They’re back & they’re better: Doors Open Brampton 2019

BY CHRISTINA GWIRA

It wasn’t until I moved into my downtown Brampton co-working space that I noticed all the beautiful landmarks in and around the Flower City. I’ve been a Brampton resident for over 15 years, which is quite a long time in my opinion. I moved to Brampton when Sandalwood was still mostly dirt, when Cassie Campbell wasn’t in existence, and when Creditview still had cows roaming all over it. Though I feel like I’ve been a Brampton staple for years, the truth is that there are many pieces of architecture, landmarks and spaces of culture that have been here since before I decided to grace the halls of Edmund Campion.

Driving through the busy (or gridlocked, depending on which direction you’re coming from) downtown Brampton streets, it’s very easy to miss the beauty that is within her boundaries. Open Doors Ontario is an initiative that quite literally, opens the doors to dozens of heritage sites and landmarks across the province. The initiative was first started in France in 1984. The concept grew like wildfire across other countries in Europe, making its way to Canada in 2000 with the City of Toronto.

Brampton’s very own Doors Open took place on Saturday, September 28th, 2019 from 10am – 4pm. Though it was a grey, rainy and cold day, I was able to take a look at some of the sites that I typically whizz by on my daily commute and learn about these pinnacles of Brampton history.

Alderlea

This was one of my favorite places to visit. I routinely go on walks during my work day as it helps me clear my mind and I make it a point to pass by the landmark on each walk. I have constantly wondered what the inside of Alderlea would be like. It was everything that I had hoped for and more! You can’t mention Alderlea without mentioning it’s meaning to Gage Park. Both Alderlea and Gage Park are located right in the heart of Brampton’s Downtown. Alderlea is a beautiful and well-preserved heritage building that has been a big part of the founding of Brampton. It can be used for ceremonies like weddings and intimate gatherings, should the need arise. It features beautiful Italianate villa architecture, one of the prime examples of such work in Ontario, as well as beautiful scenes of the park below it.

Lester B. Pearson Theatre

The theatre has been under construction since December 2018, and boy are you in for a treat! The new space is not only beautiful, but shows the city’s commitment to supporting community organizations and productions. Located right within the Civic Center, across from Bramalea City Centre, the newly renovated theatre pays close attention to making the space more accessible for all. It features a universal washroom, upgraded health, safety and technical equipment, as well as a completely redesigned lobby area.

In conclusion, getting to know more about the city that I’ve been a part of for many years was a good experience. Seeing both a heritage building from the past, as well as a newly updated technological space within the city that I call home definitely opened my eyes. This experience helped me to be more in tune with the space and city around me. I would highly encourage you to check out the spaces listed above, as well as the other 20+ locations that are on the Doors Open Brampton website, located at: https://www.doorsopenontario.on.ca/en/brampton