Canadian National Exhibition

Canadian National Exhibition
The CNE Midway on August 31, 2012
Genre Provincial fair/Agricultural and entertainment
Dates 18 days (from mid-August to Labour Day)
Frequency Annually
Venue 210 Princes' Boulevard
Location(s) Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario
Years active 139
Founded 1879
Attendance 1.54 million (2016)[1]
Website www.theex.com

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also known as The Exhibition or The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, during the 18 days leading up to and including Canadian Labour Day, the first Monday in September. With approximately 1.5 million visitors each year, the CNE is Canada's largest annual fair and the fifth largest in North America.[2] The first Canadian National Exhibition took place in 1879, largely to promote agriculture and technology in Canada. Agriculturists, engineers, and scientists exhibited their discoveries and inventions at the CNE to showcase the work and talent of the nation. As Canada has grown as a nation, the CNE has also changed over time, reflecting the growth in diversity and innovation, though agriculture and technology remain a large part of the CNE today. To many people in the Greater Toronto Area and the surrounding communities, the CNE is an annual family tradition.

Site

The CNE is held at Exhibition Place, which is a 192 acres (78 ha) site located along Toronto's waterfront on the shores of Lake Ontario and just west of downtown Toronto. The site features several buildings and structures, many of which have been named as significant under the Ontario Heritage Act. There are several outdoor live music venues on-site including the permanent CNE Bandshell. All of the roads are named after the Canadian provinces and territories. The site includes a football stadium, parks, fountains, plazas, a rose garden, statues and parking lots.

The site was formerly reserve lands for British and later Canadian military and was the site of an 18th-century French fort. The area was cleared of forest in the early 19th century for use by the Toronto Garrison of Fort York. The Exhibition received permission to use part of the site in the 1870s and expanded to use the whole site by the 1920s. In the 1950s, the site was expanded south of Lake Shore Boulevard by landfill, and reduced in size on its northern boundary by the construction of the Gardiner Expressway.

Points of interest

Shows and attractions

Canadian National Exhibition midway in 2007
Historic Bandshell stage
Rocks balanced as part of sand sculptures

The 18-day fair itself consists of a mix of shopping areas, exhibits, live entertainment, agricultural displays, sports events, casino, and a large carnival midway with rides, games and food. The Canadian International Air Show on Labour Day weekend has been a feature of the fair since 1949.

Several buildings house exhibits and displays from vendors, government agencies and various industry associations. These include the International Pavilion of products from around the world, and the Arts, Crafts and Hobbies Building of crafts, collectables and unusual items. The Evercare Centre complex holds the international pavilion, a garden show, the SuperDogs performances and a sand-sculpting competition. It also has exhibit space used for agricultural or industrial displays and a live stage. The Food Building houses a large number of vendors of food from many cultures, reflecting Toronto's multicultural population. The Better Living Centre building is used for a casino on one side, and a farming display on the other. The CNE continues its tradition of agricultural produce competition and the winners are displayed in the Better Living Centre, along with a butter sculpting competition. Other exhibit areas are used differently in different years. There are a large number of vendors outside along the streets of the fair offering discount and unusual products. Some exhibits are only held for a few days of the year, such as the cat show. The 1792 "Scadding Cabin" log cabin display dates back to the first year of the fair and is the only time the cabin is open for display.[3]

The Coliseum building is used for live shows. These have included high-wire acts, skating, the RCMP Musical Ride in the past. Outdoors, the Bandshell is used for daily music and nightly headliners. Additionally, areas are set up at various points around the fair for outdoor entertainment. These include such things as beer gardens, musical acts, acrobatic acts, buskers, parkour displays, circus acts, children's shows and educational displays. There are two major parades at the CNE, the Warrior's Day Parade of veterans and the Labour Day Parade of workers. Every evening a "Mardi Gras" parade is held.

