Another Toronto Doors Open has come and gone .... and what an inspiring event (www.toronto.ca/doorsopen). Organized by Heritage Toronto (www.heritagetoronto.org) and made possible by the buildings and the volunteers...... we must all thank the hundreds of volunteers who gave their energy and time to make this event so wonderful for all of us.

To give you an idea on the range of buildings, this week-end we visited the Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf pictured above left (www.bobrumball.org). The Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf is the first comprehensive community centre for the Deaf in the world, with residential programs for the elderly, a preschool program, vocational/day program for adults who are deaf with other challenges and adult education programs.

We went to the Wychwood Barns that started life many many years ago as the barns for streetcars ..... yes we did then and we still have streetcars in Toronto. The barns have been renovated and include the Green barn (www.thestop.org). The Green Barn, a new satellite site of The Stop Community Food Centre, is a 10,000 square foot sustainable food production and education centre that engages people to grow, eat, learn about, celebrate and advocate for healthy, local food.




Then on to a Fire Station. This one was built in 1958. It houses a Ladder Truck , Rescue Pumper. The second floor has office space and fire Prevention. There is a garden in the back that is a must see and contains a memorial to firemen lost in the line of duty.

http://www.toronto.ca/fire/stations/west_command.htm







A private house and studio designed and built by two very creative and talented architects (www.studiojunction.ca). To use the words in the Open Doors brochure ~ the design of this house is generated by an emphasis on the views and activities of the interior courtyards, where all the windows look inwards. The warm rich woods used extensively throughout the house and studio reinforces the idea of interiority. In short! It is an incredibly warm and rich home with kids toys everywhere.




I previously posted a blog about Casa Loma - so well these are the stables of Casa Loma! (www.casaloma.org). The northern part of the Casa Loma Estate, comprising a Stables complex, Potting Shed and Hunting Lodge, was begun in 1905 The Stables complex was the first building erected and accommodated Pellatt's pedigreed horses.