The Hamilton edition of Doors Open Ontario takes place Saturday and Sunday (May 1 and 2) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and for the first time McMaster University is participating with seven of its buildings on the tour.

University Hall/Convocation Hall, Hamilton Hall, the Map Room of Mills Library, the McMaster Museum of Art, the Planetarium, the McMaster Nuclear Reactor and the Engineering Technology Building will all be open to the public as part of Doors Open.

“It is very exciting to have McMaster participating in this year's event,” said Maria Fortunato, visitor services coordinator for Tourism Hamilton. “McMaster's sites are Doors Open's newest sites and are generating great interest among residents and visitors. Many recognize the unique opportunity to visit, all in one weekend, some of Hamilton's most architecturally, culturally and historically interesting buildings clustered in one location.”

The hugely popular event began in France in 1984, and more than 40 countries are now involved. It has even spawned a group of Doors Open fanatics called 'Doorsies', the architecture/heritage version of Dead Heads who travel everywhere to Doors Open events.

Event organizers are still looking for volunteers to hand out brochures and serve as building hosts over the weekend. If you're interested, or know of someone who'd like to volunteer, please get in touch with Jane Christmas at chrisja@mcmaster.ca.