Doors Open St. Catharines

Knox Presbyterian Church celebrated its 185th anniversary of community service in May. We welcome visitors to enjoy tours highlighting the history of Knox and its 15 Memorial Stained-Glass Windows. The windows are dedicated to many local leaders including lake captains, ship owners, builders, an architect, a Mayor of St. Catharines, a postmaster, a St. Paul Street clothier, and other business leaders.

Details

53 Church Street

905.641.8868

knoxchurch.com

Accessible / Kid Friendly / Parking at Market Square or City downtown parking garages

Time

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours

Self-guided with stationed guides discussing the stain glass windows. Peggy Boyle, a member of the recent Knox exterior restoration team, will be on hand to answer any inquires.

A symbol of early 20th-century volunteer militias and a long-standing community gathering place, the Lake Street Armoury remains a striking neighbourhood landmark and continues to operate as the home of the 10th St. Catharines Field Battery Artillery and the Lincoln and Welland Regiment.

Built in 1905, the Armoury replaced the drill shed on Raymond Street that had been destroyed by a tornado seven years earlier. Its construction came at a time when Canada's military was undergoing renewed interest and expansion. Like many armouries built between 1896 and 1914, it drew on architectural traditions that conveyed strength and permanence: red brick walls set on a quarry-face stone foundation, crenelated corner towers, and troop doors that echo the gates of medieval fortresses.

From the start the Armoury was at the heart of local military life. It served as a headquarters for Niagara militia units including the 10th St. Catharines Field Battery artillery (also known as the 10th Battery of the 56th Field Regiment); the 2nd and 10th Dragoons, and the 19th Lincoln Regiment - later known as the Lincoln & Welland Regiment. Inside its walls, recruits trained, equipment was stored, and soldiers prepared for marches that passed through the region. Outside, the grassy field - now parking lot - once hosted drills and bell tents for troops. Over the years, the Lake Street Armoury also played a vital role in wartime enlistment, connecting the local community to Canada’s broader military story.

Details

81 Lake Street

905.685.6777

Accessible / Kid Friendly / On-site Parking

Tours

Guided tours only. Pre-registration required.

Brock University Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts celebrates 10 years in its award-winning, repurposed Canada Hair Cloth Company building, founded in 1888. The facility serves as a vibrant hub for arts education and research, with theatres, studios, galleries, and specialized spaces supporting students across disciplines.

Over the past decade, it has enriched downtown St. Catharines with over 300 performances, 100 exhibitions, and numerous workshops, lectures, and interdisciplinary events.

Please join us for a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of our state-of-the-art facilities and learn about Marilyn I. Walker’s legacy.

Details

15 Artists’ Common

905-688-5550

brocku.ca/miwsfpa

Accessible / Kid Friendly / Parking in Downtown Parking Garages/Lots

Tours

Guided Tours at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m. only. Pre-registration not required.

Special Events

A selection of Small Walker Press publications will be featured in the Marilyn I. Walker School's Lobby, including Industrial Niagara and Tewaaraton. La crosse / Lacrosse. Tickets for the One Acts Festival’s 2 pm performance will also be on offer, pending seats availability. Please check Department of Dramatic Arts events through brocku.universitytickets.com.

The Niagara Masonic Memorial Temple Association welcomes you to their first Doors Open event.

Originally constructed in 1891 as St. George’s Ward Primary School, and renamed Court Street School in 1927, this St. Catharines landmark educated generations of local students before closing in 1952. The building was later adapted for community use and now houses the Niagara Conservatory of Music and the Masonic Memorial Temple: home to several Masonic lodges, including St. George’s Lodge No. 15, Reunion Lodge No. 103, Garden City Lodge No. 221, and Brock Daylight Lodge No. 745.

Details

23 Centre Street

www.reunionlodge103.ca

Partially Accessible / Onsite Parking in the Court Street Parking Lot only / Enter through side entrance off Court Street

Tours

Self-guided with stationed guides.

Time

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Decew Falls Water Treatment Plant has been supplying drinking water to residents since 1876. As Niagara Region’s largest water treatment facility, it is designed to treat 227 million litres of water per day. The site is unique among Ontario’s water treatment plants for its gravity fed distribution system. 

