Think of it as a city-wide open house that doesn’t end in a bidding war or a hot shower to wash the grime of free market capitalism from your soul.
Doors Open Vancouver offers behind-the-scenes access to some of the most iconic buildings in the city, whether it’s the rooftop garden of the Skwachày’s Lodge Aboriginal Hotel & Gallery or a guided tour with popular civic historian John Atkin of the Marine Building.
The annual event for municipal lookie loos is free and takes place this Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Doors Open events are hosted in cities around the world, including London, New York and Toronto, attracting hundreds of thousands of participants.
Although the event is free, some attractions require preregistration. For details and to pre-register, got to doorsopenvan.ca.
There are 16 sites in all, each with their own take on design, history, heritage and function. Unfortunately, Mayor Gregor Robertson’s bike dojo remains off limits, if it even exists.
Here’s what the public can check out:
Vancouver City Hall
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
453 West 12th Ave.
False Creek Energy Centre
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1890 Spyglass Place
3-1-1 Call Centre
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1800 Spyglass Place
CityStudio
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1800 Spyglass Place
VPL Central Library
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
350 West Georgia St.
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Administration Office
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2099 Beach Ave.
The Orpheum
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
601 Smithe St.
Fire Protection System Pump Station
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1400 Homer St., David Lam Park
Marine Building
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
355 Burrard St.
Specially opened for this event with self-guided tours all day, or join John Atkin for guided tours every 30 minutes starting at 1:30 p.m.
Scotiabank Dance Centre
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
677 Davie St.
Bell Tower of the Holy Rosary Cathedral
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
646 Richards St.
Skwachàys Lodge – Aboriginal Hotel and Gallery
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
31 West Pender St.
National Works Yard
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
701 National Ave.
Vancouver Animal Services Shelter
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1280 Raymur Ave.
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Training Centre
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1330 Chess St.
Vancouver Police Department Mounted Unit
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cruise on the Burrard Inlet
This year DOV is offering two free cruises of the Burrard Inlet. Pre-registration required.
