Enjoy Doors Open Toronto from the comfort of your home through the following virtual experiences.
In addition, a selection of sites are offering both virtual and in-person experiences: Toronto City Hall, City of Toronto Archives and St. Matthew’s United Church.
Experience the new wave in the Toronto Afro Music Industry. AFROWAVETO invites everyone to watch and enjoy the local talent from across Toronto perform various works, as well as learn what goes on behind the scenes of this dedicated organization.
Located at York University’s Keele Campus, the Archives of Ontario is the largest provincial archives in Canada, with a vast collection that includes textual (paper) items, photographs, maps, architectural drawings and audio, video and film recordings. It is also home to the Government of Ontario Art Collection. Browse the many online exhibits or piece together Ontario’s history by completing an online jigsaw puzzle.
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the largest galleries in North America. With nearly 95,000 pieces in its collections – from European masterpieces to modern art to an extensive Group of Seven collection – the AGO presents wide-ranging exhibits and programs, showcasing diverse and underrepresented artists from Canada and around the world. While the AGO is open once more, there are a number of intriguing programs and activities that can be done outdoors or online.
Discover your inner artist: learn to draw, become a better photographer, paint alongside your kids, or sketch at the Toronto Zoo (part of the AGO Makes program). Download some colouring cards. Check out art-making videos. Explore its online collections. Or discover its extensive teacher resources. There’s something for everyone at the AGO.
Every year, 18,000 individuals in Ontario sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury. No two brain injuries are alike and each person has their own unique experience. Community Head Injury Resource Services shares some of these stories with audiences through various online presentations, including discussion panel, videos and art presentations.
Honey Jam is a non-profit multicultural, multi-genre all-female youth artist development program, which provides educational mentoring, performance and networking opportunities.
The Honey Jam annual emerging artist showcase has been a summer favourite for 27 years. Hear hip hop, pop, country, jazz, gospel, folk and even opera.
Jazz lives in every corner of the JAZZ.FM91 building with moments captured on plaques, an immense record collection, books, a theatre, knowledgeable hosts and so much more. The organization is a unique not-for-profit radio station, supported by the most incredible donors.
Get ready for some great surprises by taking the Jazz.FM91 virtual building tour.
The Lieutenant Governor’s Suite comprises several state rooms and offices inside the northwest wing of the Legislative Building at Toronto’s Queen’s Park. It is the working office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, currently the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell. It is the venue of many significant constitutional events, such as the appointment and resignation of Premiers of Ontario, the swearing-in of cabinet ministers, and the granting of Royal Assent for bills passed by the Legislature. Her Honour hosts foreign heads of state and government, diplomatic and consular representatives, and distinguished visitors in the Suite; it is also a place to host community groups for awards ceremonies, receptions and meetings.
Partake in a 40-minute online workshop that explores the history of the printing press in China, Korea, and Iran – from early movable type to non-Greek letters in printing. Workshops are available at various times over the Doors Open weekend. No pre-registration is required.
Celebrate the re-opening of this Toronto landmark. Visit this virtual Doors Open experience to learn about the historic revitalization of Massey Hall and explore online content to enjoy music, learning experiences and more.
Myseum is Toronto’s museum, complete with engaging programs and experiences that showcase the history, spaces, culture(s), architecture and the people that represent Toronto’s unique place in the world.
Check out its ever-changing events, unique Quarantine Edition exhibit called Images of Resistance: An Archive of Action, as well as its many online tours – interactive experiences that you can enjoy from the comfort and safety of your home or in the palm of your hand. Tours include:
Myseum is also participating in Doors Open Toronto as part of the 401 Richmond building offerings with its exhibit 36 Questions That Lead to Loving TO.
To mark Canada’s centennial, the Ontario Science Centre was built as one of the first interactive science museums in the world. Since it opened in 1969, the Science Centre has become a significant cultural attraction where visitors of all ages can learn through play.
Its Do It Yourself series will inspire your inner scientist – from games to experiments. Regular Facebook Live events connect you with Science Centre educators and hosts – learning about everything from snakes and bees to paper planes and outer space. And don’t forget to check out Teacher Resources and Science at Home activities with easy-to-follow educational videos.
Explore the future river valley virtually as it is constructed, and see what is being built in the Port Lands.
Watch a variety virtual pre-recorded concerts courtesy of the Royal Conservatory of Music. Browse Royal Conservatory.live or enjoy any of the following concerts:
Great Gulf commissioned artist Katharine Harvey to create a series of large-scale lightboxes for the Yonge & Rich condominium development at 25 Richmond Street East. Renowned glass studio Mayer of Munich fabricated the artist’s designs for the 420 square feet of hand-painted float glass featured in three areas of the building. Three panes of glass arranged inches apart in depth appear to move when the viewer walks past the art installation. The glass piece “Shea’s Victoria” recalls the elaborately decorated Beaux-Arts theatre, which stood on this site from 1910 to 1956.
inkblotmedia.ca created an intriguing short film about conception and creation of Shea’s Victoria.
A selection of culturally diverse artists from around the globe and around the corner perform their work at the Small World Centre. This venue, studio and cultural hub was opened in 2014 at Toronto Artscape’s Young Place on Shaw Street. Enjoy a dynamic mix of recent musical performances presented by Small World Centre.
Join in a virtual, self-guided tour of St. George’s Church on the Hill. Online Q&A sessions will take place at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. on May 28 and 29 which can also be viewed via the virtual tour link above.
The ArQuives was established to aid in the recovery and preservation of the histories of Canada’s LGBTQ2+ people. Founded in 1973, they have grown to become the largest archive of its kind in the world. Through these collections, you can learn about the history and the struggles faced by – and the resilience of – LGBTQ2+ people.
Learn about the kinds of artifacts found in the archives – and the people who collect and preserve them. Search its online collections or explore its digital exhibits for more information. Contact The ArQuives at queeries@arquives.ca.
TO Live’s new website offers family-friendly arts programming. Discover grassroots theatrical performances like The Transformation Project, Canadian dance performances like TESSEL and much more.
The Toronto-Dominion Centre is excited to bring a virtual behind-the-scenes look of the iconic TD Centre and TD Bank’s historic 54th floor.
The Toronto Zoo – Canada’s largest zoo, at 287 hectares (709 acres), with over 5,000 animals – has a mission to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction. While the site was closed due to COVID-19, the Zoo quickly enhanced its online engagement to remain connected with the public. Now safely reopened, the Zoo has implemented strict new guidelines for in-person visits.
Enjoy a rich digital experience from the Zoo, including lots of home activities, educator resources, Wild for Life podcasts and much more. Don’t forget to join them on Facebook Live at 1 p.m. daily when one of the Zoo’s expert keepers will introduce you to one of the animals. Check the website for full details.