About

The inspiration for DOORS OPEN NIAGARA had its origins in France where the first Doors Open event (La Journee Portes Ouvertes) took place in 1984. The idea soon spread to neighboring countries and has since expanded around the globe. Toronto was the first North American city to follow the European lead and launched a high profile event showcasing constructed heritage, architecture and design as a millennium project in 2000.

Using the Toronto model, the Ontario Heritage Foundation launched Doors Open Ontario in 2002. Standing out in the list of participating communities in that inaugural year, binational DOORS OPEN NIAGARA featured towns and villages on both sides of the international boundary, opening heritage properties for all to see, and in many cases, for the first time! Each year, the Foundation publishes a full color catalog featuring all Doors Open communities including twenty of the DOORS OPEN NIAGARA sites. The catalog is distributed throughout Canada, as well as internationally. Information about all participating sites is available at www.doorsopenontario.on.ca.

DOORS OPEN NIAGARA is organized by a steering committee of volunteers from both Canada and the United States in association with the Binational Tourism Alliance (BTA). The BTA is a tourism product and infrastructure development and training organization. It has been working with tourism, cultural and hospitality partners in the binational region since 2001 to develop the cross-border region into an internationally recognized, year-round cultural tourism destination.

A variety of special events will highlight the wealth of both old and new architecture and design in this region by introducing exciting new elements of design, indoor and outdoor landscaping, environmental and reuse projects, into the heritage and architecture mix that Doors Open Niagara has always celebrated.

"The Visionaries Behind The Scenes" – the founders, architects and builders of these special sites is the theme of this year's DOORS OPEN NIAGARA, with a special emphasis on discovering art in and around historically and architecturally significant sites.

Come and explore the participating Binational Doors Open Niagara 2009 sites, not just on Doors Open Niagara weekend (October 17 & 18), but year-round, and discover our region’s wealth of architecture (both old & new), history, fine art collections, decorative, historical and mechanical art and horticulture and landscape designs. Be sure to travel with your cameras – you never know when that “perfect” shot will present itself for the 2009 Photography Contests!

Participating sites include elegant residences and inns, churches containing magnificent stained glass windows, Industrial Age factories, municipal buildings, museums, schoolhouses, and sites that played a role in the Underground Railroad. A wide variety of architectural styles are represented including 18th and early 19th century stone and log structures, homes and buildings crafted in the Victorian, Neo-Classical, Art Deco, Italianate and Greek Revival styles, and churches of Romanesque and Gothic Revival design. Many of the sites in both the U.S. and Canada are registered as National Historic landmarks and others played important roles in the history of both countries.

“Niagara By Design” was created to expand Doors Open Niagara weekend into a year-round appreciation of the region’s heritage, architecture and design by not only showcasing the participating Doors Open Niagara sites all year long, but by adding extra programming to include an Architectural Speaker, Lecture and Movie Series as well as an annual Symposium to encourage new and repeat visitors. Information will be updated as it becomes available.

Doors Open Niagara Weekend

The Binational Doors Open Niagara weekend on October 17th & 18th, 2009 is your opportunity to explore and discover some of the wonderful historical and architectural treasures “The Niagaras’ have to offer, completely FREE OF CHARGE! There are 74 wonderful sites to choose from – everything from churches, historic homes and museums, to wineries and theatres located in the Niagara Region, Ontario and Erie and Niagara Counties, New York.

The dedicated owners, staff and volunteers of these sites look forward to welcoming you and your family and friends, and sharing their stories and knowledge.

Be sure to bring your cameras and enter our popular photography contests – one for adults (both an amateur and professional category) and one just for youth ages 5 to 17 that includes a scavenger hunt. Photos of the participating sites need to have been taken between July 1 and October 18, 2009. Also new this year, we will include a water-based theme in honor of the 2009 Year of Our Shared Waters.

So plan your itinerary, map out your route and be prepared enjoy the weekend!

Click here for complete list of participating sites.

Doors Open Site Summary

Please click here for a list of participating Doors Open Niagara 2009 sites on October 17 & 18. Most sites will be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm, but there are exceptions.

Look for your Doors Open Niagara insert in Osprey newspapers in Niagara, Ontario on October 2 and in Artvoice and Business First the following week.

Copies will also be available at participating sites, local libraries, tourist information centers, shopping malls and Duty Free Shops.

Doors Open Niagara Photography Contests

The popular "Art of Architecture" (for adults) and "architage" (for children ages 5 to 17 years) Photography Contests are back for 2009. This year they are valid for photos taken from July 1 to November 30, 2009 at participating Doors Open Niagara sites and include a water-based theme in honor of the 2009 Year of Our Shared Waters. Full details and entry forms will be posted shortly.

