THUNDER BAY – This weekend will offer a unique opportunity to have a behind the scenes look at some of the city’s most recognizable buildings.
Doors Open, an Ontario-wide initiative that is held every two years in Thunder Bay, will be back on Saturday with 17 sites featured for the free event that runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Laurie Abthorpe, a city heritage researcher, said as many as 2,500 people have participated in previous years.
“It’s a chance to explore the city and see some of the great history that we have via its architecture,” Abthorpe said.
“It’s a chance to get into some of the buildings that publicly you might not often get a chance to explore and a chance to learn about some of the current day initiatives that are happening out of some of these buildings.”
The day will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a guided walking tour of the historic Fort William district, which precedes the 10 a.m. opening at the other sites.
People will be able to get an inside look at the Paramount Theatre, which will be accompanied by a screening of the Long Walk Home: The Incredible Journey of Sheila Burnford documentary. Other featured locations include the Alexander Henry decommissioned Coast Guard icebreaker and the Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel and Suites. Also offered will be a history of health care and the former McKellar Hospital at the Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.
Building on the theme of a fair and just society, the Regional Food Distribution Association will be providing tours and displays at their facility and the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association will provide information about their initiatives and programming to pair with a tour of the former Court Street fire hall.
Andrew Cotter, the chair of the city’s heritage advisory committee, said Doors Open can help people gain a sense of appreciation for the city’s history.
“It really allows the public to see the inner workings of the organizations and really have an appreciation of our culture, our heritage and how it impacts our city,” Cotter said.
“What we’re hoping to do as a committee is really promote heritage so that building becomes that much more important and it’s not torn down. It’s preserved and people get to see these historical resources as assets and not detriments.”
Four places of worship will be included, which includes the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Transfiguration on McIntosh Street, which is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its construction. The other places of worship are St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, St. Peter’s Catholic Church and the Thunder Bay Masjid.
“I think at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, for example, they’re going to have a tour of the bell tower so you get to see the behind the scenes places you might not see if you just went to these buildings and you get to talk to the proprietors. They’ll tell you what happens at the site and what their role is,” Cotter said.
Doors Open sites:
- Guided walking tour of historic Fort William district, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Up Shot Coffeehouse
- Regional Food Distribution Association food distribution facility
- Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic
- Brodie Resource Library
- Blue Sky Community Healing Centre
- Thunder Bay Multicultural Association
- Paramount Theatre
- Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel and Suites
- Alexander Henry
- St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
- St. Peter's Catholic Church
- Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Transfiguration
- Thunder Bay Masjid
- International Friendship Gardens
- Centennial Botanical Conservatory
- Carpenters Local 1669 Training Centre
