Municipal Open House

Join us on Sunday, May 3, 2026, for our annual Municipal Open House. 

Visit some of the City's municipal buildings and get the inside scoop on how your city operates. Participating sites include:

• Robin Hood Bay Waste Management Facility
• City Hall
• Central Fire Station
• City Archives
• H.G.R Mews Community Centre
• Paul Reynolds Community Centre
• Rotary Park

Please see below for opening times and a list of activities.

Participating Sites

Robin Hood Bay Waste Management Facility 

Open: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Address: 340 East White Hills Road

Do you know how waste is processed and managed effectively to minimize environmental impact? Come join this guided tour to gain awareness about sustainability and responsible waste practices. 

Parking, including accessible parking, is available onsite. Follow the directions once at Robin Hood Bay Waste Management Facility for where to park.

City Hall

Open: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Address: 10 New Gower Street

Come tour City Hall! Stroll the halls and admire its Brutalist architecture. Check out the Great Hall which is adorned with public art acquired through the City’s Art Procurement Program. 

Visit Council Chambers where Council, the main governing and legislative body of the City of St. John’s, holds public meetings and makes decisions that impact you on a municipal level. Ring the bell that starts the Regular Meetings, sit in the Mayoral Chair, and bang the Mayor’s gavel.

Parking is available in the parking garage adjacent to City Hall or in the downtown area. Accessible parking is available outside the main entrance of City Hall on a first come first serve basis. Please note that parking is free on the weekends. 

Central Fire Station

Open: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Address: 5 Fort Townshend

Meet the brave firefighters of the fire department, who work tirelessly to keep our community safe. You will learn about fire safety and also have the opportunity to get your photo taken with one of the fire trucks on this self-guided tour. 

Limited parking can be found around the back of the fire station and on the street.  No parking is available in the front parking lot. 

City Archives

Open: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Address: 15 Terra Nova Road

Learn about the rich history of our city at the archives building, where fascinating stories and archival photos await in this guided tour. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience archival documents: maps, photographs, ledgers, microfilm, council minutes; and get a behind the scenes peek at the archival stacks. 

Visitors can test their St. John's knowledge with our Archives Quiz. Staff will be available for discussion and to answer questions.

Limited parking is available onsite, including accessible parking.

H.G.R. Mews Community Centre

Address: 60 Blackler Ave

The H.G.R. Mews Community Centre is hosting an Open House with activities and free access throughout the day:

• 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Open House Activities
  Enjoy human-sized games, a craft area, a sensory zone, and a bouncy castle. Adaptive equipment will also be on display, with staff available to answer questions.
• 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Free Walking Track Access
  Drop in and enjoy complimentary use of the walking track.
• 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Free Open Gym 
  Take part in court sports during the evening drop-in session. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult aged 16 or older.

Parking is available onsite, including accessible parking.

Paul Reynolds Community Centre

Address: 35 Carrick Drive

The facility will offer a free Open Gym session from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for court sports, with the requirement that children 12 and under be accompanied by an adult aged 16 or older.

Parking is available onsite, including accessible parking.

Rotary Park

Address: Thorburn Road adjacent to the boundary of Portugal Cove - St. Phillip's. 

Outdoor stations will be set up for the Open House taking place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring archery, hut construction, slackline activities, and other fun outdoor experiences. This location is weather dependent.

Limited parking is available onsite, including accessible parking.

Accessibility

All venues have accessible parking and washrooms, are mobility device accessible, and the main entrances will be marked by signage. For accessibility information for our community centres, visit our Community Centres Webpage.

For local Metrobus transportation and accessible public transportation routes to these venues, please visit metrobus.com.

The City of St. John’s strives to create accessible and inclusive programs and services where possible. To request accommodations, learn more, or provide feedback or suggestions, please call 709-576-7160 or email kcooper@stjohns.ca.