The carnival midway has a large children's area in the northwest corner of the park, with smaller rides suitable for children under 12. The main area is situated west of the EnerCare Centre and has several dozen rides, including thrill rides, roller coasters, swing rides and a log plume ride. Along several pathways of the midway area are games of "skill", games of chance and many carnival food vendors. The CNE operates a "sky ride", with chairs similar to ski-lift chairs, to carry riders from one end of the midway to the other.

Two of Toronto's professional sports team have home games during the CNE. The Toronto Argonauts Canadian football team and the Toronto FC soccer (football) team both play at the BMO Field located in the middle of the fair. In Coronation Park, located across Lake Shore Boulevard, opposite the Princes' Gates, the CNE holds a youth peewee baseball tournament and a women's fastball tournament.

New features for the 2016 CNE included:

  • CNE Innovation Garage - featuring the Emerging Innovators Pitch Competition and the Innovation Playground showcasing innovations in consumer products, services and more
  • Water skiing and wakeboarding shows and competitions at the waterfront
  • Pokémon GO - 29 Pokéstops and four Pokémon Gyms throughout the site at various historical monuments and landmarks
  • Star Trek exhibit - global art display commemorating the 50th anniversary of the series

The 2015 CNE features included:

  • Bon Voyage!: Aerial Acrobatics & Ice Skating Show
  • Hollywoof: The President's Choice SuperDogs Show
  • RUSH: Parkour Demonstrations
  • XPogo Stunt Team

The 2013 and 2014 CNEs featured a zip line ride. Operated by Ziptrek Ecotours, the CNE zip line was the highest and longest temporary zip line in the world. The launch tower, positioned southeast of the Food Building, measured 180 ft (55 m) high. The landing tower, southwest of the Direct Energy Centre, was 60 ft (18 m). The zip line ride consisted of four lines, each measuring nearly 1,100 ft (340 m). Zip line riders travelled at approximately 65 km/hour.

Food

Food Building
Some of the foods available

Food is considered by many visitors to be a key part of the CNE experience. Many options are available across the 192-acre site during the 18 days of the fair.

A major destination for CNE visitors, the Food Building offers a wide variety of food options ranging from classic fair favourites, such as Beaver Tails, Funnel Cakes and Tiny Tom Donuts, to international cuisine, to standard fare like pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, and French fries, as well as novelty items, including Frosted Flake Battered Chicken on a Stick, Deep Fried Red Velvet Oreos and Bacon Wrapped Grilled Cheese. Halal, vegetarian and healthy food options are also widely available.

Since the 2012 season, the CNE has hosted a food truck rally called "Food Truck Frenzy." This event took place on Princes' Boulevard just inside the Princes' Gates at the east end of the grounds. The 2016 edition featured 26 food trucks serving specialty foods. A "Craft Beer Fest" was added to the event in 2015 and continued in 2016, which gave guests the opportunity to sample locally crafted beers.

Since 2007, the CNE has hosted a Ribfest in Bandshell Park during the fair. Vendors cook pork ribs and other barbecue-style foods on-site for sale to attendees. A beer garden is next to the food stands for attendees to consume alcohol. The rib vendors compete in a competition where a panel of judges selects a CNE Ribfest Champion. The Bandshell is also the site of daily music performances.

Several licensed restaurants operate on the grounds, including Bandshell Park Beer Garden; The Beach Bar; Casino Patio; Craft Taps; Glow Bar; Acqua Dolce Resto Venue; Northern Comfort Saloon; and Wine Garden.

Shopping

A number of shopping options are available for visitors to the CNE:

  • Arts, Crafts and Hobbies Pavilion
  • At Home Pavilion
  • Garden Show
  • International Pavilion
  • Kitchen Gourmet
  • Outdoor Marketplace
  • Piazza of Cultures
  • Shoppers' Market
  • Warehouse Outlets

History

Parade of cattle at CNE, 1916
CNE poster for Canada's Victory Celebration, 1919

In September 1846, a fair sponsored by the Provincial Agricultural Association and the Board of Agriculture for Canada West, was held in Toronto in the area near present-day King and Simcoe Streets. While primarily an agricultural event, it also displayed manufactured goods and decorative arts and crafts. The fair was a success and it was proposed that future fairs be held in different locations each year. In 1847, the fair was held in Hamilton and thereafter travelled to such cities as Cobourg, Kingston, Niagara and Brockville.[4]

