Every year Toronto hosts the 'Doors Open' event when many historical, public, architectural, and religious buildings are opened for free admission to the public. I had only been once before in 2008 when I visited many of the buildings clustered around the downtown core where I was living at the time.

Back then the line ups were very heavy for the once a year opportunity to visit some of these closed access buildings. Here is my album from that year
https://www.flickr.com/photos/londone7/ sets/72157605256494823/

This year living further out by High Park I planned on driving to some of the sites further away from the downtown core.

The first place I visited was the Masonic Hall at Annette/Keele. Much is made of the Freemason's and their secret lodges. It is claimed they are part of the 'New World Order' secretly pulling the strings of Governments, Economies, and running the world, as Bill Clinton, both George Bush's, Tony Blair, and many other prominent figures have all been members.

Perhaps due to rampant conspiracy theories the lodge participated in the 'Doors Open' event to be more open and less secretive. The interior has no windows and there is a set of double entrance doors so people cant see inside.

It has a British Imperial feel with much of the artwork showing previous lodge leaders from earlier decades and meetings in earlier centuries. Although it did seem a bit odd with its checkered floorboard and ornamental tables for some of their mysterious rituals of this 'secret society'.

Nearby at Keele/Dundas was a Tibetan temple I was very excited to visit having visited so many temples across Asia. However it was closed today and would be open tomorrow for Sundays events.

Next I drove across to Montgomery Inn, a stone building at Islington/Dundas. I've passed this before and thought it was a converted restaurant. It is infact a museum and a rest stop for Irish immigrants in the 19th century.

There were costume interpretive guides and a large roaring fire in the kitchen area.

Nearby across the road was the Islington Church, another Victorian heritage site with many stained glass windows.

Further south of the QEW highway was the Canadian Sufi Centre. A rather unassuming building from the exterior it is lavishly furnished with large Persian rugs and Turkish ceramic wall tiles. It was reminiscent of 'Tekke's' I had visited in the Balkans, I explained to one of the hosts.

They explained every Saturday at 8pm is a dinner, talk, and music program, free and open to members of any religion. They will sometimes also have whirling dervishes. I hope to return in a couple of weeks when I have some time.

Here is their website. http://www.jerrahi.ca/events.html

Nearby on the same street was a Bosnian Mosque. I've seen another Bosnian Mosque near the Queensway and Ikea but this one was smaller and less grand.

Inside they were doing a talk on Islam but had a BBQ outside where they were serving free grilled Cevapci (small grilled lamb kebabs) and Baklava. I mentioned to some of the organizers I had been twice to Bosnia and hoped to return again.

They gave me directions to the larger Bosnian Mosque I had seen before, but was not part of today's 'Open Doors' event. I was curious to see inside and they had some displays in their front entrance.

Finally I drove back to High Park to find Colborne Lodge, a Victorian retreat. With the nice weekend weather there was no parking. I stopped in a rest area where no parking was allowed and tried to jog to the lodge.

As I left a parking enforcement car headed towards where I parked. I couldn't find the lodge so ran back in time to avoid a ticket and drove away as he wrote up tickets for the cars next to me. I'd have to come back tomorrow to find Colborne Lodge.

The Doors Open event was worthwhile and I was to continue tomorrow with some more sites after resting up for a bit. There were less religious sites than the last time I went in 2008 and the same sites are not open every year. So its become a bit of a yearly event for enthusiasts finding all the unique spots.