Come join the "Art of Architecture Reception & Exhibit" featuring photographs from Doors Open Niagara 2008 at the St. Catharines Museum at Lock 3 on Friday, September 25, 2009 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. View all of the winning photographs, meet some of the photographers and learn about the 2009 Doors Open Niagara program. There is no cost to attend, but you must RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 1-888-849-5834.

2009 Art of Architecture Photography Contest Details

5th Annual Binational Doors Open Niagara
"Art of Architecture" Photography Contest – Year of Our Shared Waters

Photography buffs of every level of expertise are invited to share their favorite architectural images this fall, but this time with a new spin to capture the “Year of Our Shared Waters” theme – incorporate water into your photo for additional creative consideration. Submit images of your favorite 2009 Binational Doors Open Niagara sites - if selected, your winning photo could be posted on the official Doors Open Niagara website and exhibited at a variety of Canadian and American Art Galleries and Museums in the Binational Region during 2010. Additional prizes, courtesy of sponsor, The Camera Place, downtown Niagara Falls, will be awarded in three categories plus Best of Show.

"The Art of Architecture" Photography Contest Rules & Prizes

1. The purpose of the Art of Architecture Photography Contest is to showcase the artistic beauty and distinctiveness of sites participating in Binational Doors Open Niagara, taking place October 17 and 18, 2009 throughout Erie and Niagara Counties in WNY and the Niagara region of Southern Ontario. All submissions must have been taken at a Doors Open Niagara participating site between July 1 and November 30, 2009. A list of those sites can be found at the Doors Open Niagara website at: www.doorsopenniagara.com.

Photos will be judged in three main categories: Exterior Views, Interior Views and Architectural Elements.

2. The competition is open to U.S. and Canadian amateur and professional photographers, 18 years of age or order.

3. Entries may be color or black and white images, but must be submitted on a photo CD. Please do not send prints or slides. No allowances will be made for poor-quality images.

4. You must be the sole author and owner of the copyright in all photos entered. Images must not have been digitally altered in any way other than necessary burning, dodging and cropping.

5. Your name, phone number (both day & evening), address and e-mail address must be included with each entry for the purpose of notifying you of the judges' decisions.

6. The deadline for entries is 5:00 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2009, delivered to the Binational Tourism Alliance office or postmarked on the same date.

How and Where to Submit Images:

Images are to be submitted on Photo CDs only. No e-mailed images will be accepted. Photo CDs are to be mailed or delivered to The Binational Tourism Alliance at either of the following addresses, and all envelopes clearly marked “2009 Art of Architecture Photography Contest, ATTN: Helga Honey”.

In Canada:     In the U.S.:
5400 Robinson St., 2nd Floor    70 West Chippewa St., Suite 607
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2G 2A6   Buffalo, New York 14202

A maximum of 5 images may be entered by each photographer.

Images must be a minimum resolution of 300 dpi and at least 1632 x 1224 pixels.

Please include the following details with your submission(s):

- a title for the photo (should include name of the site or building).
- where the photo was taken and when it was taken (ex. Front Door, Buffalo City Hall, Buffalo NY, October 17, 2007). Please note that no logos, names, emblems or signage other than the name of the building, itself, can be visible in submissions.
- if you are submitting more than one image please submit a covering letter with a list of printed images, numbered and labeled by location.

A binational panel of judges who are accomplished in the field of photography will select the award winners. The judges' decision on all matters relating to the competition is final, and no correspondence will be entered into concerning the competition's judging and any individual or organization associated with this contest. Immediate families of the judges are not eligible to enter this contest.

Judging will take place by January 31, 2010 and winners will be notified by February 28, 2010. Winners will be announced at the Doors Open 2010 Gala/Launch event in June of 2010.

CLICK HERE for Rules and ENTRY FORM for Art of Architecture Contest

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2009 “architage” Kids Scavenger Hunt/Photography Contest

For the 3rd year, we’re inviting students from 5 to 17 years of age, to participate in our new “architage” Scavenger Hunt/Photography Contest.

How It Works:

1) There will be a total of 25 clues listed on the www.doorsopenniagara.ca website from October 1 to November 30. These clues relate to the visionaries that were responsible for the architectural design and building of 25 of the 78 sites that are part of 2009 Doors Open Niagara.
2) Participants must complete two steps to enter: You need to submit the correct answers to 10 of these clues, clearly indicating the location the clue refers to, along with your best photos of three of these locations to prove that you actually visited these sites.

The contest runs from July 1 to November 30, 2009, and prizes will be awarded to winners who submit the correct location answers to the Scavenger Hunt clues, along with photos that identify those locations.