In 1852, the fair returned to the west side of University Avenue (see Grange Park (neighbourhood)), stretching from a bit north of Dundas Street to a bit south of College Street. It lasted four days. The Horse Park, on the west side of the grounds, was loaned to the fair by Mrs. Boulton, who lived in the Grange and it was bounded on the north by the Caer Howell Pleasure Grounds (in a way a forerunner of the midway). The Fair was a success, attracting more than 30,000 visitors.

In 1853, the fair moved on to another city and didn't return to Toronto until 1858 and then again in 1878. After the 1878 fair, Toronto City Council and the local Exhibition Committee approached the Provincial Agriculture Association with a proposition: that the fair remain permanently in Toronto. The Association thanked City Council and the Exhibition Committee for their work in delivering a successful fair in 1878 but informed them that a decision had already been made to move the fair to another city in 1879.[4]

Undeterred, Toronto City Council, along with local businessmen, moved ahead with plans to establish a permanent fair in Toronto. That fair would be called the Toronto Industrial Exhibition. It opened on September 3, 1879, and lasted for three weeks. An attendance in excess of 100,000 paid admissions and 8,234 exhibits, spelled success for the new exhibition. The fair continued to grow and prosper and soon came to be known as the "Show Window of the Nation." Starting with just over 50 acres in 1879, the fair, situated on a parcel of land which has become known as Exhibition Place, now stretching from the Gardiner Expressway (north end), to Lake Shore Boulevard and Lake Ontario to the south, and from Strachan Avenue (east end), to the Dominion Gates (west end), covering 196.6 acres (0.796 km2) of land.

In 1912, the Toronto Industrial Exhibition changed its name to the Canadian National Exhibition to better reflect the scope and reach of the fair. In fulfilling its mandate, the CNE has featured exhibits on the latest technological advances in industry and agriculture. CNE patrons were introduced to electric railway transportation in 1883, to Edison's phonograph in 1888, to the wireless telephone in the 1890s, to radio in 1922, to television in 1939, to plastics and synthetics in the 1940s. The Government of Canada is not affiliated with the fair, however, it has often exhibited at the CNE.

In 1937, Conklin Shows was awarded the contract to provide amusement rides and games for the CNE midway. The company built the "Flyer" wooden roller-coaster on site as well as delivering rides and games each year during the CNE duration. The company continued to provide this service until 2004, at which point it merged with other leading midway operators to form North American Midway Entertainment, which continues to supply the CNE.

During the Second World War, as during the First World War, the CNE grounds became home to detachments of the Canadian military. In 1939, the Royal Canadian Air Force moved into the Coliseum. The Canadian Army took over the Horse Palace and the Royal Canadian Navy converted the Automotive Building into HMCS York. During the summers of 1940 and 1941, most of the troops stationed at the CNE were re-located. Those troops remaining either continued their regular administrative duties or participated in CNE displays and events aimed at promoting the Canadian war effort. CNE officials had hoped to continue the annual fair throughout the years of the war. In the spring of 1942, however, the CNE agreed to turn the grounds over to the Canadian military for use year-round. During the military occupation of the grounds, virtually every CNE building, large or small, was put to use by the Canadian armed forces. The CNE grounds remained closed and under the control of the Canadian military until 1946. Between 1945 and 1946, Exhibition Park acted as a demobilization centre for returning soldiers.

Post-war years and modernization

The CNE resumed in 1947. Canadians returned to the CNE to see the latest in consumer goods and agricultural advancements. The fair also remained a major hub for sporting events and entertainment. Over time, the CNE moved away from its country-fair heritage toward an increasingly modern, cosmopolitan look and feel. In recent years, the CNE has changed extensively to meet the needs of the growing and changing demographics of Toronto and Southern Ontario.

