Despite a gloomy first weekend of June, Ottawa residents came out in force for Doors Open Ottawa to explore buildings and institutions that are not always open to the public.
The annual event, held June 6 and 7 this year, gave visitors free access to 65 sites across the city, including government institutions, arts organizations, heritage buildings and cultural spaces.
For many attendees, the event offered a chance to go behind the scenes at places they might otherwise never visit.
“It’s a unique opportunity to see how some of these organizations are run day to day,” said Rosanne Visser, who was visiting Ottawa from Calgary.
Visser said the event’s free admission helps make cultural institutions accessible to a wider range of people.
“I also think it’s important because it levels the playing field,” she said. “It’s a great way for people to maybe go to spaces that they normally wouldn’t go to because the cost would be prohibitive.”
Cara Oakley, visiting from Vancouver, said Doors Open encouraged her to look beyond some of Ottawa’s best-known attractions.
“I think it raises awareness to things that might not be on our radar,” Oakley said.
“Would I have pursued this on my own without having that rolodex that Open Doors has created to open my eyes to say, you know, this is what you think Ottawa is, but actually it’s so much more.”
Oakley said the experience also helped provide context for the city through its architecture and design.
‘I think it’s just really nice to have the opportunity to see things we normally couldn’t. The whole idea of, like, you know, going behind closed doors really does give people kind of that sense of connection to the institutions that (are) a very important part of public life.”
— Hilary Roberts, Doors Open Ottawa participant
“I find things like this give context from looking at how the buildings have been kept, maintained, what values have been carried over from our heritage side of things versus modern integrations with them,” she said.
At the Library of Parliament, staff said Doors Open provides a rare opportunity to connect directly with members of the public in a building generally “reserved for the use of the parliamentary community.”
“For us, it’s very important to have that connection with the general public, who do not necessarily have the opportunity to see what we do . . . because people wouldn’t have access to this building,” said Michael Dumais, a manager at the Library of Parliament.
Dumais said public access is central to the event’s purpose.
“Doors Open was created as a way for people to enjoy architecture . . . to give access to people to get into places where they normally wouldn’t be allowed to go,” he said.
He said the library hopes visitors gain a better understanding of its role within Canada’s parliamentary system.
“We hope that they learn that their Parliament is well informed,” Dumais said.
“We hope their takeaway is a good understanding of how we help Parliament, but also all of the various services that we provide to both Parliament and the general public.”
Those services include public tours, educational publications and the Parliament of Canada’s Information Service, which answers questions about Parliament and the legislative process.
For Ottawa resident Hilary Roberts, Doors Open Ottawa helps foster connections between residents and the institutions that shape public life.
“I think it’s just really nice to have the opportunity to see things we normally couldn’t,” Roberts said. “The whole idea of, like, you know, going behind closed doors really does give people kind of that sense of connection to the institutions that (are) a very important part of public life.”
She added: “For some of these locations, you can probably make the connection to the importance of an open democracy and an open society, and allowing people that glimpse.”
Roberts visited the Supreme Court of Canada during the weekend.
“The law is very interesting to me. It’s kind of cool to see the highest seat of that in our country,” she said.
‘I find things like this give context from looking at how the buildings have been kept, maintained, what values have been carried over from our heritage side of things versus modern integrations with them.’
— Cara Oakley, Vancouver resident who attended Doors Open Ottawa
Roberts also pointed to innovative programming at this year’s event, including an opportunity to glimpse a display about the future Ottawa Hospital campus, currently under construction on Carling Avenue. The presentation took place at a site on City Centre Avenue.
“I actually started out today over at the Ottawa Hospital walkthrough, so they have mock-ups of the new rooms — apparently the first time that they’ve allowed anyone in the public to go in and see,” she said.
Visitors also highlighted the role arts and culture play in creating vibrant urban spaces.
“I think it’s really great to see successful partnerships with the City of Ottawa and these arts organizations, and how if we factor in arts and culture into a city, it makes it more vibrant and alive,” said Visser.
Oakley said that future editions of Doors Open Ottawa could further explore the city’s food culture and history.
“I’d like to see more food,” she said. “I feel like Ottawa probably has a pretty rich food culture and history . . . and I think there’s an opportunity there.”
