Barrie 
On Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Doors Open Peterborough will once again throw open the doors of historic landmarks, cultural centres, and hidden gems across the city.
Credit: Doors Open Ontario
The program is part of Doors Open Ontario, which invites the public to explore the province’s heritage for free. Launched in 2002, the initiative has drawn over 7.3 million visits, highlighting sites that blend historical charm with modern utility.
This year’s program features 12 in-person sites, ranging from a riverside tennis club to a working theatre. The Activity Haven Recreation Centre, originally built in 1889 as North Ward School, is marking its 50th year as a recreation hub. Across town, All Saints’ Anglican Church is celebrating its 150th anniversary, offering visitors stained glass views, historical displays, and a 1 p.m. organ recital.
For those interested in Peterborough’s early days, the Auburn Heritage Walking Tour explores settler homes, the Auburn Woollen Mill, and the railway that shaped the community. Nearby, Hutchison House, a limestone home built in 1837 for the city’s first physician, will feature a special immigration exhibit.
Engineering enthusiasts can visit Lock 19 — Scotts Mills, the only Trent-Severn Waterway lock still holding its original 1830s masonry. Military history is on display at the Peterborough & County Military Museum, while the Peterborough Museum & Archives, designed by Eberhard Zeidler in 1967, tells the broader story of the city.
Other stops include the Peterborough Theatre Guild, housed in a converted church since 1965, Quaker Park Tennis Club with its 1922 log clubhouse, Sadleir House, and the William Dixon House, an 1837 Georgian stone dwelling now serving as offices.
Peterborough – Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Activity Haven Recreation Centre / Queen Alexandra Community Centre
- Address: 180 Barnardo Avenue, Peterborough, Ontario
- Feature: Built in 1889 as North Ward School, now a recreation hub celebrating its 50th anniversary.
- All Saints’ Anglican Church
- Address: 235 Rubidge Street, Peterborough, Ontario
- Feature: 1909 church with beautiful stained glass, organ recital, historical displays, and 150th anniversary celebrations.
- Auburn Heritage Walking Tour
- Address: Meet at 911 Armour Road (Auburn Bible Chapel), Peterborough, Ontario
- Feature: Guided walk through Auburn’s early settler homes, woollen mill legacy, and railway heritage.
- Hutchison House
- Address: 270 Brock Street, Peterborough, Ontario
- Feature: 1837 limestone home of Dr. John Hutchison, now a museum with immigration-themed exhibits.
- Lock 19 — Scotts Mills
- Address: 804 Morphet Avenue, Peterborough, Ontario
- Feature: Historic 1837–43 Trent-Severn lock retaining original masonry, with dam rebuilt in 1904 and 2023.
- New Canadians Centre Peterborough
- Address: 221 Romaine Street, Peterborough, Ontario
- Feature: Founded in 1979, this hub supports newcomers and shares space with arts and community groups.
- Peterborough & County Military Museum
- Address: 220 Murray Street, Peterborough, Ontario
- Feature: Displays local military history from the War of 1812 to present-day peacekeeping missions.
- Peterborough Museum & Archives
- Address: 300 Hunter Street East, Peterborough, Ontario
- Feature: Tells the city’s story with exhibits, archives, and a 1967 centennial building by Eberhard Zeidler.
- Peterborough Theatre Guild
- Address: 364 Rogers Street, Peterborough, Ontario
- Feature: Former church turned theatre in 1965, featuring backstage tours and 10-minute plays.
- Quaker Park Tennis Club
- Address: 442 Driscoll Terrace, Peterborough, Ontario
- Feature: Established in 1922, riverside tennis club with original log clubhouse still in use today.
- Sadleir House
- Address: 751 George Street North, Peterborough, Ontario
- Feature: 1892 Queen Anne house transformed into a vibrant community hub with concerts and exhibitions.
- William Dixon House
- Address: 661 Park Street North, Peterborough, Ontario
- Feature: Georgian stone house built in 1837 by early settler William Dixon, now offices.