Recent history

See below for a list of recent CNE milestones organized by year:

2016:

  • Introduction of the inaugural CNE Innovation Garage, featuring a pitch competition and displays—a throwback to the CNE's history of being at the forefront of innovation
  • Return of programming at the CNE waterfront with a daily water ski show, and national and international competitions—made possible as a result of infrastructure investment on the West Channel by the City of Toronto and Province of Ontario for the 2015 Toronto Pan Am and Para Pan Am Games
  • Snapchat Geofilter available on-site

2015:

  • Virginia Ludy appointed General Manager, replacing long-time GM David Bednar who officially retired May 8, 2015
  • CNE launches the new website to showcase the fair's 137-year history
  • Canadian Olympic gold-medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir star in the CNE's ice skating and aerial acrobatics show, Bon Voyage!

2014:

  • CNEA celebrates first year of independence from Exhibition Place and the City of Toronto on April 1, 2014
  • CNE Opening Ceremonies commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Great War.
  • CNE launched Gift Card Tickets at major supermarkets in the Greater Toronto Area as part of its Advance Ticket Discount promotion available during the summer until the night before opening

2013:

  • 135th anniversary of the CNE (1879)
  • CNEA becomes independent from Exhibition Place and the City of Toronto on April 1, 2013
  • Introduction of the CNE Zip Line, the highest and longest temporary zip line in the world
  • Food borne illness issue in Food Building traced back to a specific food item sold by Epic Burger

2012:

  • Introduction of the Sky Ride, which harkens back to the popular Alpine Way
  • Canadian Olympic gold-medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir perform in La Vie: Aerial Acrobatics & Ice Skating Show during the first 15 days of the fair, and three-time World Champion and Olympic silver-medalist Elvis Stojko closes out the show Labour Day weekend
  • CNE app available for Android as well

2011:

  • 75th anniversary of the CNE Bandshell (1936)
  • 25th anniversary of the Rising Star Competition (1986)
  • CNE introduces a mobile app for iPhone and BlackBerry

2010:

  • CNE becomes first fair in North America and the first large-scale event on the continent to achieve EcoLogo Certification
  • Introduction of the popular treat, deep-fried butter
  • 10th anniversary of the Friends of the CNE volunteer program (2000)

2009:

  • 50th anniversary of Tiny Tom Donuts (1959)

2008:

  • 50th anniversary of the Princess Margaret Fountain (1958)
  • 60th anniversary of the Canadian International Air Show (1948)

2007:

  • Aquareves nighttime show introduced
  • CNE introduces a RibFest on opening weekend

2006:

  • Introduction of an aerial acrobatics and ice skating during the CNE
  • 50th anniversary of the Lions-CNE Peewee Baseball Tournament (1956)

2005:

  • 100th anniversary of the Press Building, the home of the CNE offices (1905)
  • CNE Mardi Gras Parade introduced

2004:

  • RCMP Musical Ride

2003:

  • 125th anniversary of the CNE
  • First four days of the CNE hampered by the 2003 blackout
  • Skywalker Jay Cochrane walks 250 metres along a cable 20 stories above the ground, three shows daily

Economic impact

Research

A 2017 Economic Impact Assessment, conducted by Enigma Research Corporation, reports that the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) generates an estimated $93.1 million for Greater Toronto Area and more than $128.3 million for the province of Ontario each year.[5]

A 2009 study by the same corporation also reveals that the 2009 CNE attracted more than 275,000 out-of-town visitors to the city, and that fair-related hiring creates an equivalent of 633 full-year jobs in the region. Spending also supports $12.9 million of tax revenue at three levels of government.

This national research initiative, commissioned by the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions (CAFE), was conducted at 20 fairs of varying sizes throughout Canada in 2008. A total of 1,200 people were interviewed during the 2008 Canadian National Exhibition alone.

Other highlights of the research, included a sample size of 1,200 people in on-site, face-to-face interviews, include:

  • Local residents spend US$52 million related to the CNE
  • The average non-local spent 2.5 nights in Toronto

Tourism

The CNE works with several organizations to promote tourism to the Greater Toronto Area and the province of Ontario, including: Festivals and Events Ontario, Tourism Toronto and Attractions Ontario.