This event offers visitors the opportunity to explore the history and ongoing importance of the Decew Falls Water Treatment Plant, which has provided safe, reliable drinking water in Niagara for generations. Visitors will enjoy a one-hour guided walking tour.

Details

2700 Decew Road

www.niagararegion.ca

Partially Accessible / Some Onsite Parking / Closed toe shoes and long pants required for the tour

Tours

Guided Tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Pre-registration required.

Built in 1898, DeCew Generating Station 1 (GS1) is one of the oldest continually running hydroelectric power generating station in Canada. More than 125 years after it was built, GS1 continues to help OPG generate safe, clean, reliable, low-cost power for Ontario. Today, the plant is a working piece of Canada’s hydroelectric heritage. 

Visitors are asked to park at Joseph L. McCaffery Sports Park, 61 Vansickle Road. Complimentary shuttle service will operate continuously from 9:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., connecting the Sports Park, DeCew Generating Station, and the Brown Homestead. There is no on-site or street parking available.

Details

Joseph L McCaffery Sports Park

61 Vansickle Road 

www.opg.com

Partially Accessible / Flat closed toe and closed back shoes required (no crocs or sandals)

Please note: While on the operations floor, please be aware that noise levels are high. Hearing protection will be provided for the walkthrough.  Its use is recommended, but not mandatory.

If you are bringing children, we encourage you to bring appropriate hearing protection.

Visitors are required to wear flat, closed-toe, closed back shoes (Crocs are not permitted).

Tours

Guided Tours Only: SOLD OUT

Register

Join a local resident for a guided walking tour of the Power Glen Valley. Tours start outside Decew Generating Station No. 1 and end at the 1855 home of Benjamin Reynolds – the oldest home in the Power Glen Heritage District. Along the route, participants will learn about the valley’s history and St. Catharines’ early industries, examine the exterior heritage features of the Reynold’s home, and tour a vintage printery located in the heritage barn behind the Reynold’s home.

Visitors are asked to park at Joseph L. McCaffery Sports Park, 61 Vansickle Road. Complimentary shuttle service will operate continuously from the sports park, DeCew Generating Station, and the Brown Homestead. There is no on-site or street parking available. The hike begins outside the entrance of Decew Generating Station No. 1 (GS1) and ends at 28 Power Glen Road. Busses will be stopping at 28 Power Glen Road at the end of each tour.

This tour/hike does not include access to or a tour of the Decew Generating Station.

Please note: This tour is not accessible. Participants should wear flat, closed toe shoes or hiking shoes and be prepared for relatively steep hills. The hike is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a 45-minute discussion of the house exterior and heritage printery.  The tour will be cancelled if it rains or if hiking conditions are too slippery.

Details

Joseph L McCaffery Sports Park

61 Vansickle Road 

Tours

Guided tours only. SOLD OUT

Register

We are thrilled to welcome our community to Rhythm Automotive Canada and share the history of its facilities. Tours begin in Plant 2, built in 1954, where visitors can see the machining of in-house forged components, before continuing beneath Louth Street through an underground tunnel to Plant 1, known as ‘The Forge,’ dating to 1929, to learn how a range of steering linkages and ball joints are manufactured for our international clients.

Details

Formerly THK Rhythm Automotive, TRW Automotive, and originally, Thompson Products.

230 Louth Street

905.685.1931

www.thk.com

Accessible site / Kid friendly for ages 3+ / All children 12 and under must be accompanied by a guardian at all times / Appropriate clothing includes legs and shoulders covered  / Please wear closed toe shoes / No pets / No food or drinks allowed to be consumed on the factory floor / On-site parking / Safety equipment will be provided

Time

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours

Guided Tours throughout the day. Pre-registration is not required.

Established in 1889, Ridley College is a renowned independent day and boarding school (JK to Grade 12), guided by a vision of inspiring flourishing lives, with wellbeing woven throughout the educational experience.

We welcome visitors to tour the Lower School dining hall, sensory gardens, Mandeville Theatre, and the recently renovated and expanded Evans Athletic Centre and the Iggulden Building — which is home to the Mitchell Learning Commons, Norris Walker ’52 Creative Commons and performance spaces. Experience the blend of traditional architectural details and modern learning spaces that reflect the school’s rich history while embracing a forward-looking approach to education.

