The Doors Open Orillia tour gave people access to many of the city’s historical sites today, and offered insight into that history.
Built in 1928 the Stephen Leacock Museum is as rich in history as the world-renowned author himself.
And today, visitor Carole Wright and countless others will finally have the chance to take in the famous house thanks to some $1.2 million in renovations.
“For the first time since the museum opened in 1958 we're able to offer access to people in wheelchairs and walkers, and the response has been overwhelming,” says museum curator Fred Addis.
There were 11 cultural sites to take in with Doors Open Orillia – many of them within walking distance.
At the OPP museum, guests not only had the chance to learn about policing in Ontario, they got to dress up as one.
Meanwhile, the Orillia Fire Department has been fighting fires for almost 140 years, and Doors Open offered the public an opportunity to see the fire truck that replaced the horse and wagon in Orillia – a 1923 American LaFrance chemical and ladder truck.
“It's just about mechanically sound,” says Capt. Glenn Higgins with the fire department. “We’re just waiting for a rad to come back from the shop and it's ready to go in parades and be seen across the city.”
People also had the chance to see a rare piece of film from a private collector showing the truck in action sometime in the 1930s.
“It's a piece of Canada's history and Orillia's history,” says Higgins.
And Orillia's proud military history was on full display at the Orillia legion, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.
“We have artifacts in our museum that the national one in Ottawa would like to have,” says veteran Clifford Vardy.