Jobs

One of the many ways the CNE helps to boost the local economy is through job creation. The CNE hires approximately 1,200 people starting in the spring of each year to assist in the planning and production of the annual fair. An additional 3,500 people are hired during the Fair itself by CNE partners including Emergency Services, Toronto Police, Toronto Fire, food vendors, exhibitors and concessionaires. For many young people growing up in Toronto, the CNE is their first employment experience.[5]

Partners

With annual visitation of approximately 1.5 million people, the CNE gives companies an excellent venue to sell their wares and connect with their audiences face to face. Many corporate sponsors and over 700 exhibitors, including many Canadian and international businesses, contribute to the CNE.[5]

Environmental initiatives

EcoLogo certification

In 2010, the Canadian National Exhibition became the first fair in North America and the first large-scale event on the continent to receive EcoLogo certification, one of North America's largest and most respected environmental standard and certification marks. EcoLogo certification is based on stringent criteria that examine the entire life-cycle of a product and the CNE's success in achieving this honour formally recognizes the fair as an environmental leader. (Canadian National Exhibition is EcoLogo - Certified to Events CCD-095.)

Environmental strategy

In addition to fulfilling EcoLogo certification requirements, the CNE's environmental strategy consists of three components:

Energy conservation

  • Decorative lighting on the Midway is turned off during daylight hours
  • Solar panels are utilized throughout the grounds in locations such as the Horse Palace roof, on staff golf carts, on the Midway games, and on garbage compactors
  • In 2008 the CNE introduced solar-powered concession games on the Midway
  • All of the CNE's decorative tree lighting has been replaced with LED lights to reduce electricity consumption

Emissions reduction

  • The CNE encourages visitors to take public transit, ride their bicycles, and/or walk to get to the site
  • Bicycle racks and bike parking areas are strategically placed around the grounds to accommodate cyclists
  • The vast majority of golf carts used by CNE staff are powered using electricity (vs. gas-powered)
  • On the CNE grounds there are bio-diesel generators that power rides at the fair

Waste diversion

  • A wide range of materials are recycled and diverted from landfills each season including, but not limited to, cardboard, paper, organic waste, paper hand towels, wood, metals, street sweepings, concrete/asphalt, hay, and cooking oil
  • The CNE provides water refill stations where guests may refill reusable water bottles to reduce the number of disposable plastic bottles that are used
  • During the fair a vast number of recycling, compost, and garbage receptacles are placed around the grounds
  • The use of polystyrene foam is no longer allowed on the CNE grounds, thus reducing the amount of waste that cannot be recycled
  • In the Food Building, tableware is predominantly compostable, which increases the amount of waste that the CNE is able to send to composting facilities, rather than to a landfill
  • Waste diversion rates:
    • 2009 - 77.30%
    • 2010 - 83.76%
    • 2011 - 81.93%
    • 2012 - 82.82%
    • 2013 - 86.36%

Governance and organizational structure

The CNE is operated by the Canadian National Exhibition Association (CNEA) and its volunteer Board of Directors. The CNEA is governed under the jurisdiction of two Acts of the Province of Ontario: the Canadian National Exhibition Association Act, 2000, and the Agricultural and Horticultural Organizations Act, R.S.O. 1990, chapter A.9. The CNEA resides on a municipal site known as Exhibition Place, which is governed by the Board of Governors (BOG) of Exhibition Place, a local board of management of the City of Toronto.

