Toronto winters are frigid and grey, and this year was no exception. But as the ice starts to thaw, the temperatures rise, and the birds start chirping again, spring returns. Spring in Toronto is always exciting, signaling a return for the city after a typically muted winter. This year is all the more exciting, as restrictions are dropped, and the city exits an even colder and snowier winter than normal. There is much to look forward to this spring, with better weather on the horizon, and one of the top things Torontonians are looking forward to is the return of Doors Open Toronto.
Toronto is a city with an incredible architectural history. It is one of the biggest cities in North America, a dense urban city with a massive population, home to some of the most jaw-dropping buildings around. Toronto’s incredible architecture is celebrated with Doors Open Toronto, a free annual event that puts the great architecture and design of the city on display.
Doors Open Toronto is an event intended to celebrate the city’s architecture, history, and culture. It is a two-day, free event where around 150 of the most significant buildings in the city, ranging from private buildings to museums or government offices, will open their door to the public. Doors Open Toronto is the third biggest version of Doors Open globally and the largest in North America. It has brought over two million people to the city streets to explore the great buildings that inhabit Toronto.
Doors Open Toronto was unfortunately canceled in 2020 and canceled again in 2021. It has been nearly three years since the event was held, but officials and residents are hopeful that 2022 will be different. The city has announced an end to the current COVID measures, including the mask mandate, so barring the unforeseen, Doors Open Toronto will be back. The event is scheduled to take place on May 28th-29th.
Doors Open Toronto gives the public access to a significant number of buildings at no cost. While the lineup of famed buildings that will be featured this year has yet to be released, there are several mainstays of this event that guests will likely be able to visit. Toronto’s famous City Hall is commonly a staple of Doors Open Toronto, but several other buildings are featured that even city residents might not be familiar with.
Scadding Cabin is a home that has been visited several times throughout Doors Open Toronto’s 20-year history, and this small residence is Toronto’s oldest standing building. It can trace its past back to 1796. Old Vic at the University of Toronto is an architectural marvel completed just before the beginning of the 20th century. The Design Exchange is a building set on the site of the former Toronto Stock Exchange. The Mackenzie House is a home that housed the first mayor of Toronto, still standing from the 19th century. These are some of the near 700 Toronto buildings that this event has featured.
Doors Open Toronto is an event that is put on with the help of a huge number of volunteers and city leaders. It is entirely free and even will have guided tours and speeches from those associated with the buildings. The Toronto Society of Architects will be offering free walking tours and presentations throughout this week, and it is an exciting event that will bring a large number of tourists to the city. Whether you reside in Toronto and want to get to know your city better or are a lover of architecture seeking to explore one of North America’s great cities, Doors Open Toronto is for you.
The 2022 winter was not an easy one. Record snowfalls, bitter cold fronts, and COVID outbreaks sent the city back into lockdown. However, brighter days are ahead. The big events that Toronto is internationally known for are returning, and the days are getting longer and the weather warmer. Spring in Toronto is a time of resurgence, and the city is poised to bounce back after several tough years. Doors Open Toronto is just one of the many fantastic occasions to be excited about in the near future.
