'Doors Open Fredericton' Event Set For Sunday, September 21
Fredericton (September 17, 2008) - Eighteen of Fredericton's most interesting buildings are opening their doors to the public on Sunday, September 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. during the City's second annual Doors Open Fredericton event.
"This is an opportunity to tour buildings you may have admired from the outside but have never stepped inside," said Councillor Dan Keenan, chair of the City's Development Committee. "In some cases, you will be able to take an 'insider tour' and see a building from a new perspective, such as the Playhouse's back stage tour."
There will be guided or self-guided tours at various locations. Guided tours at set times will be offered at both the Playhouse (every 30 minutes starting at 1 p.m., with the last tour at 3:30 p.m.) and the William L. Barrett Water Treatment Plant on Smythe Street (1, 2, & 3 p.m.)
The York Street Fire Station will have several trucks on display including the rescue unit, a 100-foot ladder truck and water pumper trucks. Other municipal buildings included in the Doors Open Fredericton event are the City Hall Council Chambers and the Lighthouse Adventure Centre.
The University of New Brunswick will have five of its heritage buildings open including Brydone Jack Observatory, the first astronomical observatory in Canada, and McCord Hall, a former ice house which is now an inspirational space for budding writers. Other UNB Buildings which will be open on Sunday are Sir Howard Douglas Hall (the Old Arts Building), Memorial Hall and the Burden Academy Schoolhouse.
Also on the UNB Campus, the Provincial Archives will showcase its historical research facilities, and you can peruse artwork, photos and memorabilia of a long-time UNB writer in residence at Alden Nowlan House.
New this year is a Heritage Churches of Downtown Fredericton tour. Six heritage churches, some dating from 1847 have graced downtown Fredericton for many years with their beautiful architecture, materials and stained glass windows. Together, they offer an opportunity to appreciate the inside architecture and learn about the early congregations of the City. The churches on the tour include: St. Anne's Chapel of Ease, Brunswick Street Baptist Church, St. Paul's United Church, Wilmot Church, St. Dunstan's, and Christ Church Cathedral.
Doors Open Fredericton is a free event organized by the City of Fredericton. Brochures can be picked up at the City Hall Visitor Information Centre or on Sunday at any of the participating locations.
Doors Open Fredericton is modeled on Doors Open Canada which was created by the Heritage Canada Foundation to provide people with the opportunity to visit buildings of architectural, cultural or historic interest to the community, which are not normally open to the public. These include civic buildings, schools, places of worship, offices, inns, fire halls, etc. Doors Open events are held annually all across Canada.
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Media Contact: Angela Watson, Cultural Development Officer, City of Fredericton, (506) 460-2411.