Please note: Due to a private event, the historic chapel and dining hall will not be open for public tours.

Details

2 Ridley Road

905.684.1889

www.ridleycollege.com

Accessible site / kid friendly / On-site parking

Time

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours

Self-guided with stationed guides.

Royal House Redeemed Christian Church of God welcomes visitors to its first Doors Open St. Catharines event. Its new home is a rare example of brick Romanesque design, highlighted by a striking 12-petal stained-glass rose window. 

The site has been a place of worship since 1834, when the First Presbyterian Church first gathered there. Rebuilt in 1876 and opened in 1878, it later became First United Church, which held its final service in 2003. Since 2006, Royal House has brought new life to the space as a vibrant, multicultural congregation representing 30 nations and is known for its dynamic services, strong choir, and community outreach.

Details

95 Church Street

Accessible / Kid-friendly / Parking at Market Square, downtown City parking garages and City on-street metered parking

Time

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours

Self-guided

Special Event

Choir and children’s performances throughout the day.

Built in 1855, Salem Chapel was an important centre of abolitionist and civil rights activity and was the cornerstone of a growing African American community in Niagara. Harriet Tubman, who attended the church, led many freedom seekers to St. Catharines. The chapel has an auditory-hall design typical of churches associated with the Underground Railroad movement. It also has many original artifacts on display.

Details

92 Geneva Street

www.salemchapelbmechurch.ca

905.682.0993

Not Accessible / Parking available behind the church at 62 North Street

Time

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours

Self-guided tours

Special Event

Tour Talk from 12-1 p.m.

St. Barnabas Anglican Church was designed by Toronto architect Charles T. Gibson and dates back to 1893, when its foundation stone was laid. The exterior features local red-brown sandstone and a slate roof, while the interior showcases solid wooden beams with turned drop finials, intricately carved paneling and stained glass windows dedicated to local citizens. The church’s collection of vestments and candelabra will also be on display.

Details

33 Queenston Street

905.684.6421

stbarnabasanglican.ca

Accessible / On-site and street parking

Time

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours

Self-guided with stationed interpreters.

Special Events

Live music throughout the day.

The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre brings the city’s history to life through artifacts, stories, and exhibits set against Lock 3 of the Welland Ship Canal. Located beside this active waterway, the museum highlights the history of the earlier Welland Canals, the Underground Railroad, and the contributions of immigrant labourers and Freedom Seekers in the 1850s. Additional exhibits explore women’s history and local industries, while outdoor spaces offer canal views and the Welland Canals Fallen Workers Memorial.

Details

1932 Welland Canals Parkway

905.984.8880

www.stcatharines.ca/museum

Accessible / Kid-friendly / On-site Parking

Time

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tours

Self-guided.

Take a guided stroll along the quiet streets of the Yates Street Heritage District, only steps from bustling downtown St. Catharines. This architectural heritage tour is led by Brian Narhi, chair of the City’s Heritage Advisory Committee.

Details

Hike begins at the St. Catharines Cenotaph at 6 St Paul Street West and ends at St. Thomas Anglican Church.

Tours

Guided tour only. SOLD OUT

Register

Tour runs rain or shine / Participants should wear flat, closed toe shoes / Dress for the weather / Parking in downtown City parking garages and metered lots

St. George’s is the first established church in St. Catharines, and its congregation will celebrate its 235th anniversary next year. The grey stone church, built in 1840, features carved stone details, beautiful stained glass, memorials from both World Wars, a magnificent pipe organ, and a rare historic carillon - one of only a small number of such tower-bell instruments in Canada - all contributing to its inspiring role as a place of prayer and worship.

Beyond its historic, architectural and cultural significance, the church plays a vital role in the community. It supports a daily breakfast program, offered 365 days of the year, and serves as a hub for shelter, food programs, community gatherings, and exceptional music programs for people of all ages.

Details

83 Church Street

905.682.9232

www.stgeorgesanglican.ca

Accessible / Kid Friendly / Parking at Market Square or downtown City parking garages

Time

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours

Self-guided with stationed interpreters.

