Owen Sound residents and visitors can explore 17 local heritage sites for free on Saturday, July 18, during Doors Open Owen Sound. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., giving the public a rare chance to step inside some of the city’s most historically and architecturally significant buildings.
Organized by the City of Owen Sound, the day is part of the province-wide Doors Open Ontario program presented by the Ontario Heritage Trust. This year marks the program’s 25th season, with presenting sponsor TD Bank Group supporting events across the province.
Among the sites opening their doors is St. George’s Anglican Church. Built in 1881, the Gothic Revival landmark features a 142-foot steeple and was inspired by St. Mary’s Church in Bristol, England. Volunteers will be on hand to share the building’s story and its role in the community.
Other participating locations include the Billy Bishop Museum, a National Historic Site and boyhood home of the famed WWI flying ace, the Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library, a Carnegie-funded neoclassical building from 1914, and the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre, housed in a 1931 railway station. The full list of sites is available on the City of Owen Sound website.
Maps for the self-guided tours can be picked up at City Hall’s Community Services desk or downloaded online. While most sites welcome visitors throughout the day, note that guided tours at Mudtown Station Brewery are only offered from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.—guests can still enjoy lunch and explore on their own afterward.
Since launching in 2002, Doors Open Ontario has generated more than 8.6 million visits across the province. The program relies on over 15,000 volunteer hours each year and contributes more than $11 million in economic activity annually.
Doors Open Owen Sound celebrates a city once nicknamed the ‘Chicago of the North’ for its busy Great Lakes port. On July 18, that heritage comes to life for anyone curious to see what’s behind the doors of local landmarks.
