Save the date for Doors Open Aurora 2014

June 18, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Vanessa Hicks
Program Manager, Heritage Planning
Town of Aurora

The Town of Aurora and the Heritage Advisory Committee are preparing once again to celebrate our popular Doors Open Aurora event. This year, Doors Open Aurora features 16 sites, including four new locations and one new walking tour.

The 9th annual Doors Open Aurora event will take place on Saturday, August 16 with most sites open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore fascinating sites in your own backyard. Participation is FREE! No tickets or reservations are required. Just come out and join thousands of visitors exploring Aurora’s hidden treasures, some of which are not normally open to the public.

Discover historic buildings, cultural landmarks and natural sites. Join the fun, ask questions, take part in an educational walking tour and provide your children with a great opportunity to learn more about the history of Aurora.

Doors Open Aurora is part of the Doors Open Ontario initiative, a community-based celebration that showcases Ontario’s built and natural heritage for residents and visitors alike.

The first Doors Open Day event was held in France in 1984. In 2000, the City of Toronto launched the first Doors Open event in North America. In 2002, Doors Open Ontario, the first province-wide event of its kind in Canada, was launched by the Ontario Heritage Trust.

Doors Open Aurora began in 2006. Since then, hundreds of sites of significant historical character have opened their doors and hosted more than 23,300 site visits.

Start your Doors Open day at the Aurora Farmers’ Market and Artisan Fair located on Wells Street in beautiful Aurora Town Park. Enjoy some of Aurora’s seasonal fruits and vegetables, baked goods, handmade jewellery and other crafts. Come before 1 p.m. early and visit the Doors Open Aurora headquarters to pick-up your Map Guide.

Don’t miss the chance to see the newly restored Petch House log house next to the Aurora Seniors’ Centre, the Blueprint House at 63 Larmont Street, the Aurora Lawn Bowling Club in McMahon Park, Kerry’s Place at 34 Berczy Street and David Heard’s “A Walk in Their Shoes” walking tour, leaving Kerry’s Place at 10 a.m.

The Aurora Cultural Centre and the Aurora Public Library are back again as visitor favourites. Be sure to visit the Aurora Cultural Centre, constructed circa 1885 in the late Victorian architectural style, which served as the former Church Street School. This site will feature unplugged live music in Brevik Hall featuring local musicians and a presentation in the Library Room titled Postcards of Old Aurora.

Hillary House, Aurora’s national historic site, noted for its long-standing presence in the community and association with medical history, will also be featured this year.

Also included are the Aurora Rising Sun Masonic Lodge, Trinity Anglican Church, the Absalom Blaker House and Merlin’s Hollow.
This is the first of many weekly articles that will be published in The Auroran. Each article will feature participating sites, activities and historical information.

For more information about Doors Open Aurora, or to volunteer for the event, please visit www.aurora.ca/doorsopen2014

See you there!