Special Events

Live music will fill the sanctuary on the hour between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. featuring organ, choir and other special musical guests. St. George's historic carillon will be featured in two special bell concerts at 10 a.m. and 3:30 pm, played from the church tower and heard across downtown St. Catharines. Visitors are invited to come inside the church to listen, or to pause anywhere downtown and enjoy the music of the bells as it carries across the city.

St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Church is an English-speaking parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, located in the former Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church in St. Catharines. Since its purchase in 2013, the sanctuary has been thoughtfully transformed with Byzantine-style iconography, including works by artists such as Alexander Schelechow and Hanan Houli. 

Recent additions—donated icons and a new wooden Holy Table—reflect a growing, vibrant community rooted in tradition and faith.

Details

332 Carlton Street (and 75 Rolls Avenue)

905.646.4222

www.stignatius-stc.ca

Partially Accessible / Street Parking / Accessible Parking at 75 Rolls Avenue

Time

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours

Self-guided with stationed interpreters.

Special Events

Hymns in Byzantine chant for 10 minutes at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

St. Thomas’ Anglican Church has been a landmark in St. Catharines since 1879. Designed by noted Buffalo architect Milton Earle Beebe, this Richardson Romanesque church is distinguished by its magnificent turrets and beautiful stained-glass windows. It is also well known for its long-standing Day Care Centre and its annual Civic Carol Concert, which showcases the remarkable acoustics beneath its expansive domed roof.

The cornerstone was laid in September 1877. Beginning in 2027, St. Thomas’ will celebrate its 150th anniversary, culminating in October 2029, which marks 150 years since its first service. Stay tuned for upcoming celebrations.

Details

99 Ontario Street

905.684.2339

www.stthomaschurch.ca

Accessible / Kid Friendly / Street Parking / Parking in Downtown Parking Garages / Please use the crosswalks when crossing the streets.

Time

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours

Self Guided with stationed guides.

Special Events

Live music throughout the day, exhibits about the local areas and more!

Visitors are invited to explore this architectural and spiritual treasure, built between 1944 and 1946 by a devoted Ukrainian community in St. Catharines. Designed by priest-architect Philip Ruh, the church beautifully blends Ukrainian Greek Catholic tradition with rich and layered design. 

Inside, vibrant icons by renowned iconographer Igor Suhacev fill the space with colour, symbolism and meaning. Designated as a heritage site in 1997, the church stands as a lasting testament to faith, artistry and cultural identity.

Details

14 Rolls Avenue

905.646.1275
www.cyrilandmethodius.ca

Accessible / Kid Friendly/ On-site Parking

Time

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours

Self-guided with presentations on the hour. Last presentation begins at 3 p.m.

Step inside the past and be inspired. Visitors are invited to explore the site of the oldest home in St. Catharines, c. 1796. The Brown Homestead was settled by United Empire Loyalists in the 1780s and ran as a family farm for almost 200 years. Explore our historic site, be inspired by heritage craft demonstrations, learn through hands-on activities and view two new community exhibits. Grab lunch or a snack from Char in the Kitchen and spend time enjoying our pastoral setting. 

Details

1317 Pelham Road

905.328.1646

info@thebrownhomestead.ca

thebrownhomestead.ca

The site is partially accessible / Kid-friendly / Closed-toed shoes are recommended

Time

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours

Self-guided with stationed interpreters.

Special Events

Hands-on Heritage: Watch skilled craftspeople in action and try traditional techniques, including heritage carpentry, stained glass, historic linen production and natural dyeing, and medicine pouch making.

Community Exhibits: Indigenous Art 2026 juried exhibit preview and Niagara in Focus community photo exhibit.

Accessibility

Our site is currently undergoing rehabilitation, and not yet wheelchair accessible. Stairs are required to access the main floor and second-storey of the John Brown House, as well as our washroom facilities.

Parking

The Brown Homestead currently has limited parking. Parking is located on an uneven grassed and gravel lot adjacent to the John Brown House. The entrance to The Brown Homestead is close to a sharp curve on Pelham Road. Please be mindful of surrounding traffic. Please be careful crossing the street.