Discover Oshawa’s identity with annual Doors Open event
By Dave Flaherty/The Oshawa Express
With offerings ranging from war-inspired gardens to a historic cemetery, residents of Oshawa are encouraged to get out and learn more about their city’s identity later this month.
Doors Open Oshawa is set for Sept. 30 and will see numerous landmarks open their doors to the public for a day of discovery.
A province-wide program, the local event is a co-initiative between The City of Oshawa and Heritage Oshawa.
“The theme is ‘Our Identity’. That is really province wide, so we really wanted to highlight those places in our community that show off our history and what it means to be an Oshawa resident,” says Julie MacIsaac, the city’s director of recreation and culture services.
In addition to a number of returning locations, MacIsaac says organizers want to add some landmarks that are “uniquely Oshawa.”
Additions to Doors Open Oshawa this year include
– The Arts Resource Centre, which served as the Oshawa police station and courthouse until 1973. The former cells have been repurposed into an artist studio space and the courthouse as a theatre
– The Oshawa Public Libraries McLaughlin Branch, which was presented to the city as a gift from Col. R.S. McLaughlin in 1954.
– Oshawa Museum has partnered with Union Cemetery to offer historical walking tours featuring some of the city’s most prominent figures
– A Canadian Victory Garden walking tour is based on war gardens and is run by the Foundation for Building Sustainable Communities. It is also an operational urban farm equipped with solar equipped greenhouse, beehive, pollinator gardens and earth systems for low energy with demonstrations of ham radio
– The Colonel R. S. McLaughlin Armoury will also be open and feature an equipment display and recruiting information booth.
In addition to learning more about the city’s history, Doors Open Oshawa is also offering attendees an opportunity to win prizes.
Attendees are encouraged to enter their photos of family and friends celebrating Doors Open Oshawa.
Eligible photos will be entered to win a monthly prize pack and a grand prize Downtown Experience package.
To enter, email Faces of Oshawa photos to communications@oshawa.ca, upload photos to www.oshawa.ca/contest or tag your favourites with #OshCelebrates
The contest is open to Oshawa residents and post-secondary students ages 18 years and older.
For full details, visit www.oshawa.ca/contest. For more information on the event, visit oshawa.ca/doorsopen or call Service Oshawa at 905-436-3311.