Age categories will be broken down as follows, with three winners named in each category:
a) 5 to 8 years of age
b) 9 to 12 years of age
c) 13 to 17 years of age

Winners will have their photography exhibited along with the Art of Architecture winners at various galleries and museums in the cross-border Niagara Region in 2010.

Judging will take place by January 31, 2010 and winners will be notified by February 28, 2010. Winners will be announced at the Doors Open 2010 Gala/Launch event in June of 2010.

Click here for the "architage" clues and submission form.

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Congratulations to the WINNERS of the 2008 "Art of Architecture" and "architage" Doors Open Niagara Photography Contests:

"Art of Architecture - Professional"

Exterior View - 1st Prize: Chris Breier of Williamsville, New York
Architectural Elements - 1st Prize: Chris Breier of Williamsville, New York

"Art of Architecture - Amateur"

Exterior View:
   1st Prize:                      Chris Podosek, Lakeview, NY
   2nd Prize:                     Philip Gundel, West Senceca, NY
   3rd Prize:                     Sherry Fossett, Hamburg, NY
   Honorable Mention:     Amanda Lonergan, Buffalo, NY
   Honorable Mention:     Barbara McMichael, Grand Island, NY
   Honorable Mention:     Chris Cohan, East Amherst, NY
   Honorable Mention:     John Hyne, Lowbanks, ON
   Honorable Mention:     Suzanne Kashuba, Amherst, NY

Interior View:
   1st Prize:                      Jan DiMartino, Niagara Falls, ON
   2nd Prize:                     Sheri Martin, Fort Erie, ON
   3rd Prize:                     Julia Piorkowski, Fort Erie, ON
   Honorable Mention:     Jan DiMartino, Niagara Falls, ON
   Honorable Mention:     James Wagner, Beamsville, ON
   Honorable Mention:     Amanda Lonergan, Buffalo, NY
   Honorable Mention:     Brenda Morse, Hamburg, NY
   Honorable Mention:     Michael Venezia, Amherst, NY
   Honorable Mention:     Ray Ordinario, Fort Erie, ON
   Honorable Mention:     Ray Ordinario, Fort Erie, ON

Architectural Elements:
   1st Prize:                      Brenda Morse, Hamburg, NY
   2nd Prize:                    Ron Wing, Welland, ON
   3rd Prize:                     Michael Venezia, Amherst, NY
   Honorable Mention:     Cheryl Klassen, St. Catharines, ON
   Honorable Mention:     Jennifer Smigielski, Amherst, NY
   Honorable Mention:     Suzanne Kashuba, Amherst, NY

Best In Show: Eleanor Stasiw, Thorold, ON

"architage" - for Children ages 5 to17 years

5 to 8 years of age:
Exterior View:
1st Prize: Rachel Norvilitis, Orchard Park, NY
Honorable Mention: Rachel Norvilitis, Orchard Park, NY

9 to 12 years of age:
Exterior View:
   1st Prize:                     Katrienna Bielich, Niagara Falls, ON
   Honorable Mention:    Jovo Bielich, Niagara Falls, ON
   Honorable Mention:    Noah Morse, Hamburg, NY

13 to 17 years of age:
Architectural Elements:
1st Prize: Brett Mortensen, Welland, ON

Exterior View:
1st Prize: Holley Corfield, Niagara Falls, ON

Best In Show: Kyra Simone, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

These amazing photos were unveiled at the Doors Open Niagara Gala on Tuesday, June 9th at the Buffalo Canoe Club in Ridgeway, Ontario.

Bike Train From Toronto

Consider taking the Bike Train to Doors Open Niagara 2009. The Bike Train is a sustainable transportation initiative that has opened up the Niagara region to Toronto cyclists. By adding a special baggage car to select VIA Rail departures between Toronto and Niagara Falls Stations, the Bike Train allows up to 56 cyclists per train to travel to Niagara hassle free.

Cycling is a great way to experience Doors Open Niagara. Bicycle from site to site and see all that Niagara has to offer on two wheels. Schedule and reservation information is available at www.biketrain.ca

** Please note that the Bike Train has a great Getaway Package for the Doors Open Niagara Weekend that includes:

- 2 return tickets on the Bike Train departing Toronto on Friday, October 16 and returning from Niagara Falls, ON on Sunday, October 18
- 2 nights accommodation at the Best Western Fallsview Hotel
- dinner for two in the Boulevard Bistro
- 2 breakfasts for 2 in the Boulevard Bistro
- Free luggage transfers to and from the station

Please click on the link below for complete details and booking information.

http://www.biketrain.ca/about-us/102-package-promotion-october-2009

Doors Open Niagara Stage 1 Form:
click here to download

Doors Open Niagara Stage 2 Form:
click here to download

WHTI Traveler ID Requirements Update, January 2009
click here to download

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