Thirteen spots around Niagara-on-the-Lake propped open their doors last Saturday and welcomed in dozens of visitors for an exploration of the town’s historic and cultural landmarks.
From the Shaw Festival Theatre to the Niagara No. 2 Masonic Lodge, Doors Open NOTL, held Oct. 18 as part of the provincewide Doors Open Ontario event, encouraged visitors to sate their curiosity about the places they often pass by every day but rarely enter.
The NOTL Museum’s finance and marketing director, Amy Klassen, co-ordinated the townwide event, which the museum also participated in.
She said it is her favourite weekend of the year because it brings people face-to-face with local history.
“We’ve really seen a lot of appreciation for the heritage of the community and people who just want to learn more and get to see these great buildings,” she said.
For her, the day’s deeper purpose is about connection.
She said Doors Open helps smaller institutions remind locals why preservation matters and how historic spaces can continue to serve the community in new ways.
“For smaller organizations, people say, ‘I’ve been coming here for years and didn’t know you existed,’” said Klassen.
She noted that the day’s success depends on both staff and volunteers, who help manage visitors across multiple sites. Balancing schedules is one major challenge for attracting small businesses and heritage organizations to participate in Doors Open.
“Sometimes it’s difficult for businesses to take on extra visitation when they’re already busy,” said Klassen.
At the Shaw Festival Theatre, visitors were guided below the stage and through the costume department by volunteers eager to reveal what audiences never see.
“We love it,” said Warren Bain, Shaw Festival education supervisor. “It’s a way to showcase our backstage tour and the festival. Maybe 50 of the people here are on stage, but the majority of the work happens behind the curtain.”
Festival staff shared that about 600 people work each season to create Shaw’s productions, from set builders and electricians to costume makers and technicians. Tours on the hour allowed guests to see how those crafts combine to create live theatre.
Across town on King Street, the Niagara No. 2 Masonic Lodge opened its historic meeting room, once the site of Upper Canada’s first legislature and the first hospital in Newark.
Visitors admired the artifacts and memorabilia while learning how the lodge is balancing their society’s traditions with public outreach.
“We used to say we were a secret society, but now we’re a society with some secrets,” said Paul Kent, lodge historian.
He said the invitation to join Doors Open was an easy yes, considering how the lodge has no intent on mystifying their presence in the community.
“The more people understand what we do, the more respect and understanding we generate,” said Kent.
Beyond this weekend, the NOTL Museum is focused on its expansion project, which includes incorporating the neighbouring building on Castlereagh Street to create more space for exhibits, programming and accessibility upgrades.
Fundraising is underway, with new announcements expected later this fall.
Klassen said the aim is to ensure the museum grows along with the town it represents and keep local history open to everyone year-round.