Through various agreements with the City of Toronto, the CNEA operated as a program of the BOG until March 31, 2013. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlined the various administrative, financial and operational services to be provided to the CNEA by Exhibition Place. The MOU also provided for the use of the buildings and grounds for the annual CNE. During the decade leading up to independence, the CNEA contributed more than $20 million in site fees to the annual operating budget of the BOG, in addition to $7.3 million in operating surpluses. These contributions were included in consolidated annual financial results from the CNEA and BOG for the benefit of the City of Toronto.[6]

On January 27, 2012, the BOG and CNEA announced that the CNEA will officially become financially independent from both the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place and the City of Toronto in 2013. "Chair of the Board [BOG], City Councillor Mark Grimes stated, 'The independence of the CNEA is good for both the CNEA and Exhibition Place. The agreement will protect the Board of Governors and the City against any negative financial consequences and at the same time allow the CNEA to reach financial and organizational stability for the new independent organization.'"[7] "It will be beneficial for the CNEA to be independent from the City of Toronto to be able to determine and implement consumer strategies and fiscal decisions that are made in the interest of the CNEA and its visitors, as experts within the fair business."[7] As an independent organization, the CNEA will be able to retain its profits and re-invest in the fair.[8] "'This is an extraordinary opportunity for the Canadian National Exhibition,' stated Brian Ashton, President of the Canadian National Exhibition Association (CNEA). 'We believe that as an independent business we can flourish and present an annual fair that will make Toronto and Canada proud!'" [9] "Toronto City Council will be asked for approval of this new agreement at their March 5–6, 2012 meeting."[9]

The new agreement was approved by Toronto City Council and the CNEA officially became independent on April 1, 2013. The CNEA is a non-share capital corporation and a tenant of the BOG to which it pays rent for the use of the grounds and buildings for the annual fair, as well as fees for operational services.[10] The CNEA is not involved with year-round operations, events or development at Exhibition Place.

The CNEA has over 125 member individuals and associations representing each of the following sectors: Municipal, Manufacturers and Industry, Agriculture, and General and Liberal Arts. Member associations appoint a representative to the CNEA and approximately 15 members are appointed directly by the CNEA from the community-at-large. Each year a Board of Directors is elected from this membership, giving equal representation to each section. Six representatives of the Municipal section are appointed by Toronto City Council.

Current Board of Directors

Executive Committee:

PresidentJohn Kiru
Honorary PresidentBrian Ashton
1st Vice PresidentJennifer Ward
Vice PresidentSuzan Hall
Vice PresidentCouncillor Mike Layton
Vice PresidentDarryl Kaplan

Directors:

Past PresidentsHonorary President
Knox HenryBrian Ashton
Jim Melvin
Section 1 - MunicipalSection 2 - Manufacturers & Industry
Mayor John ToryKaren Barker
Councillor Paul AinslieSuzan Hall
Councillor Maria AugimeriCeleste Kirk
Councillor Paula FletcherJohn Kiru
Councillor Norm KellyGreg Pollock
Councillor Mike Layton
Linda Franklin
Section 3 - AgricultureSection 4 - General & Liberal Arts
Bill FordRandy Bauslaugh
Darryl KaplanDarla Campbell
Christine La FleurRobin Manley
Domenic LunardoJacquie Perrin
Steven SokalskyJennifer Ward

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "News Releases". Theex.com. September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  2. ↑ http://www.carnivalwarehouse.com/lists/2015list.pdf
  3. ↑ Avigdor 1994.
  4. 1 2 CNE Archives. 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 Canadian National Exhibition. "Economic Impact". THEEX.COM. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "The Fair". Theex.com. September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Exhibition Place website. 2012".
  8. ↑ "The Fair". theex.com.
  9. 1 2 Exhibition Place. (2012). Independence of the Canadian National Exhibition Association.
  10. ↑ "Slide 1" (PDF). Retrieved September 11, 2017.

References

  • Avigdor, Jeanine (1994). The Scadding Cabin, 1794: Toronto's Oldest House. The York Pioneer and Historical Society. ISBN 0-9698404-0-3. .
  • Withrow, John, ed. (1978). Once Upon a Century: 100 Year History of The "Ex. J.H. Robinson Publishing Ltd.
Multimedia
  • CBC Archives Patty Conklin gives a tour of the CNE with CBC Radio (1958)
  • CBC Archives CBC Television story about Patty Conklin in 1971 as he helps set up the CNE.
Webpages

Coordinates: 43°38′0″N 79°25′0″W / 43.63333°N 79.41667°W / 43.63333; -79.41667

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