Doors Open Ottawa June 3-4

Doors Open Ottaw

Doors Open Ottawa is a free annual architectural event that celebrates our community’s built heritage and a perfect opportunity to sketch the outside (and in some cases the inside) of over 150 historically, culturally, and functionally significant buildingsin Ottawa!

Did You Know: Doors Open Ottawa continues to be the second-largest Doors Open architectural event in North America.  Since its inception in 2002, over 920,000 visitors have discovered some of the city’s most prestigious buildings including Earnscliffe: Official Residence of the British High Commissioner, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Embassy of the United States, and the Sir John A. Macdonald Building....just to name a few.

This Event Is Part of #100in1day Ottawa

100In1day Ottawa

100In1day is a global festival of civic engagement and a growing movement that is changing how people interact with their cities.  Originating in Bogota, Colombia, and spreading to cities around the world, the festival has inspired citizen-driven change in cities through small urban interventions. The spirit of 100in1day is democratic, imaginative and empowering. The festival is a platform for citizens to activate ideas to make their city healthier, happier and more inspired, one initiative at a time.  

Powered by Synapcity, with support from United Way Ottawa and community partners, 100in1day is coming to Ottawa for the first time this year!

Link to our event at the 100In1day intervention is here: https://100in1day.ca/interventions/urban-sketching-doors-open-ottawa/

Getting There by Bus, Bike or On Foot

Take advantage of the Doors Open Ottawa FREE Shuttle Bus, operating within walking distance of over 50 participating buildings. Or, take the opportunity to enjoy the summer sun and cycle your way around the city on a Doors Open Ottawa bicycle tour. No bike, no problem! Visitors can visit numerous buildings per day by making their way around the downtown core on foot.

Join Suvitha and Cindi! 

Urban sketcher Suvitha and I will be sketching Doors Open locations on Spark St this Saturday 10-2 ( we chose Saturday because forecast calling for rain Sunday)

You are WELCOME to join us.

We are including urban sketcher Greg Manley's recommendation of visiting the Wellington building (pictured on brochure) on our tour.

We are meeting at CBC at 10 (see map) and hoping to end at St Andrews around 2. There's lots to sketch outside and inside.

Important Details:

• The Sir John A MacDonald building & Bank of Canada ( on my map) are both closed Saturday and open only on Sunday
• Some of these buildings are government buildings so security scanning will be required to enter https://visit.parl.ca/index-e.html

If you are heading to other Doors Open venues closer to you to sketch, (Link: http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/arts-heritage-and-culture/museums-and-historic-sites/doors-open-ottawa
) send a shout out here, and, as always, PLEASE post your sketches on our Facebook pages ! 

 Share Your Sketches!

Share your sketches on social media using hashtag  #DoorsOpenOttawa experience on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

 Happy sketching

Information - Doors Open Ottawa 2017

• 2017 Building List
• Doors Open Ottawa 2017 Interactive Map
• 2017 Building Guide [ PDF- 1.38 MB ] [ CSV – 130K ]