oshawa Valley Botanical Garden and downtown planters/hanging baskets. After sowing more than 5,000 seeds and planting 2,000 cuttings, they have 60,000 plants ready for planting by May.

City of Oshawa Greenhouse

City of Oshawa: Howden Operations Depot – 235 Howden Rd. E.

See where Oshawa’s essential city work happens. From salt domes to fleet garages, tour the Howden Depot and learn how city crews keep the streets, parks, and sidewalks safe and beautiful.

McLaughlin Bandshell – 110 Simcoe St. S. (Memorial Park)

The Bandshell, which officially opened in July 1942, was built to give the Oshawa Civic Band a place to perform and practice. Prior to this, band practices were held in the Orange Hall located over a grocery store near the four corners and the Armouries on Simcoe Street. Walk through the interior Oshawa Civic Band room to see the current practice location. The art deco-inspired bandshell was a gift from R.S. McLaughlin, founder of General Motors Canada, in 1942 to the City of Oshawa. During Doors Open Oshawa enjoy a performance by the Oshawa Civic Band at 11 a.m. In 2024, City of Oshawa Council officially designated this property as a Heritage Site.

You can also visit the Cenotaph at Memorial Park, a historic war memorial honouring residents who died in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. Known as the ‘Garden of the Unforgotten,’ it features a bronze infantryman statue, unique stones from allied nations, and is the site of the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies.

McLaughlin Bandshell

Club Carib of Oshawa – 600 Wentworth St. E.

Club Carib was founded in January 1966 and houses the Hummingbird Dancers and Oshawa Sounds of Steel. The centre serves as a banquet hall for community events, weddings and conferences.

Enjoy shows at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and learn how to play a steel pan. Children’s colouring activities are also available during Doors Open.

Intrepid Park: Camp X – 2008 Boundary Road

Join a walking tour of the famous top-secret spy camp. Camp X was a Second World War training facility for agents operating behind enemy lines operated by Sir William Stephenson (Man Called Intrepid) and rumoured to be visited by James Bond creator Ian Fleming. It was also North America’s largest communication centre and served as a key code-breaking station in the war. Join one of two guided tours or stay and engage with guest speakers about the site’s history. Parking across the street from the monument.

Guided tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. during Doors Open.

Market at King Street – 70 King St. E. (NEW)

Built in 1925 by J.W. Butler & Co., this Ontario Heritage Act-designated building has a rich history. Formerly known as the Genosha Hotel, it welcomed notable World War II era figures, including James Bond creator Ian Fleming (he seem3ed to like the area) and future CIA director J. Edgar Hoover. Today, it continues as an active mixed commercial (eight food vendors) and residential property, carefully maintaining its historic character while supporting modern uses.

Guided tours of studio apartments on the hour.

McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve – 1908 Colonel Sam Drive

McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve is the former site of the Beaton Dairy Farm now owned by the City of Oshawa. It is an ecological significant, publicly accessible area to the east of Oshawa Second Marsh and on the north shore of Lake Ontario.

McLaughlin Wildlife Preserve and Second Marsh

Ontario Regiment (RCAC) – 1220 Keith Ross Drive (NEW)

The Airport Armoury supports ‘B’ squadron training for members of the Ontario Regiment (RCAC), and it provides space to conduct vehicle and equipment maintenance, as well as related courses.

Meet with members about their roles and experiences within the Canadian Armed Forces at Doors Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Oshawa Executive Airport – 1200 Airport Boulevard (NEW)

The Oshawa Executive Airport is an aviation gateway to the City of Oshawa and the Greater Toronto Area. Located on 484 acres of land, the airport supports corporate business travel and general aviation with a modern terminal building, dual runways and modern navigational aids.

Oshawa Little Theatre – 62 Russett Avenue (NEW)

Oshawa Little Theatre didn’t always have a stage to call its own. For decades, productions came to life in borrowed halls and makeshift spaces. That changed in the 1970s when the organization purchased a former industrial building and began transforming it into a dedicated creative hub. By 1983, the dream became reality with the opening of the current theatre.

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at Oshawa Little Theatre during Doors Open.

Oshawa Little Theatre

Henry House, Oshawa Museum – 1450 Simcoe St. S.

Since 1960, the Oshawa Museum has been collecting, researching, and telling stories of Oshawa’s history. Oshawa Museum takes great pride in showcasing the city’s history, from the earliest First Nations settlements to the present day.

Enjoy self-led tours of the Victorian-era home of Thomas and Lurenda Henry. Costumed guides will help interpret the spaces. Also, visit the Welcome Gallery and gift shop in Guy House during Doors Open.

The Robert McLaughlin Gallery – 72 Queen Street

The RMG opened in 1969 in a modernist stone building designed by Hugh Allward. A 1987 expansion by Arthur Erickson surrounds the original structure, creating a dramatic skylit lobby with soaring 35-foot ceilings and abundant natural light.

Visitors can enjoy a drop-in children’s activity room where kids can read, draw, and play. The backyard will also be open for exploration, featuring new public art and interactive elements designed for all ages.

For this special day, the gallery will also display a rarely seen artwork from the collection, brought out of the vault for one day only. It could be a painting by Robert McLaughlin, a work connected to the Group of Seven, or even an Andy Warhol. Come visit to find out.

Visitors will also be able to explore several exhibitions on view during the event, including “Sukaina Kubba: Not Soft by Nature”, the artist’s first museum solo exhibition in Canada curated by Leila Timmins, the Oshawa Art Association’s 58th Juried Art Exhibition featuring artists from across Durham Region, and Emerging Visions: Durham College Thesis Exhibition 2026.

Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with guided tours at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. during Doors Open.

Oshawa Public Library: McLaughlin Branch – 65 Debwewin Miikan

Forming part of Oshawa’s Civic Centre, this library was a gift of Col. R.S. McLaughlin in 1954. Architect Arthur Eadie was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright in his design of the McLaughlin Public Library, now the central branch. Explore captivating videos, photographs and memorabilia or attend a guided tour showcasing the library’s evolution over the past 70 years.

The library welcomes you to attend a performance by Isshin Daiko at 2 p.m., a community music ensemble that plays traditional Japanese instruments. To guarantee your free spot, register today.

Opens at noon for Doors Open.

Regent Theatre – 50 King St. E.

Constructed in 1919 and opened in 1921, the Regent Theatre in Oshawa is a historic Georgian-style landmark designed by J. McNee Jeffrey and was officially opened by Oshawa mayor John Stacey.

Enjoy snacks and a comfy seat at this historic theatre during Doors Open

Regent Theatre

St. George’s Memorial Church – 51 Centre St. S. (NEW)

St. George’s Memorial Church has been a distinctive landmark in Oshawa for more than 100 years and continues to have an integral place in the city’s history. The interior of the church shows its architectural artistry, beauty and serenity.

Enjoy children’s colouring activities during Doors Open.

St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church – 31 Bloor St. E. (NEW)

This site was founded in 1935 with the generosity and self-sacrifice of the parishioners, and with the help of the non-Ukrainian population of Oshawa. They were instrumental in assuring the parish a quick establishment.

Enjoy Ukrainian culture, cuisine, and children’s activities during Doors Open.